#Key Frame Map
5 messages in this thread
Tad, I think your engineer is referring to a "key map"… not a key frame
map. He's probably talking about an image for him to run through the key
channel of his switcher to use as a matte. There are plenty of ways to do
this, but without knowing exactly what he's talking about, it's hard for me
to suggest anything specific.
– G
G..
I think what he is concerned about is the placement of the animated image
to be faded into the live video section. As he explained it to me if we
create a black background with the animation in white (that is the image in
white) he can sync the two together and the edges will match. As I said,
I'm new to this so any suggestions would be appreciated. Is live Background
video with the animation that complicated? Also the Boss wants to know if
your going to create a light that simulates a fluorescent fixture anytime
soon? (Wish..Wish..Wish!!!!)The spots are fantastic but you have to noodle
the hell out of them to create a fl. fixture……
Thanks in advance…T
It sounds like he wants a matte image to use in the key channel. You can
create one by rendering your image/animation again with just a white
self-illuminated material on your objects that need to be the key objects.
Speaking of SI materials… if you want to make a fluorescent light, just
assign a white SI material to a tube and place an omni light in it. Works
perfectly (except you don't get shadows that way). If you need shadows, do
the same thing, but instead of an omni light, you'll have to use spotlights
positioned carefully. We've done many interior office scenes here that use
this effect very photorealistically. If you'd like to see two images done
this way, they're in DL9, called LAB1 and LAB2 (.gif). Check it out.
– G
Thanks Gary,,,, I'll try that…..T
Tad,
3DS produces what is called an alpha channel. The alpha channel is
a soft edged mask that you can use as a matte. This is what your video
enginner is calling his key channel. You can split off the Alpha channel
and do what is called a double dump to tape. After you dump the animation
to tape and the alpha channel to tape you would lock the decks together via
timecode. Feed the alpha channel tape into the switcher as the matte along
with the live video and the animation. Then the switcher will do the rest.
If you use transparent objects the matte would allow the live video to show
through the transparent objects. I use the alpha channel to do mattes for
single frame animation. It is a powerful tool and would take up a chapter
in a book on how to use it.