Comments on: ZS Dissection Lab #3 - Sims City Streets http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/05/09/zs-dissection-lab-3/ Thoughts on Machinima and Life, and whether the two can peacefully co-exist Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:19:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/05/09/zs-dissection-lab-3/#comment-13014 Overman Sun, 11 May 2008 01:33:33 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=295#comment-13014 Ooo, nice tip about Chroma Blur, Tom. I'm looking forward to trying out that technique in about 10 minutes. Ooo, nice tip about Chroma Blur, Tom. I’m looking forward to trying out that technique in about 10 minutes.

]]> By: Tom http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/05/09/zs-dissection-lab-3/#comment-12898 Tom Sat, 10 May 2008 08:52:57 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=295#comment-12898 Great job, both tutorial and movie. I could watch "making of" videos for hours, even for software I don't use. Quite often there are more brain and drama in video tutorials then in most movies out there. Just a little tip for Vegas users, something that many users are doing wrong: Use "Chroma Blur" video effect BEFORE "Chroma Keyer". When the "Chroma Keyer" dialog opens, select a medium blur to start. When Vegas modifies video, it decompresses the video into a 4:4:4 color space. The best way to think of it is that this gives color information to each pixel. The "Chroma Blur" smooths the colors in that space. Now instead of cutting out the object in big blocks, you can cut it out in smooth almost one pixel lines. Next, when you click on the "Show mask only" (black and white view), the best results tend to come from adjusting the high threshold first and then the low threshold second. It is something like golden rule that if you have to use any more mask blur than about .050 to look good, you might need to go back and increase the "Chroma Blur" or reset your thresholds. Great job, both tutorial and movie. I could watch “making of” videos for hours, even for software I don’t use. Quite often there are more brain and drama in video tutorials then in most movies out there.
Just a little tip for Vegas users, something that many users are doing wrong:
Use “Chroma Blur” video effect BEFORE “Chroma Keyer”. When the “Chroma Keyer” dialog opens, select a medium blur to start.
When Vegas modifies video, it decompresses the video into a 4:4:4 color space.
The best way to think of it is that this gives color information to each pixel. The “Chroma Blur” smooths the colors in that space. Now instead of cutting out the object in big blocks, you can cut it out in smooth almost one pixel lines.
Next, when you click on the “Show mask only” (black and white view), the best results tend to come from adjusting the high threshold first and then the low threshold second.
It is something like golden rule that if you have to use any more mask blur than about .050 to look good, you might need to go back and increase the “Chroma Blur” or reset your thresholds.

]]> By: Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/05/09/zs-dissection-lab-3/#comment-12838 Overman Sat, 10 May 2008 03:18:20 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=295#comment-12838 @krad - I touched on those four layers in this video, but there was actually a fifth I skipped for sake of brevity because it was such a minor detail - the street lights on the other (closest) side of the street, blurred to give a bit of depth of field. The perspective shot was a layer for each lane of the highway, plus one for the priest, plus one for the background w/ foot traffic. Took me several days to film each of those overall shots, but I was really happy with the end result. About 99% happy. (there are a couple things that still aggravate me, an inevitability for me it seems) @krad - I touched on those four layers in this video, but there was actually a fifth I skipped for sake of brevity because it was such a minor detail - the street lights on the other (closest) side of the street, blurred to give a bit of depth of field.

The perspective shot was a layer for each lane of the highway, plus one for the priest, plus one for the background w/ foot traffic.

Took me several days to film each of those overall shots, but I was really happy with the end result. About 99% happy. (there are a couple things that still aggravate me, an inevitability for me it seems)

]]> By: kradproductions http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/05/09/zs-dissection-lab-3/#comment-12831 kradproductions Sat, 10 May 2008 01:39:40 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=295#comment-12831 Those shots really stuck out to me the first time I saw "Only." So in total, four separate layers for the side-scrolling shot? The background, the priest, the foreground props, and the foreground moving cars? The way it comes together is so seamless and coherent that anyone who isn't really familiar with The Sims (me for instance) would have no idea otherwise. Thanks! I look forward to seeing what you have in store for us next Friday! Those shots really stuck out to me the first time I saw “Only.” So in total, four separate layers for the side-scrolling shot? The background, the priest, the foreground props, and the foreground moving cars? The way it comes together is so seamless and coherent that anyone who isn’t really familiar with The Sims (me for instance) would have no idea otherwise. Thanks! I look forward to seeing what you have in store for us next Friday!

]]> By: Ricky Grove http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/05/09/zs-dissection-lab-3/#comment-12825 Ricky Grove Sat, 10 May 2008 00:19:23 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/?p=295#comment-12825 Really great dissection, Overman. The Croma-key technique can open up your filmmaking if used intelligently. Thanks for this! Really great dissection, Overman. The Croma-key technique can open up your filmmaking if used intelligently. Thanks for this!

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