Best Method to Fix Dirty Lens Shot at DVinfo.net

Will Hanlon · February 17th, 2007, 05:23 PM

One shot was done through a dirty lens. I've tried using a mask, selecting just the bad areas, and using smart smoother along with a very light linear blur. It helps somewhat. Makes the offending areas not so bad.

But does anyone know of another method to deal with this? Any special filters for this or any tips?

Greg Boston · February 17th, 2007, 06:14 PM

Another similar trick if you have area to work with around the offending spot that is the same, is to duplicate the video track and use a mask in the same area as the offending spot. Shift the position of the original track by a slight amount so that hopefully what comes through the mask is identical to the blemish area. You might have to keyframe the mask at some places.

Essentially, you're trying to clone a non blemished area that's the same as the blemished area in content and keep that under the mask throughout the track.

Hope that makes sense.

-gb-

Will Hanlon · February 17th, 2007, 07:06 PM

That's a good idea too. Thanks.

Here's another related question. Say I make a mask, keyframe it to insanity, but then I decide I want to change the zoom on the original shot. Doing so messes up the mask, and I can't find a way to change the zoom of the mask. Is there a way to do such a thing or do I have to start all over with my keyframes (I've just been starting over, but it's time intensive)?

Eric Darling · February 17th, 2007, 11:46 PM

Do it in After Effects and pre-comp the layer.

Graham Bernard · February 18th, 2007, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will Hanlon

Is there a way to do such a thing or do I have to start all over with my keyframes (I've just been starting over, but it's time intensive)?

Two ways come to mind:

#1 - Make BOTH tracks Children of a Parent Track and manipulate ZOOM-in/out using Parent Motion to the Parent Track.

#2 - Render out your final and ZOOM away there.

Parent Motion is a fabulous feature of Vegas. There is so much more you can do with it.

Will Hanlon · February 18th, 2007, 11:09 PM

What do you mean pre-comp the layer?

Thanks for the help.

Eric Darling · February 18th, 2007, 11:37 PM

Well, if you've got After Effects, and you've never used pre-compose, get ready for a revelation. Basically, this feature will allow you to do what you want - create a mask, apply whatever filters/effects you want to a given layer, do anything else you want to that layer, then when you pre-compose it (and any other simultaneously selected layers), they end up in a new composition, nested in the parent composition you've already been working in. Then, you can scale the pre-composed composition (rather than the layers within it).

February 17th, 2007, 05:23 PM	#1
Will Hanlon Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 148	Best Method to Fix Dirty Lens Shot One shot was done through a dirty lens. I've tried using a mask, selecting just the bad areas, and using smart smoother along with a very light linear blur. It helps somewhat. Makes the offending areas not so bad. But does anyone know of another method to deal with this? Any special filters for this or any tips?

February 17th, 2007, 06:14 PM	#2
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Another similar trick if you have area to work with around the offending spot that is the same, is to duplicate the video track and use a mask in the same area as the offending spot. Shift the position of the original track by a slight amount so that hopefully what comes through the mask is identical to the blemish area. You might have to keyframe the mask at some places. Essentially, you're trying to clone a non blemished area that's the same as the blemished area in content and keep that under the mask throughout the track. Hope that makes sense. -gb-

February 17th, 2007, 07:06 PM	#3
Will Hanlon Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 148	That's a good idea too. Thanks. Here's another related question. Say I make a mask, keyframe it to insanity, but then I decide I want to change the zoom on the original shot. Doing so messes up the mask, and I can't find a way to change the zoom of the mask. Is there a way to do such a thing or do I have to start all over with my keyframes (I've just been starting over, but it's time intensive)?

February 17th, 2007, 11:46 PM	#4
Eric Darling Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 463	Do it in After Effects and pre-comp the layer.

February 18th, 2007, 11:09 PM	#6
Will Hanlon Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 148	What do you mean pre-comp the layer? Thanks for the help.

February 18th, 2007, 11:37 PM	#7
Eric Darling Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 463	Well, if you've got After Effects, and you've never used pre-compose, get ready for a revelation. Basically, this feature will allow you to do what you want - create a mask, apply whatever filters/effects you want to a given layer, do anything else you want to that layer, then when you pre-compose it (and any other simultaneously selected layers), they end up in a new composition, nested in the parent composition you've already been working in. Then, you can scale the pre-composed composition (rather than the layers within it).