Easiest way to Blur out Lisense plates on a moving vehicle? at DVinfo.net

Tony Jucin · November 2nd, 2006, 01:27 PM

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!

Steven Houser · November 2nd, 2006, 01:37 PM

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

David Jimerson · November 2nd, 2006, 01:45 PM

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.

Edward Troxel · November 2nd, 2006, 02:06 PM

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 which is the same principle.

Kevin James · November 2nd, 2006, 05:53 PM

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

Tony Jucin · November 2nd, 2006, 06:29 PM

Vegas 6.0 guys

Glenn Chan · November 3rd, 2006, 12:53 PM

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.

Tony Jucin · December 5th, 2006, 01:03 PM

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.

Tony Jucin · December 31st, 2006, 01:49 PM

Anyone? Bueller?

Jamie Hellmich · December 31st, 2006, 03:04 PM

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

Jamie

Douglas Spotted Eagle · December 31st, 2006, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Jucin

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.

Peter Jefferson · December 31st, 2006, 08:42 PM

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

Tony Jucin · January 2nd, 2007, 09:16 PM

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!

Edward Troxel · January 3rd, 2007, 09:37 AM

Tony, look at Vol 1 #12 of my newsletters for the "Blurring Faces" article.

Tony Jucin · January 8th, 2007, 02:02 PM

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?

November 2nd, 2006, 01:37 PM	#2
Steven Houser Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Castle IN. Posts: 178	Motion tracking is easiest! Keyframing can also work! What Software are you using? Fusion5 Vegas5,6or7 Adobe? If I knew what software I probly can tell you what method! __________________ Steven Lee Houser http://vimeo.com/testwork

November 2nd, 2006, 01:45 PM	#3
David Jimerson Jubal 28 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 872	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. __________________ www.wrightsvillebeachstudios.com

November 2nd, 2006, 02:06 PM	#4
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	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 which is the same principle. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

January 3rd, 2007, 09:37 AM	#14
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Tony, look at Vol 1 #12 of my newsletters for the "Blurring Faces" article. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

November 2nd, 2006, 01:27 PM	#1
Tony Jucin Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chitown, Il Posts: 66	Easiest way to Blur out Lisense plates on a moving vehicle? 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!

November 2nd, 2006, 05:53 PM	#5
Kevin James Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 204	Doesn't Boris Blue have a new tracking tool for this sort of thing?

November 2nd, 2006, 06:29 PM	#6
Tony Jucin Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chitown, Il Posts: 66	Vegas 6.0 guys

November 3rd, 2006, 12:53 PM	#7
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	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.

December 5th, 2006, 01:03 PM	#8
Tony Jucin Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chitown, Il Posts: 66	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.

December 31st, 2006, 01:49 PM	#9
Tony Jucin Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chitown, Il Posts: 66	Anyone? Bueller?

December 31st, 2006, 03:04 PM	#10
Jamie Hellmich Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ormond Beach, FL Posts: 105	Duct tape...before you film. Cain't help you beyond that. Jamie

December 31st, 2006, 08:42 PM	#12
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	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 Last edited by Douglas Spotted Eagle; December 31st, 2006 at 08:48 PM. Reason: meta

January 2nd, 2007, 09:16 PM	#13
Tony Jucin Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chitown, Il Posts: 66	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!

January 8th, 2007, 02:02 PM	#15
Tony Jucin Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chitown, Il Posts: 66	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?