HV20 working out well for greenscreen!

Ben Syverson · December 6th, 2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Caudle

Ben - ah, I understand. So as long as the camera is stationary (probably a good assumption for non-star wars filming - the screen correction image can help to get a better mask.

Exactly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Caudle

But, you seem to be saying that I can assign a profile of sRGB (on the PC) if I open a grab created from FCP on the Mac.

Yup!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Caudle

As for the gamma, if I open the sRGB labeled PS file on the PC, you seem to say that I don't have to worry about gamma?

Nope!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Caudle

I'm going to have to deal with similar issues (on gamma) when outputting Flash using Squeeze.

The issue is: who do you target? Mac users or PC users? If PC users, you'll do nothing to the gamma. If Mac users, you'll want to decrease the gamma by 0.4. Unfortunately, neither platform is smart enough to understand the source colorspace and compensate accordingly. :P

Les Caudle · December 6th, 2007, 02:31 PM

Ben - it sounds like if my main market is web viewed on Windows, I should adjust the gamma of my Mac monitors to follow the Windows gamma? Does that sound reasonable?

Now if I can just figure a way to calibrate my hdmi output from FCP to 24" Samsung 245T (rather neat monitor, hdmi, dvi, rgb, s-video inputs).

I forgot to figure how I was going to calibrate the hdmi input, as my GretagMacbeth Eye One Display has no desktop or mouse on that monitor when receiving output from FCP thru hdmi.

Always something!

Ben Syverson · December 6th, 2007, 03:05 PM

Les, FCP will adjust the gamma automatically to 2.2 while you're editing. What I'm unsure of in whether Compressor will apply that gamma when you output. I don't believe it does, but I could be wrong... In that case, you'll want to adjust the gamma when outputting using Compressor.

Aldo Visaggio · December 17th, 2007, 05:59 PM

Hi Ben
Other than the obvious ( green ) what color and type of clothing should I tell the talent looks best for keying.Look forward to getting your new software as will doing much green screen in the near future.
Thanks, Aldo

Les Caudle · December 21st, 2007, 07:15 PM

Ben - will the new version of dvMatte Pro work in Motion? Thanks!

Scott Aubuchon · December 21st, 2007, 08:31 PM

As far as the whole gamma issue (PC/Mac), I have found a solution... Well, at least a reliable way to display.

The new flash player can display H.264 movies. I have embedded a .m4v and .mov that look spot on (as far as gamma)... across all platforms and browsers.

The only downside, the player update is very new, so not everyone has it yet... but they will.

Ben Syverson · December 22nd, 2007, 05:33 PM

Aldo, most colors should be fine. Anything in the green range will get obviously get desaturated... You may want to be careful with yellow as well -- it might be best to shoot some tests if you need to protect yellow.

Les, the new version does indeed work in Motion (2.0 and up) and FCP (5.1.2 and up)!

Scott -- good to know! Thanks for letting us know what you wound up doing.

Les Caudle · January 24th, 2008, 07:41 PM

Ben - I gather the video tutorials are the hang-up for the release of dvMatte Pro 3.

Any chance on posting a quick demo from the creator using:
http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/

showing the proper use of the plug-in along with Screenfix, etc?

BTW - this thead is missing messages posted after Dec 22.

Anthony Torres · January 25th, 2008, 09:12 AM

Les,

The tutorials are the delay. I posted it to the main forum, but it got bounced off. The talent is ill, so until that person recuperates, they're holding off the launch. DVGarage is a small company, and you can only launch a product once (in theory). Being sick is no fun, so hopefully they get better soon.
Best, Anthony Torres
(fwiw-I called for the straight scoop.)

Ben Syverson · January 25th, 2008, 03:47 PM

Hey guys,

Yeah, Alex has been sick, and then I had some problems ensuring the demo versions would work in FCP 5... I did record screencasts for the beta test, and those might find their way online as well, I'm not sure. Regardless, I'll be recording some screencasts once we launch to show people some more advanced techniques.

Stay tuned!

Scott Aubuchon · January 25th, 2008, 09:50 PM

quick question... I have dvMatte blast, is it more efficient to use in final cut or motion... or does it not matter.

When I say efficient, I guess I mean quicker. Seems like it takes a while to render in FCP, but I have not done much testing in motion. (waiting on my new mac pro to ship)

Any insight would be great.

Les Caudle · January 28th, 2008, 09:20 AM

Ben - I use ProRes 422 HQ. I've just realized that ProRes has no alpha channel, which kind of blew me away.

What is the best workflow to move between FCP and Motion, letting each do what it does best? Almost all of my clips will be green screen.

Ocean Zen · January 28th, 2008, 11:03 AM

I bought a BlackMagic Intensity Card to capture HDMI output from my Canon HV20 whilst recording green screen footage

I have a Mac Pro with Final Cut Studio2 and planned on capturing to ProRes422

What codec would you recommend? I would prefer one that I don't have to pay for.

Les Caudle · January 28th, 2008, 10:19 PM

Ocean Zen - If you were asking the question of me, I've been recording in ProRes with no issues, but I'm trying to come up with a workflow to go back and forth between FCP and Motion.

I don't think filters make the trip, so stripping out the background in a 1st step and generating a new file seems to make sense.

But then, I'm very new at this and was hoping someone with more experience would chime in.

Maybe FCP7 (sometime this year??) will add another ProRes codec - or Apple could add this to Quicktime anytime they wanted for more power.

Or - maybe a CineForm solution is the way to go?
http://www.cineform.com/products/CineFormRecorder.htm

Ben Syverson · January 29th, 2008, 01:52 AM

Les, you should be able to roundtrip between FCP and Motion without rendering, so codecs shouldn't come into play.

Ocean Zen -- ideally, capture to Blackmagic's uncompressed codec. You payed for the card, so you might as well get true uncompressed footage from it! :)

December 17th, 2007, 05:59 PM	#79
Aldo Visaggio Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 82	clothing for green screen Hi Ben Other than the obvious ( green ) what color and type of clothing should I tell the talent looks best for keying.Look forward to getting your new software as will doing much green screen in the near future. Thanks, Aldo

December 21st, 2007, 07:15 PM	#80
Les Caudle Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 45	will new dvMatte Pro work in Motion Ben - will the new version of dvMatte Pro work in Motion? Thanks!

January 25th, 2008, 09:12 AM	#84
Anthony Torres New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Orlando FL Posts: 16	Tutorials are the Delay Les, The tutorials are the delay. I posted it to the main forum, but it got bounced off. The talent is ill, so until that person recuperates, they're holding off the launch. DVGarage is a small company, and you can only launch a product once (in theory). Being sick is no fun, so hopefully they get better soon. Best, Anthony Torres (fwiw-I called for the straight scoop.)

January 28th, 2008, 11:03 AM	#88
Ocean Zen Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 43	I bought a BlackMagic Intensity Card to capture HDMI output from my Canon HV20 whilst recording green screen footage I have a Mac Pro with Final Cut Studio2 and planned on capturing to ProRes422 What codec would you recommend? I would prefer one that I don't have to pay for. __________________ MySpace/Escapee Planes

December 6th, 2007, 02:31 PM	#77
Les Caudle Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 45	Ben - it sounds like if my main market is web viewed on Windows, I should adjust the gamma of my Mac monitors to follow the Windows gamma? Does that sound reasonable? Now if I can just figure a way to calibrate my hdmi output from FCP to 24" Samsung 245T (rather neat monitor, hdmi, dvi, rgb, s-video inputs). I forgot to figure how I was going to calibrate the hdmi input, as my GretagMacbeth Eye One Display has no desktop or mouse on that monitor when receiving output from FCP thru hdmi. Always something!

December 6th, 2007, 03:05 PM	#78
Ben Syverson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 434	Les, FCP will adjust the gamma automatically to 2.2 while you're editing. What I'm unsure of in whether Compressor will apply that gamma when you output. I don't believe it does, but I could be wrong... In that case, you'll want to adjust the gamma when outputting using Compressor.

December 21st, 2007, 08:31 PM	#81
Scott Aubuchon Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 105	As far as the whole gamma issue (PC/Mac), I have found a solution... Well, at least a reliable way to display. The new flash player can display H.264 movies. I have embedded a .m4v and .mov that look spot on (as far as gamma)... across all platforms and browsers. The only downside, the player update is very new, so not everyone has it yet... but they will.

December 22nd, 2007, 05:33 PM	#82
Ben Syverson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 434	Aldo, most colors should be fine. Anything in the green range will get obviously get desaturated... You may want to be careful with yellow as well -- it might be best to shoot some tests if you need to protect yellow. Les, the new version does indeed work in Motion (2.0 and up) and FCP (5.1.2 and up)! Scott -- good to know! Thanks for letting us know what you wound up doing.

January 24th, 2008, 07:41 PM	#83
Les Caudle Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 45	Ben - I gather the video tutorials are the hang-up for the release of dvMatte Pro 3. Any chance on posting a quick demo from the creator using: http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/ showing the proper use of the plug-in along with Screenfix, etc? BTW - this thead is missing messages posted after Dec 22.

January 25th, 2008, 03:47 PM	#85
Ben Syverson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 434	Hey guys, Yeah, Alex has been sick, and then I had some problems ensuring the demo versions would work in FCP 5... I did record screencasts for the beta test, and those might find their way online as well, I'm not sure. Regardless, I'll be recording some screencasts once we launch to show people some more advanced techniques. Stay tuned!

January 25th, 2008, 09:50 PM	#86
Scott Aubuchon Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 105	quick question... I have dvMatte blast, is it more efficient to use in final cut or motion... or does it not matter. When I say efficient, I guess I mean quicker. Seems like it takes a while to render in FCP, but I have not done much testing in motion. (waiting on my new mac pro to ship) Any insight would be great.

January 28th, 2008, 09:20 AM	#87
Les Caudle Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 45	Ben - I use ProRes 422 HQ. I've just realized that ProRes has no alpha channel, which kind of blew me away. What is the best workflow to move between FCP and Motion, letting each do what it does best? Almost all of my clips will be green screen.

January 28th, 2008, 10:19 PM	#89
Les Caudle Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 45	Ocean Zen - If you were asking the question of me, I've been recording in ProRes with no issues, but I'm trying to come up with a workflow to go back and forth between FCP and Motion. I don't think filters make the trip, so stripping out the background in a 1st step and generating a new file seems to make sense. But then, I'm very new at this and was hoping someone with more experience would chime in. Maybe FCP7 (sometime this year??) will add another ProRes codec - or Apple could add this to Quicktime anytime they wanted for more power. Or - maybe a CineForm solution is the way to go? http://www.cineform.com/products/CineFormRecorder.htm

January 29th, 2008, 01:52 AM	#90
Ben Syverson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 434	Les, you should be able to roundtrip between FCP and Motion without rendering, so codecs shouldn't come into play. Ocean Zen -- ideally, capture to Blackmagic's uncompressed codec. You payed for the card, so you might as well get true uncompressed footage from it! :)