Ok we are doing a racing documentary and Im still a newbie with this software. How do we blur out a plate and what are the steps to make it easier when the car starts moving? I know avid has a add on where it will actually follow it once you set it.
Thanks for your help!

What Software are you using? Fusion5 Vegas5,6or7 Adobe?
If I knew what software I probly can tell you what method!

In Vegas 5 or later, your best bet is probably to use the bezier mask in the pan/crop tool.

You'd create two layers; in the top one, cut out everything but the plate. Then, apply the blur.

If the shape doesn't have to match exactly, you might even try the Cookie Cutter. It is very easy to do that way. I have a "Blurring Faces" writeup in Vol 1 #12 of my newsletters (http://www.jetdv.com) which is the same principle.

Doesn't Boris Blue have a new tracking tool for this sort of thing?

Vegas 6.0 guys

If the car is moving, I'd do what David suggests.

Setup two layers.
On the top layer, go into the masking tool under the pan/crop button.
Create a mask with four corners and feather it.
In the mask tool, drag the mask tool's playhead to the end and re-position the mask. Vegas will automatically put a keyframe them.
Then go into the middle and add a keyframe, and so on and so forth.

All the modifier keys are useful shortcuts. Hold crtl and repositioning a single point on the mask will reposition the entire mask. With the mask/pen tool, the modifier keys lead to the other tools.

2- If you do lots of this work, programs like AE and Boris and Combustion have motion trackers which will automate the re-positioning part. Doing things in Vegas isn't too time-consuming though.

Ok heres the deal I am doing a racing video so in every scene the plates have to be blur so it might turn into a process.

Anyone? Bueller?

Duct tape...before you film. Cain't help you beyond that.

Jamie

Anyone? Bueller?

Asked and answered.
Use the two track method of doing this, with a keyframe on the upper track.
Yes, it's a process.
Or, you can purchase Boris Red, which can track a specific pixel grid.
It's still a bit of a process.

i have doen this in the past with cookie cutter and gausian blur or pixelate on teh top layer.. then i track the motion as needed. UNLESS you need it to be very tight.. in which case id say mask it, but blur it (dont pixelate) it looks neater

Ok Im asking this because when you guys say that It makes no sense. Can someone give me a step by step example.

Thanks Im a damn newb!

Tony, look at Vol 1 #12 of my newsletters (http://www.jetdv.com) for the "Blurring Faces" article.

Edward Great Read and Awsome articles!! Thanks!

Ok I figured it out somewhat. I was able to do the cookie cutter and what I cant figure out is 2 things.

One thing is how you are getting the blur? I add that in as an a effect and then add the cookie cutter I just get a black box from the cookie cutter. What is up with that and what am I doing wrong?



Also when I keep adding the dots in the time line I forget what you call them it is really choppy does that mean I have to go into more detail for moving them to stop it from doing that?

Here's how it works:

Track 1: Normal video with cookie cutter effect
Track 2: Same video with blur added

You get the blur because the cookie cutter effect cuts a "hole" in the normal video allowing the blurred video on track 2 to show through.

Im still lost, this means you will have to do everthing twice?

Ahhh OK! Got it now~!

1 prob. Its really choppy when I playback what is with this? too much to load?

It depends on your computer and your preview level. Once you render, all will be fine.

Ahhh OK! Got it now~!

1 prob. Its really choppy when I playback what is with this? too much to load?

bump down to draft quality and if that doesn't help spend 4 hours de-fragging your system. If it still doesn't work, then chances are you system isn't going to be able to preview it.

jason