February 23, 2010

Can You Teach Old Mattes New Tricks?

There are many great uses for the set of matte filters in Final Cut Pro. You can use a matte or mask to fix a problem, like getting rid of something in a shot that doesn't belong (who didn't strike the craft services truck?). You can also use mattes to help improve eyelines between shots. Sometimes you use them to create a style, like making standard definition footage appear in widescreen, or resizing a border and masking out the image portion. Here are a few ideas. All mask filters can be found in the Effects > Video Filters > Matte section.

1.  That's a bunch of GARBAGE! Admit it––we've all done it! Missed seeing that microphone, light stand, or coffee mug in the shot. It can be simple to fix––just apply the 4-point Garbage Matte to the problem clip. Use the Points crosshairs to outline what needs to go. Then click the Invert button to remove it and keep the rest. Now you have to find something to fill the hole. Could be there's something in the original clip. Place the fill material on the track beneath the problem clip. Use Image+Wireframe to size or reposition the fill. Then add a Mask Feather filter to soften the edges, and "sell it," as they say.

2.  I've been FRAMED! When you add a Bevel border to a clip and then change the image size, that changes the shape and size of the border as well. So edit a Slug clip above the clip you want to frame, and add the Bevel border to the Slug. Then add a Mask Shape to the Slug. Size the border then change the Horizontal and Vertical parameters in the Filters tab until the image below appears through the Slug's frame. You can then adjust the size and position of the image below to get just the right framing. Add the Mask Feather to smooth the edges.

3.  Find a clip that needs an EYELINE CORRECTION, where one person isn't looking directly at another due to camera angle or height. Add the WIDESCREEN matte to that section of clips so they all have the same style. In Image+Wireframe mode, change the clip that doesn't quite match. Make it bigger or smaller, and repposition it in the frame behind the mask until it's a better match to the other clips. Problem solved and nobody knows the difference!