Extracting character separate from the background

[jonnymm]

Hi, i'm wondering if anyone can help me. I am trying to extract a character from some movie footage so that they are separate from the background, as if then they are then walking around in white empty space. Is it possible to do? I've tried chroma keyings, and it doesn't work. Also tried exporting to Photoshop as film strips, also doesn't work and also tried rotoscoping. Is there another way? Or another program (After Effects, Premiere, Final Cut?) I can use, or any plugins anyone may know?

Thanks
Johnny

 

[maruyama]

Sometimes chroma keys WON'T work, if the background color is to similar to the foreground image.

But, rotoscoping ALWAYS WORKS. Of course, you need to have an expert rotoscoper, someone like Eric Reinhard, who works splines like a surgeon.

Keying and Rotoscoping are the ONLY ways to extract an image from a plate. (Garbage Masking or Mask Keying are just simple rotoscoping solutions).

AE/ Premiere/ FCP/ Inferno/ Smoke/ Fire/ Combustion/ Fusion/ Shake...

they all work under the same rules.

In AE 6.x, you'll find KEYLIGHT. An excellent plugin from The Foundry (from the U.K.) Much better than standard chroma keying.

HTH

Ko Maruyama
Free Tutorials

http://homepage.mac.com/komaruyama/Tutorials