Question about JPEG Technique at DVinfo.net

Frank Kotora · October 5th, 2007, 10:53 AM

Hey guys. I'm looking to Google up some tutorials about a certain editing technique but I haven't the slightest idea what the technique might be called. Hopefully someone can help me out.

The technique I'm referring to is used quite a bit on TV, where we have a slow push-in on some sort of still image, let's say a combat shot in a war, but a single element, such as a soldier in the foreground, has been singled out, scaled slightly bigger, and separated from the background image so as to give the effect he is "popping out" of the picture, for lack of a better term.

If it helps, I remember seeing a similar effect done in "Riding Giants" when Laird is riding that monster of a wave, thought it looked as if they had separated multiple layers so as to give a neat 3D effect. Probably not the called the same thing but very similar, so if any of you might know this technique I'd appreciate the help greatly. Thanks!

Giroud Francois · October 5th, 2007, 11:12 AM

you answered the question by asking.
"it looked as if they had separated multiple layers so as to give a neat 3D effect"

Nate Schmidt · October 5th, 2007, 11:15 AM

The effect is often referred to as the Ken Burn's Effect, here's a good tutorial on how to achieve it:
http://www.digitaljuice.com/djtv/seg...how=all_videos

Martin Mayer · October 5th, 2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Schmidt

The effect is often referred to as the Ken Burn's Effect, here's a good tutorial on how to achieve it:
http://www.digitaljuice.com/djtv/seg...how=all_videos

I think Frank is referring to something more elaborate than that, whereby an element is cut out from a still, the missing "background" on the still is reconstituted, and the background and the cut-out element are animated separately, but in a perspective-related fashion, giving the impression that they are at separate depths from the viewer.

Seen a few examples, but I don't know the term to search for either!

Frank Kotora · October 5th, 2007, 11:21 AM

Beautiful! Thanks Nate!

Emre Safak · October 5th, 2007, 11:29 AM

You have to key (extract) the subject. The rest is easy.

Andrew Kimery · October 5th, 2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Schmidt

The effect is often referred to as the Ken Burn's Effect, here's a good tutorial on how to achieve it:
http://www.digitaljuice.com/djtv/seg...how=all_videos

Just to get nit-picky about terminology for a second. The "Ken Burns Effect" is typically just panning and zooming across stills. The video you linked to, and what the OP asked about, is commonly referred to as 2 1/2 D (since you are using 2D images in 3D space). It can be done in FCP to a point, but if you want something like the opening sequence in "Riding Giants" then I think you need a program that can work in 3D like AE.

-Andrew

Giroud Francois · October 5th, 2007, 03:49 PM

or you can simply use gItip, a nice program , while it was left at a early beta level.

Nate Weaver · October 5th, 2007, 05:43 PM

You can draw a shape with beziers in Motion and do it there. I'd think that would be best.

Motion also has an automatic feature where you can put multiple items in the same Z plane, scale them so they're the right size, and then separate the planes in Z space so they all retain the correct scaling (to eye) with the given "lens" on the 3D camera.

That way when you do a 3D move with the elements, they start (or end) with the 2D look, but look 3D when the camera moves.

David Knaggs · October 5th, 2007, 06:01 PM

There's a free tutorial which covers an important part of how to obtain this effect.

To watch it, go to:

http://www.rippletraining.com/

and scroll down to the free tutorials section and click the link to "Motion 3 Bonus Tutorial - Prep Images in Photoshop for 3D Animation".

Daniel Ross · October 5th, 2007, 06:18 PM

Just use photoshop or another image editor. Separate the pieces, then animate in FCP (I'd use AE, but FCP will work as well.) Both AE and FCP can import a psd as layers.

http://truthandliesmovie.com/demo.mov

That's from the project I'm currently working on. About two-thirds through, there is a pan down shot were I had to digitally extend the pan above his head. The effect isn't final yet, but it's more than you'll need for just stills.
What I did needed to match up to the rest of the video, so yours will be easier too.

Elmer Lang · October 5th, 2007, 06:50 PM

Very interesting stuff! Though the Motion tutorial at Ripple Training does not seem to be there.

I especially liked that quick mask thing, I know a little about photoshop now I wish there were more tutorials.

Thanks!

David Knaggs · October 5th, 2007, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elmer Lang

Very interesting stuff! Though the Motion tutorial at Ripple Training does not seem to be there.

I've just copied (by hand) the address for the direct link to the tutorial file.

Try this:

http://www.box.net/shared/static/bbygngxq83.mov

Frank Kotora · October 5th, 2007, 07:41 PM

Awesome responses guys. I really do appreciate the help. So far I should have plenty to go on to figure out how to execute this effect. We shall see.

Elmer Lang · October 5th, 2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Knaggs

I've just copied (by hand) the address for the direct link to the tutorial file.

Try this:

http://www.box.net/shared/static/bbygngxq83.mov

Excellent, David! Thanks to all for the great thread!

October 5th, 2007, 10:53 AM	#1
Frank Kotora Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: University of Alabama Posts: 25	Question about JPEG Technique Hey guys. I'm looking to Google up some tutorials about a certain editing technique but I haven't the slightest idea what the technique might be called. Hopefully someone can help me out. The technique I'm referring to is used quite a bit on TV, where we have a slow push-in on some sort of still image, let's say a combat shot in a war, but a single element, such as a soldier in the foreground, has been singled out, scaled slightly bigger, and separated from the background image so as to give the effect he is "popping out" of the picture, for lack of a better term. If it helps, I remember seeing a similar effect done in "Riding Giants" when Laird is riding that monster of a wave, thought it looked as if they had separated multiple layers so as to give a neat 3D effect. Probably not the called the same thing but very similar, so if any of you might know this technique I'd appreciate the help greatly. Thanks! __________________ History does not repeat itself.

October 5th, 2007, 11:15 AM	#3
Nate Schmidt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Welland ON Posts: 515	The effect is often referred to as the Ken Burn's Effect, here's a good tutorial on how to achieve it: http://www.digitaljuice.com/djtv/seg...how=all_videos __________________ "We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."

October 5th, 2007, 11:21 AM	#5
Frank Kotora Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: University of Alabama Posts: 25	Beautiful! Thanks Nate! __________________ History does not repeat itself.

October 5th, 2007, 05:43 PM	#9
Nate Weaver Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,100	You can draw a shape with beziers in Motion and do it there. I'd think that would be best. Motion also has an automatic feature where you can put multiple items in the same Z plane, scale them so they're the right size, and then separate the planes in Z space so they all retain the correct scaling (to eye) with the given "lens" on the 3D camera. That way when you do a 3D move with the elements, they start (or end) with the 2D look, but look 3D when the camera moves. __________________ My Work: nateweaver.net

October 5th, 2007, 07:41 PM	#14
Frank Kotora Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: University of Alabama Posts: 25	Awesome responses guys. I really do appreciate the help. So far I should have plenty to go on to figure out how to execute this effect. We shall see. __________________ History does not repeat itself.

October 5th, 2007, 11:12 AM	#2
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	you answered the question by asking. "it looked as if they had separated multiple layers so as to give a neat 3D effect"

October 5th, 2007, 11:29 AM	#6
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	You have to key (extract) the subject. The rest is easy.

October 5th, 2007, 03:49 PM	#8
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	or you can simply use gItip, a nice program , while it was left at a early beta level.

October 5th, 2007, 06:01 PM	#10
David Knaggs Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 826	There's a free tutorial which covers an important part of how to obtain this effect. To watch it, go to: http://www.rippletraining.com/ and scroll down to the free tutorials section and click the link to "Motion 3 Bonus Tutorial - Prep Images in Photoshop for 3D Animation".

October 5th, 2007, 06:18 PM	#11
Daniel Ross Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Marin & Davis, CA, USA Posts: 418	Just use photoshop or another image editor. Separate the pieces, then animate in FCP (I'd use AE, but FCP will work as well.) Both AE and FCP can import a psd as layers. http://truthandliesmovie.com/demo.mov That's from the project I'm currently working on. About two-thirds through, there is a pan down shot were I had to digitally extend the pan above his head. The effect isn't final yet, but it's more than you'll need for just stills. What I did needed to match up to the rest of the video, so yours will be easier too.

October 5th, 2007, 06:50 PM	#12
Elmer Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY, NY Posts: 319	Very interesting stuff! Though the Motion tutorial at Ripple Training does not seem to be there. I especially liked that quick mask thing, I know a little about photoshop now I wish there were more tutorials. Thanks!