Disguising faces in FCP at DVinfo.net

Elmer Lang · July 24th, 2007, 06:26 PM

I was wondering the best method to fuzz faces out so they remain anonymous. How do the pros do it?

Anyone got a good technique?

thanks,
lmr

David W. Jones · July 24th, 2007, 07:33 PM

Shoot it that way with the proper lighting to hide the face.

Elmer Lang · July 24th, 2007, 09:22 PM

I'm actually talking post-production here.

Chris Harris · July 24th, 2007, 09:35 PM

I found this nice tutorial, I haven't tried it but it looks cool, I might give it a shot when I get the time. Hope it's of some use to you!

EDIT: Forgot the link. http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...dux_stone.html

Cole McDonald · July 24th, 2007, 10:15 PM

Duplicate the video track with the person's face on it, use a lumamask between them with a oval shape generator...blur the top layer (or mosaic if you want less recognizability). Keyframe the lumamask manually to follow the nose of the person. It's an annoying manual process to key frame (especially for long shots), but gives good results. I've done this semi-recently.

If you have access to someone with shake or after effects, this is easier and more precise to do in those packages.

Dick Campbell · July 25th, 2007, 08:35 AM

I saw a FCS2 demo last week of Motion that now has an auto-track feature. You pick the point and it creates a keyframe stream. You can then attach any effect to that keyframe and it will follow, eliminating a lot of the manual labor. If you're doing a lot of this, it would be worth the upgrade price.

Neil Rostance · July 25th, 2007, 11:21 AM

It depends if you're using just FCP or if you have Motion....

If i was using only FCP I would do the same as Cole, but if the object you wanted to blur moved in shape, use the 8 point garbage matte to then mask any part of it.

In FCP You've not always got a pixelated effect (if that's what you're after?) but blurs are always fine too.

If you're using motion, you can do it on the same basis but a lot quicker.

This video explains it quite well

http://www.finalcuttips.com/episodes...ut/19small.mov

(even for a 14 year old tutor!)

Neil

Nate Benson · July 25th, 2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil Rostance

It depends if you're using just FCP or if you have Motion....

If i was using only FCP I would do the same as Cole, but if the object you wanted to blur moved in shape, use the 8 point garbage matte to then mask any part of it.

In FCP You've not always got a pixelated effect (if that's what you're after?) but blurs are always fine too.

If you're using motion, you can do it on the same basis but a lot quicker.

This video explains it quite well

http://www.finalcuttips.com/episodes...ut/19small.mov

(even for a 14 year old tutor!)

Neil

oh Tucker....
kid kills me, but at least he's doing something productive with his time.

Kevin Randolph · July 25th, 2007, 05:29 PM

I feel old and somewhat under-trained now...

First I've heard of Tucker...

Uh... Thanks?

Frank Simpson · July 25th, 2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Benson

oh Tucker....
kid kills me, but at least he's doing something productive with his time.

Ah, youth. You gotta love it! What I appreciate is the fact that he has the makings of an excellent teacher. I love the fact that he explains things well without an ounce or arrogance. Kudos to Tucker!

David Scattergood · July 26th, 2007, 09:09 AM

Aye, more tucker...I could learn a lot from this kid!

Jonathan Jones · July 26th, 2007, 10:17 AM

Well, Tucker impresses the heck outta me. Looks like he is developing into quite a presenter and teacher of sorts. My favorite part is how he is still wrestling with typical adolescent speaking foibles - magnified by being 'on-cam' with which he actually does amazingly well. But I really liked the line:

"I've been Tucker MacDonald."

Good stuff.
-Jon

July 24th, 2007, 06:26 PM	#1
Elmer Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY, NY Posts: 319	Disguising faces in FCP I was wondering the best method to fuzz faces out so they remain anonymous. How do the pros do it? Anyone got a good technique? thanks, lmr

July 24th, 2007, 09:35 PM	#4
Chris Harris Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 487	I found this nice tutorial, I haven't tried it but it looks cool, I might give it a shot when I get the time. Hope it's of some use to you! EDIT: Forgot the link. http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...dux_stone.html Last edited by Chris Harris; July 24th, 2007 at 09:36 PM. Reason: forgot the link!

July 24th, 2007, 10:15 PM	#5
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	Duplicate the video track with the person's face on it, use a lumamask between them with a oval shape generator...blur the top layer (or mosaic if you want less recognizability). Keyframe the lumamask manually to follow the nose of the person. It's an annoying manual process to key frame (especially for long shots), but gives good results. I've done this semi-recently. If you have access to someone with shake or after effects, this is easier and more precise to do in those packages. __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

July 25th, 2007, 05:29 PM	#9
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	I feel old and somewhat under-trained now... First I've heard of Tucker... Uh... Thanks? __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net

July 26th, 2007, 10:17 AM	#12
Jonathan Jones Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Healdsburg, California Posts: 1,138	Well, Tucker impresses the heck outta me. Looks like he is developing into quite a presenter and teacher of sorts. My favorite part is how he is still wrestling with typical adolescent speaking foibles - magnified by being 'on-cam' with which he actually does amazingly well. But I really liked the line: "I've been Tucker MacDonald." Good stuff. -Jon __________________ "Are we to go on record, sir, with our assertion that the 'pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers' are, in point of fact', magically delicious?" - Walter Hollarhan before the House Subcommittee on Integrity in Advertising - May, 1974

July 24th, 2007, 07:33 PM	#2
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	Shoot it that way with the proper lighting to hide the face.

July 24th, 2007, 09:22 PM	#3
Elmer Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY, NY Posts: 319	I'm actually talking post-production here.

July 25th, 2007, 08:35 AM	#6
Dick Campbell Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 117	I saw a FCS2 demo last week of Motion that now has an auto-track feature. You pick the point and it creates a keyframe stream. You can then attach any effect to that keyframe and it will follow, eliminating a lot of the manual labor. If you're doing a lot of this, it would be worth the upgrade price.

July 25th, 2007, 11:21 AM	#7
Neil Rostance Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lace Market, Nottingham, UK Posts: 194	It depends if you're using just FCP or if you have Motion.... If i was using only FCP I would do the same as Cole, but if the object you wanted to blur moved in shape, use the 8 point garbage matte to then mask any part of it. In FCP You've not always got a pixelated effect (if that's what you're after?) but blurs are always fine too. If you're using motion, you can do it on the same basis but a lot quicker. This video explains it quite well http://www.finalcuttips.com/episodes...ut/19small.mov (even for a 14 year old tutor!) Neil

July 26th, 2007, 09:09 AM	#11
David Scattergood Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 755	Aye, more tucker...I could learn a lot from this kid!