Adding special effects to video clips

traingeekboy Nov 30, 2005

  1. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    Here is a small clip to show what can be done with some of the professional video compositing software out there. It isn't perfect, but I think you can see the potential for this kind of technology. Hopefully I can re-shoot this and do better on my second attempt.

    Train

    -I used Combustion as the software package.

    -Shot the train on a green screen background with tracking markers.

    -A still image was used with a tracker that told it when to move as the camera panned along with the train.

    -Finally, I had a marker on the stack so I could track a particle emitter that created the smoke.

    Tracking just means there is a element in the picture image that is being used as a reference for motion/location. the computer reads the image and then calculates and tells other elements how to behave based upon the motion of the trackers.

    Oh yeah, the scenery is a Photo by my wife and the engine is the Bachmann Connie.
     
  2. EricB

    EricB TrainBoard Member

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    Dial-up sucks. I'll have to check it out tomorrow at work.
    Eric
     
  3. EricB

    EricB TrainBoard Member

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    Geek,
    That's pretty cool. Brings a new element to the world of virtual model railroading. Just keep doing that and you would need a layout (ha ha).

    Eric
     
  4. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    He he he, Yeah it isn't really model railroading, but I was kind of impressed how convincing it looked even with the flaws it has, such as the stuttery background and the way the smoke sort of pops out after it turns black.

    I think if I had a clip of a train running on a layout with good scenery it would be easier to add the smoke effect and have it really look like it's there. Or maybe if I put it on a small diorama outdoors with the real sky for a back ground.

    Another thing that you can do with that is shoot video of trains on a layout and then insert a real sky background to make it look real. Or perhaps have moving cars in the foreground. there are tons of things that can be done.
     

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