i'm wondering if anyone else has tried Chroma key work (better known as "blue screen") with mini DV camera, specifically consumer models, one's that are a little on the cheap side? i've been monkeying around with different applications of this technique, with some success, it's difficult, i'm seriously looking at the Canon GL1....
to add to the topic, it seems to me that the inheriant limitations on the dv codec, and export from a mini-dv camera is that i'm stuck with the dv codec. I think an analog camera, with an analog-to-firewire conversion board would allow me the best range and control over which codec i import onto my computer in, thereby allow me great control, hmmm...i'll be back, i have to rob a bank :-D

[This message has been edited by Wetsponge (edited 03-04-2001).]

[osiris]

You need a program like Adobe Premiere 5.1/6 or Adobe After Effects 4.1 to blue screen (or any other color). These include adjustable chroma key and alpha, luminance. etc and allows a wide range of image control. I can't think of any cheaper solutions

The quality should be at, or near broadcast quality from capture to print, just make sure your capture settings are set to High Quality. The level of quality you want in a camera is proportional to what you want to do with it. If you're an aspiring director or producer then get a Canon GL1/XL1 or Sony VX1000/2000, for goofing around get a cheaper model.
Sony also makes a Media Converter for Analog/Digital stereo I/O for around 300, but I think some other companies are now making them.

There is nothing too wrong with the DV Codec, it's quite amazing how high the quality can be. It's even exportable to mpeg1 & 2 for VCD and now DVD with no visible loss of quality.

good luck!
www.adobe.com
www.dv.com
www.apple.com (of course!)




[This message has been edited by osiris (edited 03-08-2001).]

[wulf]

to add to the topic, it seems to me that the inheriant limitations on the dv codec, and export from a mini-dv camera is that i'm stuck with the dv codec.

Well you can always grab analogue from the camera if that's the way you want to go. Any semi-decent miniDV camera will have an S-video out, as well as composite. Then you can choose what codec you use for capture, although in most cases this will usually end up being a form of motion-JPEG. Either that or capture to Component video and then compress... You'll get probably get an overall worse resolution, lower s/n ratio, more colour smearing etc. but hey that's analogue!

I have to say that in my opinion, any limitations in the DV codec are more than made up for by the convenience/ time-saving of the DV/ Firewire production route...

BTW, for info on chroma-keying with DV, you could have a look at the following:
http://www.2-pop.com/ http://www.videouniversity.com/

hope that helps,
Wulf

[moreno]

i tried to make the chroma via the after effects, but is very dificulty because
im not used a diffuse light (because the shadows that keep on the blue screen),
and the video image-compression dificults too the chroma project.

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[osiris]

In After effects you can add multiple chroma effects, each with different levels to control the keying and softness. Sometimes you need three or four or whatever it takes.

I wish I knew of an easier way, someone suggested Commotion to me, but I found that program useless for larger projects, maybe it'll work for you.

all the best

i have better luck capturing video off of my camera into premerie, exporting the footage to a quicktime file utlizing the motion jpeg codec and then importing again, and then doing to chroma key. that works better b/c the compression algorhythms actually clean up the lines in the video. I've been using actual "chroma key blue" paint on a surface and that helps a lot better than a tarp the trick was to have a consistant surface with consistant diffused lighting.