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50 Point Bezier Matte is a filter for Final Cut Pro (and Final Cut Express) that lets you create a garbage matte with up to 50 points. Unlike the 4 and 8 point garbage matte filters that come with Final Cut Pro, 50 Point Bezier Matte lets you create curves between the points instead of straight lines. This allows you to easily create a mask to extract almost any element you need.
Each point can be turned on and off independently, so you only have to position the points you need, and the points can be animated using keyframes, allowing you to extract a moving object for instance.
The encoded version of 50 Point Bezier Matte is free. There are no watermarks or restrictions in the free version. The source code is available for US$40. If you are interested email me to arrange payment details.
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Screenshot of 50 Point Bezier Matte in use (124k) |
Version 2 is now available. This version mainly fixes a bug that has been annoying me about the filter since I first released it - that it destroyed the existing alpha channel of the clip you apply it to. Version 2 now has the option to preserve the alpha channnel of the original clip.
I have also improved point labels a bit, which can now be colored to distinguish multiple paths. You can also display a name for the path.
Finally, I have added an option to blur the mask. Unlike applying the Mask Feather filter after the 50 Point Bezier Matte, this option does not blur the on screen controls in preview mode, so you can see exactly what the matte will look like rendered.
Many thanks to all those who wrote in with feature ideas, even if they didn't make this release. Keep them coming :)
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Screenshot of 50 Point Bezier Matte 2 in use (120k) |
A Bezier Curve is a line drawn between two points that is bent according to two control points. If you've ever used vector graphics applications such as Illustrator, Freehand or Flash you will already be familiar with the way the control points alter the shape of the curve. If you haven't, these examples demonstrate how the line from point a to point b is altered by the position of the control points c1 and c2.
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If you're still curious about Bezier Curves, check out some of these sites:
http://www.moshplant.com/direct-or/bezier/
http://www.math.ubc.ca/people/faculty/cass/gfx/bezier.html
http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~dfg/AndysSplineTutorial/Beziers.html
The first step is, of course, to select a clip on the timeline and apply the filter, by selecting Video Filters > Tom's Filters > 50 Point Bezier Matte from the Effects menu.
Next we need to open the clip in the Viewer, either by double clicking it, or dragging it from the timeline to the Viewer window (you will need to drag if you are applying the filter to nested clips, since double clicking will open the nested clip's timeline).
By clicking on the Filters tab we can start to set the point positions. Each point defaults to the center of the screen, and initially only 2 points are active. Points 1 and 2 can't be turned off. More points can be activated by clicking on the 'activate' check box for a particular point.
Each point has two Bezier control points associated with it. The Bezier Control In point affects the line coming from the previous point, and the Bezier Control Out point affects the line going to the next point. Bezier control point positions are set relative to the yellow Bezier Target in the middle of the frame. When setting the control points, start close to the target to begin, and drag the point around to get used to how this works. Don't just click where you want the control point to be or you'll end up in a mess.
Click here for the guide to the controls on the original 50 Point Bezier Matte.
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These controls turn on and off the various GUI elements of the filter. None of these will be visible on rendered material, which will just show the mask. | ||
| Labels are only visible during previewing. You can enter a name for the path and show it on screen to help identify multiple paths. You can also change the color of the labels. | |||
| Alpha Settings affect weather the mask will reveal an area or cut a hole, weather the existing alpha will be preserved, and the softness of the alpha channel. | |||
| Curve Resolution is the number of steps between each point. Higher is not necessarily better. 10 - 20 is a good range. | |||
| The controls for each point are the same, and function as described above. The smooth option automatically calculates the Bezier Control In point to create symmetrical curves. Points 1 and 2 are always active. All points default to the center of the frame. | |||
| Points 3 to 50 must be turned on using the Activate checkbox before they can be set. |
Point Positioning: If you apply the 50 Point Bezier Matte to a clip that has had adjustments made under the Motion tab (rotation, positioning, scaling etc) you will have dificulty positioning the points. To get around this problem, select the clip on the timeline and from the Sequence menu select 'Nest Item(s)...'. Enter a name for the new sequence and click OK. Now apply the 50 Point Bezier Matte to the nested clip which will be on the timeline in place of the original clip. To edit the filter's controls drag the nested clip to the Viewer window. To edit the motion effects open the nested clip's timeline by double clicking it.
To install 50 Point Bezier Matte, simply download and expand the Stuffit archive below, and place the file '50 Point Bezier Matte' into your plugins folder (the location of this folder will vary depending on your OS and version of Final Cut). You can create sub-folders to organize the plugins folder if you like. The filter will be available the next time you launch Final Cut Pro (or Final Cut Express).
The most recent version is version 2. The original version is also available if, for some reason, you would prefer to use that.
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50PointBezierMatte.sit (8k) | ||
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50PointBezierMattev2.sit (8k) |
I don't have much time to work on this sort of thing, but I do love getting feedback and ideas for things to add to the filter. If you have an idea that you think would be usefull, let me know about it and it might end up in version 3. Or you could buy the source code and do it yourself :).
I am considering making the filter available in 100 point and 150 point versions, but I'm not sure if this would actually be enough use to anyone for it to be worth bothering. If you want more than 50 points, just let me know and if I get enough requests I'll do it.
Any feedback is welcome, but since this is just a hobby I couldn't say when the next release will be.
Send feedback to tomhenderson@mac.com.
This filter may be freely distributed in the form of the original stuffit archive. Please don't distribute the filter on it's own.
If you want to include the filter with a magazine, or will in any way profit from the method of distribution, you must first contact me for permission.
This document, the 50 Point Bezier Matte filter, and the 50 Point Bezier Matte v2 filter are copyright © 2003 - 2004 Tom Henderson.