Mask Filter Question/Help

[Bassman]

Hello,

I am doing some work with a mask using the mask filter and wanted to ask about a usage issue I am finding.

The subject is moving a bit in my footage so I am moving the mask and adding keyframes. When I click and drag the mask I want to be able to advance the timeline with the left and right arrows. This would be the quckest workflow...move mask, arrow forward in time, move mask again.

What is happening is the left and right arrows continue to move the mask. So I have to click inside each window to "activate it" with every position! This is made worse by the CTI sometimes being moved from its position due to the click putting it somewhere else.

So I am asking if anybody has a workaround (there is that word again) to get to a better workfow? I seem to remember this working the other way in the past? No, yes? The current state is just too many clicks for this type of work.

Thanks!

[Jerry]

The mask is a great tool....when used in the right situation. For having a mask
and motion I use After Effects. Using the rotoscope tool
makes quick work of lifting elements out of a video. Most of the work is automated and you don't have to redraw the mask on each frame.

[Bassman]

I agree, After effects is always better at everything, but I prefer to work inside Edius as the mask is dealing with color correction in this instance. Other times I am putting a circle around an athlete and need to move it to follow the player.

So is there a better way? I do not have Edius 6 installed to compare if it was different but I think it was.

[GrassValley_SL]

Jerry, wou don't have to redraw to mask for every frame in EDIUS. You can adjust the nodes of your original mask. :)

[GrassValley_SL]

Hello,

I am doing some work with a mask using the mask filter and wanted to ask about a usage issue I am finding.

The subject is moving a bit in my footage so I am moving the mask and adding keyframes. When I click and drag the mask I want to be able to advance the timeline with the left and right arrows. This would be the quckest workflow...move mask, arrow forward in time, move mask again.

What is happening is the left and right arrows continue to move the mask. So I have to click inside each window to "activate it" with every position! This is made worse by the CTI sometimes being moved from its position due to the click putting it somewhere else.

So I am asking if anybody has a workaround (there is that word again) to get to a better workfow? I seem to remember this working the other way in the past? No, yes? The current state is just too many clicks for this type of work.

Thanks!

I don't understand your issue because I can move in the time line with the arrows .
I let EDIUS create the keyframes automatically so when I go back to the time I just click the keyframe.

Is it possible to do a screen capture so I can see what you mean? Maybe I can offer some help .

[Jerry]

Jerry, wou don't have to redraw to mask for every frame in EDIUS. You can adjust the nodes of your original mask. :)

I look at that as having to redraw. We need a quick select tool like photoshop, and automatic edge recognition after the first selection has been made.

If I have to adjust the mask on each frame that makes for a tedious workflow.

For putting a circle around an athlete, it is pretty easy. But, for detailed extractions it is a pain.

[GrassValley_SL]

That would be cool.
I have become proficient with the mask tool that the things I need to do I can do really fast.:)

[mattie]

@BASSMAN You can do what you want by re assigning the frame advance keys from the simple arrow keys to something else

you can make them alt+arrow

now when working in a mask the arrow keys will move the mask and the alt+arrow will move the cursor on the timeline

hope this is of some help - maybe this can be refined a bit more

goto settings> user settings > keyboard shortcut

category : Preview

Maybe a simple USB controlled would be the best option all round eg Shuttle-Xpress - altho I have not tested it!

[Jerry]

This is more of what I was referring to with video and the mask tool.

Rotoscope on Beach.mp4

[Bassman]

Thanks for your help Mattie. I re-assigned the move forward & back 1 frame keys to the number "9" and "0" and tried to work with the mask filter.

The new keyboard shortcuts were ignored! In normal editing, the 0 & 9 keys move the CTI one frame. When I open the mask filter the 0 & 9 keys are disabled and the arrow keys go back to moving the CTI one frame.

But, this issue still remains that a selected mask will "take over" the arrow keys and listen to their commands. So I do not think changing the keystrokes would work as it would follow to the new keys.

What we need is the timeline to remain active while selecting the mask in the mask filter. Or be able to assign separate command keys to move the mask so you could use the arrow keys to advance the CTI. Right now, it seems this tool has been hobbled.

Could I ask a GV person to look into this?

[PaulTV]

I had exactly the same problem when doing a multi layer mask on 3D material - I could not find a reliable way to advance frames and tweak, I kept moving points or the whole mask - all a bit dodgy!

So, I select all the items I want to add a keyframe for, Draw my first mask, hit "edit shape" ("A") then, to advance, I would make a single left click in the dark grey area under the Layouter "timelines" for the keyframes with the mouse, then advance with the arrow keys, adjust vertexes, then single click in the dark grey to use the arrow keys to advance or reverse. Doing this stops the timeline jumping around if you click on the cursor scale on the layouter timeline.

Paul :-)

[mattie]

the alt+arrow keys work for me - try them with alt

[PaulTV]

this works but I still need to let go my mouse and use two hands to move forward, then grab the mouse and adjust - my hand ain't wide enough to stretch from alt to right arrow... so doing 12,000 keyframes is painful!!

Paul :-)

[Bassman]

I don't understand your issue because I can move in the time line with the arrows .
I let EDIUS create the keyframes automatically so when I go back to the time I just click the keyframe.

Is it possible to do a screen capture so I can see what you mean? Maybe I can offer some help .

Steve,

Yes, the arrows work fine. The problem is when I click on my mask to move it, the arrows no longer control the CTI, they control the position of the mask. So I then need to click back on the timeline to activate the arrows to move the CTI. A lot of clicking and stuff when it would be so much easier if the arrow keys stayed controlling the CTI.

I seem to remember this was the way in Edius 6. Do you know if it changed?

[GrassValley_SL]

I don't have 6 on any machine so I cannot confirm if it worked the different sorry.