How the heck do I blur out just a logo in my footage

How the heck do I highlight (gray out the screen except for what I want).

Is this a mask function? Any help would be appreciated.

How the heck do I blur out just a logo in my footage

Duplicate the clip on the track above; apply sufficient blur to the top clip; use a mask to crop it down to just the amount of space you wish to blur. Play around with things until you find the desired outcome.

How the heck do I highlight (gray out the screen except for what I want).

Not sure I am getting the exact idea, can you elaborate on the visuals? Perhaps an online example?

Andy Mees has an excellent burring plug in for FCP. It's free on his website. I use it all the time. Many other useful free plugins.

Easy to use too.

Harry

Thanks Harry

Tobin, Mike is correct, you can build these effects in the timeline by duplicating, masking and filtering layers

Or for a quick fix you can use my Region Blur plug will do what you're after on both counts

Cheers
Andy

http://web.me.com/andymees/Free_and_Easy/main/Entries/2008/3/19_Andy’s_Region_Blur_3.html

I wasn't clear on highlighting.

I am looking for a way to darken everything in the screen EXCEPT for a circle which will be full color inside the circle...giving a highlighted affect.

Thanks for the note on blur. I get it.

I wasn't clear on highlighting.

I am looking for a way to darken everything in the screen EXCEPT for a circle which will be full color inside the circle...giving a highlighted affect.

i assume I do it similar to the blur, with a mask, duplicate clip, and use something to make the base clip darker

Thanks for the note on blur. I get it.

Tobin,

Same concept as blur.
Duplicate clip and place above.
Add to the new clip image mask filter (you can select your shape - oval-rectangle-diamond). Center the mask and adjust size as needed.
Reduce to opacity of the original clip and that will darken everything except the areas you highlighted with the image mask on the new clip.

Jon Schwartz
CA Video Productions

Thanks Andy (and everyone else too). This is awesome.

Maybe one day I'll figure out how to move that mask ...but this does what i need to and works awesome. Powerful plug in.

You can move Andy's plugin in sync with the picture and track a person's face or whatever. You can even change the shape and size of the mask while the shot is in progress.

I do it all the time and, once you get the technical, and very simple know how, it's REALLY easy.

But I'd have to speak with you on the phone and teach you LIVE for 3 minutes to tell you how - that is because I'm assuming you have no idea what I'm talking about. I just don't have the energy to put it in writing because I'm old and lazy and smelly.

So if you want a quick live 5 minute lesson you can call me - but email me first to make a phone appointment. I'm in Los Angeles.

harry323@pacbell.net

or, even better, get hold of Andy Mees who is a God.

I repeat ANDY MEES IS A GOD.

In fact, we're engaged to be married (see his website about his notes on his Gradient filter plugin which, I am honored to say, he wrote at my suggestion ... largely because he was bored on a rainy afternoon)

Harry

SEE: http://web.me.com/andymees/Free_and_Easy/main/Entries/2008/5/20_Andy%E2%80%99s_Gradient_Filter.html

Andy Mees who is a God.

I repeat ANDY MEES IS A GOD.

In fact, we're engaged to be married

I thought that law was overturned by Prop 8? "-p

I'm going to have to take a look at Andy's plug-ins... I saw that he made a mod of a script we were discussing here a few months back! Very cool.

Hey, if Harry is going to marry him, shouldn't you stay away from his 'plug ins' ;-)

Harry, thanks for taking my call and help me through this.
Thank you all for all the help, you guys are awesome.

Tobin