Separating Background from foreground on photos

Question

Level 1

22 points

Separating Background from foreground on photos

I have seen numerous documentaries where old photos showing people (objects) in the foreground seem to be separated from the background thus allowing the "appearance" of a dolly shot with the people in the foreground in motion while background remains stationary. I've seen this done for a number of years.

Could someone please tell me the name of the technique?
Can it be done in Motion (or only AE)?
Is there a tutorial available somewhere which I could view?

I'm fairly new to Motion 3...

Thanks so much...

Mac Pro 2 x 2.66 GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jul 13, 2010 8:26 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 13, 2010 9:41 AM in response to Yankeerebel

Do a search on "The Kid Stays in the Picture" here and you should find references on how to do it. Basically you make copies of the photos and use the masking tools to cut out the foreground elements, then do a 3D camera move on them - or simulate a move by using 2d tricks...

Patrick

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Answer 2

Jul 13, 2010 10:30 AM in response to Patrick Sheffield

got a suggestion if you're shooting original images and not trying to hack up existing photos.

Wedding shooters finally figured this out a few years ago. If you want to animate the bride in the wheat field, ask the lady to step out of the shot and shoot the empty wheat field. The resulting image is what we call a "clean plate." It's much easier to cut her out and drop her into the clean plate than it is to cut her out of the shot and cover the hole she left behind.

bogiesan

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Answer 3

2reverb

Level 3

600 points

Jul 13, 2010 11:02 AM in response to David Bogie Chq-1

Unless you are using CS5 😉
--Bob

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Answer 4

Yankeerebel Author

Level 1

22 points

Jul 13, 2010 1:48 PM in response to Patrick Sheffield

Patrick,

Thank you so much for answering my questions and leading me in the right direction. I found a tutorial that explained exactly what I needed.

Again...thanks...

Tony

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Answer 5

Yankeerebel Author

Level 1

22 points

Jul 13, 2010 1:50 PM in response to David Bogie Chq-1

That's a great thought.....I'll try it!

Thanks,

Tony

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Answer 6

Jul 13, 2010 1:50 PM in response to 2reverb

We won't get CS5 for another year in our shop. I've heard great things about the new masking abilities of Photoshop and the rotobezier tool in After Effects, both of which would help cut the bride out of the wheat field, but is there an improved clone and stamping tool that would help fill the hole she leaves in the field?

Here's a nice example of what we're talking about. Note the backgrounds were empty plates.

http://www.hellocitrus.com/#/work/ucsb/-/ucsb-stop-at-nothing-tv-radio/

bogiesan

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