promatt e/ v ersion 9 green screen compositing...
TRANSCRIPT
ProMatte/ Version 9Green Screen Compositing Software
Plus Instructions for the New Folder Graphics
TriPrism, Inc.
15950 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite M • San Diego, CA 9 2 1 2 7Phone: (858) 675-7552 • Fax: (858) 675-7553
E-mail: [email protected]
R e v. 2/1/ 0 2
Supplement to TEPS-2000 Operational Manual
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: IntroductionWelcome to TEPS-2000 ProMatte...................................................................1-1
Chapter 2: SetupLighting.............................................................................................................2-1Distance ............................................................................................................2-1Depth-of-Field...................................................................................................2-1Load TEPS Settings to Get Started ...............................................................2-1
Chapter 3: Setting Up PreferencesGraphics ...........................................................................................................3-1
Set Default Category....................................................................................3-1The Default Category in the Operations Window.........................................3-2Open Graphic Category Window at Startup.................................................3-3
New One-Up Prefs ...........................................................................................3-4Match Image Orientation With Template......................................................3-5Fit Image Into Template Using .....................................................................3-6Default ChromaKey Template ......................................................................3-6
Save TEPS Settings to File .............................................................................3-7
Chapter 4: Folder GraphicsUsing Folder Graphics Instead of the Database ..........................................4-1
How to Export Your Graphics Out of the Database .....................................4-1Where are the Graphics Folders Located?..................................................4-1Adding TEPS Sample Graphics to Graphics Folder ....................................4-2
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Chapter 5: Utilities – Setup ChromaKey TemplatesChromaKey Templates vs. Standard Templates ..........................................5-1
Graphics Object Tool....................................................................................5-2Step 1& 2; CK Template Utilities Buttons.....................................................5-2Step 3 & 4; Create New CK Template..........................................................5-3Step 5; Adding a Background Graphic.........................................................5-4Step 6 & 7; Selecting a Background Graphic ..............................................5-4Step 8; Resize to Layout Size......................................................................5-5Step 9 & 10; Adding an Image Object & Resizing .......................................5-6Step 11; Designating Image for ChromaKey................................................5-7Step 12; Adding Other Items........................................................................5-8Differences in Standard Template ................................................................5-8Step 13; Saving a CK Template ...................................................................5-9
Chapter 6: Operations Window – A QuickOverview of ProMatteThe Basics of How it all Works .....................................................................6-1
The Operations Window...............................................................................6-1Basic Procedures .........................................................................................6-2
Chapter 7: Operations Window – In-Depth View of PromatteSetup for Proper Exposure ............................................................................7-1How to Assure you will see Thumbnails of your Graphic Files..................7-1Getting Started with ProMatte .......................................................................7-1
New One Up Mode.......................................................................................7-1Select ChromaKey Template........................................................................7-2Aspect Ratio.................................................................................................7-2Drag Down a Green Screen Photo ..............................................................7-4
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Accessing ChromaKey Settings...................................................................7-5Step 1 Select the Background Color............................................................7-5Step 2 Clean Background Noise..................................................................7-6Step 3 Clean Foreground Noise...................................................................7-6Step 4 Fine Tune Selected Color.................................................................7-8
Swapping Backgrounds and Graphics .......................................................7-12Printing your Composites ............................................................................7-14
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1Chapter 1: Introduction
Welcome to TEPS-2000 ProMatte, with green screenbackground replacement capability!
TEPS-2000 ProMatte incorporates the event and portrait software ofTEPS-2000 with compositing green screen technology for backgroundreplacement.
Photograph your subject on a high contrast background such as a “greenscreen” and with minimal effort, replace the background with an imageof your choice (JPEG, PICT or TIFF format). Easily create high qualitycustomized composites!
ProMatte maintains the TEPS-2000 interface you’re familiar with andincludes the new features of TEPS-2000 Version 9 such as: graphicsavailable directly from the Operations Window via the new folder graphicsfeature (replaces the database graphics), support for the Kodak DCS-7xxseries cameras, built-in drivers for the new Sony UP-DR100 printers, plusadditional preference settings to help customize the program to fit yourneeds. Save and to reload your ProMatte settings for different lightingconditions, skin tones and/or hair colors.
ProMatte adds the flexibility of compositing special effects, combining hardto capture child and baby portraits with specialized backgrounds, creatingcustomized sports cards and magazine covers for schools and team sportsand creating specialized corporate event composites.
As always, you can use the camera of your choice and output to anyChooser driver and most dye-sublimation printers. Add graphics and/or text,create customized templates, and print with all the same automation andpackage options you’re used to.
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Chapter 2: Set Up
Lighting
Even Lighting is extremely crucial. Use 2 lights if possible; one on eitherside of the subject.
Distance
The subject should be 3-4 feet away from the backdrop.
Depth-of-Field
To make your background more realistic and to give it that depth-of-fieldlook, open it in Photoshop and apply a slight blur. It gives it a softer,truer look.
Load TEPS Settings to Get StartedTo get started right away, you should first save your current set ofpreferences to file if you are updating TEPS. If this is a new installation ofthe TEPS program, then you don’t need to save the current set.
For your convenience, there are sets of preferences saved for various typesof work and configurations. Selecting one of these is the best way to jumpin and get started.
To load a set of preferences, launch TEPS-2000 and from the main window(the 4 buttons and wizard), go to the top of the screen and pull down thePreferences menu. Select Load TEPS Settings From File (below).
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You will see several folders. Click the blue triangle next to Teps-2000 PrefsBackups so it is pointing down and displaying its contents (below left).
Next, click the blue trianglesnext to ProMatte Photofrom Camera ANDProMatte Photo fromPC Card to display theircontents (below). Decidewhich setting is for youand click the blue trianglesagain to locate the TEPS-2000 Pro Prefs file.Highlight the correct TEPS-2000 Pro Prefs and clickOpen. You will get amessage that you mustQuit and Re-Launch theapplication. Click Quit Now.
To use the Start Sitting button,you must have a software key.If you don’t and simply want todemo the software, then clickPreview Images to start. If youwant to use the Start Sittingbutton and do have a software key, then depending on your mode, you willneed to point to your PC card images folder or your Camera Hot Folder.See the TEPS-2000 Operation Manual > Preferences > Input ANDStart Sitting Settings.
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3Chapter 3: Setting Up Preferences
Graphics
From the TEPS Main Menu (4 buttons and Wizard) > Preferences (top ofScreen) > TEPS Settings > Select Graphics on the left side(see picture below).
Set Default Category“Graphics” is a new setting added to thePreferences since the previous versions. Youcan select a default graphic category here if youlike. The categories are simply folders youcreate for your graphics. Some categories have already been made for you(right). You can either replace these categories or add to them. They arelocated in the TEPS GRAPHICS FOLDER inside the TEPS-2000 PROFolder on your hard drive.
If the majority of your images are in the BACKGROUNDS Folder, thenselecting it as your default folder would save you time in the OperationsWindow.
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If you’re in the Special One Up Mode in the Operations Window ,you willsee a button labeled Change Graphic. If you click that button (below),you will see that the Category has defaulted to BACKGROUNDS and iscurrently displaying your selection of backgrounds in that folder.
If you’re in the New One Up Mode in the Operations Window (the modeused for green screen compositing) ,you won’t see that button. Instead, holdthe Option Key on your keyboard and click on the background currentlydisplayed in the Image Preview Window and you will get the same thing(below).
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Setting BACKGROUNDS as the Default Category in the Preferences
and Category is displayed as ThumbnailsOption Click on the Background
Click Done to Return to Regular Image Thumbnails
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That is what selecting a Default Category preference does.
OPEN GRAPHIC CATEGORY WINDOW AT STARTUPThis setting is for specialized swapping of graphics. Most operators will notuse this feature and should leave it UNCHECKED (below).
It requires the operator to design all of his templates and overlays the exactsame (with same cutout area) except for the actual graphic image. Hewould name his folders something like League A, League B, League C, etc.Each folder contains the same named files such as 001.pct, 002.pct,003.pct, etc.
When designing a Template for “Category Graphics”, use the GraphicObject Tool for the overlay andCHECK “Category can be changedbefore printing” (left) in the GraphicObject Settings, and click Apply.Save the template with a name thatwill remind you that you used theGraphics Object Tool for CategoryGraphics; e.g. “CG / 5x7 [Prt]” (CGmeaning Category Graphics).
By CHECKING the preference,“Open Graphic Category Window At Startup” (above, top), you will get awindow in the lower right hand corner of your screen when you enter theOperations Window (see next page), enabling you to swap out graphicsfrom each category.
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Please check the next update of the TEPS-2000 Operation Manual for moreinformation on this feature.
New One-Up PrefsThe New One-Up Mode is the mode used for Chroma Keying, or GreenScreen background replacement. In the Operations Window you will needto select that preview mode from the pull downwindow in the upper left hand corner of theImage Preview Window (right) wheneveryou choose to switch to Chroma Keying. Ifyou are using Green Screen for your entireevent, it would be a good idea to go to thePreferences, select Operations Windowon the left side and on the right side next toStartup In, pull down the menu and selectNew One Up Mode there. That way, yourscreen will default to the New One Up Mode
upon entering the Operations Window.
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Switch Categories to print theother Leagues (below).
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Match Image Orientation With TemplateIf this is checked, the image in the Image Preview Window will be rotated (ifneeded) to fit the currently selected template. For example, if you’re lookingat a portrait oriented image in the Image Preview Window (below left) andhave an 8x10 Landscape Template selected (below center), when you clickPrint Canvas, the image will be flipped to the rotation selected in the Rotatepull down menu (90º CW) before printing (below right).
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90º CW
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Fit Image Into Template UsingThis allows you to set a default for resizing.
Most of the time you would use Crop & Resize.This will crop and resize the image to fit theentire image area of the currently selectedtemplate (top right).
If you select Resize To Fit, the image will notbe cropped; just resized to fit the image area(bottom right) which may result in white areasaround the photo. Some photographers usethis method for contact sheets to display theuncropped images.
Default ChromaKey TemplateAssuming you have already made someChromaKey Templates, this preference allowsyou to select one as a default which will bedisplayed in the Image Preview Window whenyou begin your sitting. There are already a fewpremade CK Templates that you can use or delete. They are located in theChromaKey Templates Folder inside the TEPS-2000 PRO folder on yourhard drive. They are created by clicking the Utilities button, then SetupChromaKey Templates. See the Utilities section of this manual (thatfollows) to learn how to make them.
To change the current default CK template, click the Select button. This willtake you to the ChromaKey Templates Folder where you can select the
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template of your choice (below).
Select the desired template and click Open.
Save TEPS Settings To FileWhen you get your settings exactly the way you want them, you shouldsave them to file to reload at any given time, should you lose them in acomputer crash or someone else “plays” with them, etc. All the settings youmake will be saved including the links to your canvases and your sets ofpackages. You could lose an hour of your valuable time resetting links,
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setting up your packages, pointing to volumes and just trying to rememberwhat on earth all the setting used to be! PLEASE SAVE YOURSETTINGS!!! Remember, you might be on-sight with a lot of people waitingfor their pictures!
To save your settings, click the OK button (in the lower right hand corner) toexit the Preferences. From the Main window (4 buttons and wizard), go tothe top of the screen and click on the Preferences pull down menu. Select
Save TEPS SEttings To File (top left).You will get a Save menu (bottom left).The Name area is highlighted. Type ina name you would like to call your setof preferences (e.g. the Event Name
or maybe PC Cardsettings or Nikon D1settings). If yoursettings don’tchange often thenyou can just leavethe name as is,defaulted to thecurrent date. Youknow that the latestdate is the mostcurrent settings yousaved. Should youneed to reload thesettings (e.g., you’regetting oddmessages about
missing nodes or links or things just don’t look right in the OperationsWindow), then return to the Main window and pull down the Preferencesmenu and select Load TEPS Settings From File. Select your set, clickOpen, quit TEPS, relaunch TEPS and you should be on your way again.
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4Chapter 4: Folder Graphics
Using Folder Graphics Instead of the Database
Folder graphics is the new way of importing your graphics into TEPS-2000.It replaces the Database from previous versions. It eliminates databasecorruption and copying to Spooler folder and makes graphics availabledirectly from the Operations Window for quicker and easier application. Ifyou’re not ready to switch to folder graphics, the Database will still functionas normal. The Database will eventually be fazed out of the TEPS programin later updates.
How to Export Your Graphics out of the DatabaseFrom the database window, select a category on the right side. On the leftside, select a graphic to export. Go to the File menu at the top of thescreen and select Save As. Pull down the menu at the top (it currently saysTEPS-2000 PRO) and select Desktop (so you can easily find it when it’ssaved). Name the graphic and click Save. Continue with this process foreach graphic you would like to export, or if you have the original PICT filesreadily available elsewhere, you can use those instead of exporting from theDatabase.
Where are the Graphics Folders Located?Graphics Folders are located in the TEPS GRAPHICS FOLDER, inside theTEPS-2000-PRO folder on your hard drive. See the picture on the nextpage.
Overlays and graphics are still created the same way in Photoshop (RGBimages with an Alpha Channel, saved as PICT files) but are dropped intofolders now, INSTEAD of importing them into the Database. SolidBackgrounds used for compositing do not need Alpha channels and can besaved as PICT, JPEG or TIFF files. Keep in mind that TIFF files are largeand therefore will take longer to load.
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If you Updated your previous version of TEPS, you won’t have any foldersinside the TEPS GRAPHICS FOLDER (as you see above). If you do anEasy Install (1st time loading software) then you will. For those of you thatwould like those starting folders that did an Update, you can open the TEPSCD, double click on the TEPS-2000 PRO folder (on the CD) and drag theTEPS GRAPHICS FOLDER to your desktop to copy it. Eject the CD then
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Location of theTEPS GRAPHICS FOLDER
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open the TEPS-2000 PRO folder on your hard drive. Drag the TEPSGRAPHICS FOLDER from the desktop into the open window (TEPS-2000PRO). You should get a message saying “An item already exists in thatlocation. Do you want to replace it with the one you’re moving?” Click OK.
These folders are Categories. You can Add to or delete them as youplease. Simply place your graphics into the appropriate folder to make itavailable for use in TEPS-2000.
To add graphics to templates from folders, see Chapter 5 that follows.
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5Chapter 5: Utilities – Setup ChromaKeyTemplates
ChromaKey Templates vs. Standard Templates
ChromaKey templates are created specifically for ChromaKeying and aresaved to a different folder than the standard templates. They are savedto the CHROMAKEY TEMPLATES FOLDER inside the TEPS-2000 PROfolder on your hard drive. They provide the basis for your composite: thesize (e.g., 5x7, 8x10, etc.), the background, the image and any graphics. Inthe Operations Window in the New One Up Mode (the mode forChromaKeying), select a CK (ChromaKey) template, composite your photoand background and then select any standard template from the Canvaspull down list from the print tool bar. Your composite will fill all the imagenodes on the selected canvas. For example, if you selected a 4-up canvasfrom the print tool bar, your ChromaKey composite would print 4-up; thesame as the canvas.
What’s the difference between the 2 types of templates and why has thisnew button appeared?
The Setup Nodes and Setup Templates buttons work the way they alwayshave (See the TEPS-2000 Operation Manual for more details) with theaddition of one more tool; the Graphic Object Tool (below).
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Old Method
New Method
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GRAPHIC OBJECT TOOLThis tool replaces the Overlay Object Tool (previous page). The OverlayObject Tool is still completely functional for those of you who aren’t ready tomake the switch (because you are still using the database). However, whenyou do find time it will be beneficial to transfer your graphics to folders anduse the Graphic Object Tool when creating any new nodes or templatesrequiring graphics.
The Graphics Object Tool is also used when creating ChromaKeyTemplates. You use that tool to place a graphic background on thetemplate and again if you’d like another layer displaying graphics (a logo oroverlay, etc.). If you don’t use this tool (e.g. you use the Overlay ObjectTool) you won’t be able to swap out backgrounds or graphics in theOperations Window.
Standard templates (the ones you find linked in the canvas pull down menuon the Print Tool Bar) are used to determine what you want to print, whetherit is 1-8x10 sheet or a sheet of 8 wallets.
A CK template is the composite you make with image, background and/orgraphics that will drop into the Standard template. To understand it moreclearly, see the steps and samples that follow.
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STEP 1From the Main Menu, click the Utilities button.
STEP 2From the Utilities Menu, click the Setup ChromaKey Templates button.
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STEP 3Click Create New ChromaKey Template.
STEP 4Type in a size (right). Forthis sample it will be 5x7.Click OK.
You will havea blank canvaswhich is thesame as youwould see whenmaking a regulartemplate (right -note that bottomof template isnot shown).
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STEP 5Click on the Graphic Object Tool and drag it down to the blank canvas(below - note that bottom of template is not shown).
STEP 6Select abackgroundgraphic fromthe TEPSGRAPHICSFOLDER (TheOpen menuautomaticallypops up). Inthe sample atthe bottom,the graphic tobe used islocated in the“Backgrounds”folder.Highlightthatfolderand clickOpen(right).
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Click ontool,dragdown toblankcanvas,let go ofmouse.
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STEP 7To select a background, highlight the desired file and click Open. Apreview of the file is displayed to the right (below). In this sampleblueCloud.jpg is the selected file.
STEP 8There will now bea tiny backgroundimage on thecanvas (right). Toenlarge it to thecanvas size, go tothe Object menuat the top left ofyour screen andselect Resize ToLayout Size (rightinset).
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Click ShowPreview if youdon’t see apreviewedthumbnail
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Resized backgroundimage (top right).
STEP 9Click on the ImageObject Tool anddrag down ontothe canvas, thenlet go of themouse (bottomright).
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STEP 10To enlarge the image area to the full canvassize, go to the top left of the screen and pulldown the Object menu and select Resize ToLayout Size (right).
Image is enlarged (right).
STEP 11VERY IMPORTANT!In the Image ObjectSettings menu (it appearsin the upper right side ofyour screen), CHECK UseChroma-Key and thenCLICK APPLY (below). Ifyou don’t click APPLY,then even though itwas initially checked, itwon’t be applied. IfChromaKeys don’t work,return to the CK Templateand verify that the box ischecked.
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STEP 12At this point you would add any other graphics, text or stamps you wantusing the tools on the tool bar. Continue using the Graphic Object Tool foroverlays and/or graphics; just select the folder where those graphics arelocated. Use the Stamp Object Tool as usual to apply a stamp if need be.Keep in mind however, the standard templates that you may drop these intoare already stamped with the file name so unless you have other needs,you may not want to add a file stamp to the CK template. Use the TextObject Tool as usual to add text and the Editable Text Object Tool to addEditable Text. For help using the tools, see the TEPS-2000 OperationsManual.
NOTE: Making a standard template that is available in the Canvas pulldown list on the Print Tool Bar in the Operations Window will be exactlythe same EXCEPT:
• You start by clicking Setup Nodes or SetupTemplates (depending on the complexity ofthe template to be designed) from theUtilities menu (right).
• You don’t needto check UseChroma-Key(right).
• You will need tolink a standard template(right), whereas aCK Template is savedto the CHROMAKEYTEMPLATES FOLDERand does not need tobe linked. This messagewon’t appear with
CK Templates.
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STEP 13Save the CK Template. To do so, pull down theFile Menu (top of the screen) and select Save(right).
Name the file; in this case it has been named,“Sample 5x7 CK Template” (below). Adding CKto the name helps you from confusing it withstandardtemplatesshould yousomehowshuffle themaround bymistake.(merely asuggestion,not necessarythough)
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6Chapter 6: Operations Window –A Quick Overview of ProMatte
The Basics of How it all Works
The Operations Window (below):
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Image Shot on aGreen Screen (someother solid colorsalso acceptable)
Click here to change ChromaKey Template
New One Up Modefor ChromaKeying
CurrentlyselectedChromaKeyTemplate
Image Tool Bar - Availableonce an image is present inthe ChromaKey Template
Print Tool Bar - Select Printerand Canvas, then print
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Select your Printer.
Select the Canvas(Regular Template) youwant to print, from theCanvas pull down list.
The thumbnailin the upperright side of thePrint Tool Bar isrepresentativeof the canvasyou selected. Inthis case it represents2-5x7’s, portraitorientation.
Your composite will be placed inthe selected canvas 2 times, sideby side (below left).
Print Canvas (right).For compositing, see nextpage.
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File Stamps
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Select the ProMatte Mode: New One Up Mode (below).
To change the current ChromaKey Template to your desired selection, clickthe Change ChromaKey Template button (below).
Select the CK Template and click Open (below).
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The CK Template is displayed in theImage Preview Window (right).
Drag the green screen thumbnail down(below) into the Image PreviewWindow (below right), or, if you’redirect connect, snap a picture and itwill appear in the Image PreviewWindow automatically (unless prefer-ences state otherwise).
Click once on the image to access theImage Tool Bar (below).
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Pull down the selection menu(currently shows Shift/Zoom Image)and select Chroma Keying (right).
Follow Steps 1 through4 in order (right).
Follow instructions of yellow pop up menuswhich appear as you roll your cursor over eachnumber (below and right).
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Very little adjustment should beneeded here (#2, above) - if a lot is
required, reshoot a better lit picture.
Press the Enter key on your keyboard toenlarge area to adjust spill in step 4 (above).
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The Enter Key will take you to a full screen window (below) where you canzoom in to locate the spill area. Click #4 then the zoom tool.
When magnified, click once on a spill area and you will get a menu for finetuning the color (above). You should only adjust the top slider (SpillRemoval) for most operations. The other two sliders are for smoke andglass and similar transparent types of photos.
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Click Set As Default.In most cases, theadjustments you justmade should follow suitwith the remainder ofyour shots. Some situationsmay require adjustmentshowever, which may includedifferent skin tones,different hair colors,different backgrounds, etc.
If you save your settings, then you can load them again when youencounter specific situations.
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To swap backgrounds, Option Click once on the background in the ImagePreview Window. That will display the default category in the thumbnail stripat the top of the screen (below). If the category you need isn’t displayed,pull down the Category menu and select it. Note: you can change thedefault to open a different category in the preferences.
Highlight the background you want and click Apply. Click Done to returnthe image thumbnails to the strip.
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7Chapter 7: Operations Window –In-Depth View of ProMatte
Setup for Proper ExposureStart off by taking the right picture. Aim for EVEN lighting with minimalshadows.Shoot with a Green or Blue screen or similar solid background.You want a color that will be easily distinguishable from the subject’sclothing. A white background may be difficult since many people wear white.Light from both sides if possible. Have the subject stand 3 to 4 feet AWAYfrom the green screen. If you have a lot of green spill there’s a good chancethe subject is standing too close to the background.
How to Assure you will see Thumbnails of your Graphic FilesIf you are using graphics from other sources than Adobe Photoshop such asfrom CD’s, scanned images, clip art, etc., they may not show up as thumb-nails in the Operations Window. If they weren’t created in Photoshop whichcreates the thumbnail TEPS reads, then you should open them 1st inPhotoshop and save them again. This will create a thumbnail image whichyou should be able to see. If it still doesn’t, go back and check yourPhotoshop Preferences ( PS 6.x: Edit > Preferences > Saving Files >CHECK “Icon” and CHECK “Macintosh Thumbnail” boxes). After youcreate the thumbnails, place them in their various folders within the TEPSGRAPHICS FOLDER inside the TEPS-2000 Pro folder on your hard drive.
Getting Started with ProMatteNEW ONE UP MODETo use ProMatte ChromaKey, be sure you are in the New One Up Mode(below). If you plan to work mainly in this mode, select it as your default in
the Preferences so you will always be in thatmode upon entering the Operations Window.
Note: Refer to the labels in Chapter 6, (page 6-1) to locate the itemsmentioned in this chapter (e.g., pull down menus, Print Tool Bar, etc.)
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SELECT CHROMAKEY TEMPLATEFrom the Operations Window, select the ChromaKey Template you wouldlike to use by clicking the Change ChromaKey Template button (below).
Several default CK Templates havealready been created (if you did an EasyInstall). If you created some of your own,clicking Change ChromaKey Template
will enable you to select other CK Templates.
ASPECT RATIOKeep aspect ratios in mind to minimize surprisecropping. 5 x 7 templates are the same aspect ratio as2.5 x 3.5 wallets, whereas 8 x 10’s are the same aspectratio as 4 x 5’s (right). If you use a 5 x 7 CK Templateand drop it into an 8 x 10 canvas you will experiencecropping.
To illustrate this, select the Default ChromaKeyTemplate and drag down the sample Green Screenimage. If you don’t have the Default CK Template, youcan make one as explained in the previous chapter.
Zoom/Shift the image so it fills theentire area, with the top of the headjust touching the top edge of theframe (left). Note: Zoom shift may be slow becauseit is working with a high res file in ProMatte, not thethumbnail file.
On the Print Tool Bar (above) select an 8x10 printer and an 8x10 PortraitCanvas.
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ComparativeAspect Ratios
5 x 73.57 x 52.5 x 3.5
8 x 104 x 52 x 2.5
8 x 124 x 62 x 3
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On the Print Tool Bar (right) , click Preview Canvas.
Notice that cropping occurred on the top and bottom;his head is cut off and part of his lower arm is cropped
out of the picture (left).
Since a 5 x 7 ChromaKey Template was used butdropped into an 8 x 10 template, cropping occurred.
With the same image as is, select a 5 x 7 printer fromthe Print Tool Bar and a 5 x 7 Portrait Canvas (below).
Preview Canvas again. No cropping occurred (below left).
Now select the 4-WalletsPortrait canvas from the same5 x 7 printer (below) andPreview Canvas again.
No cropping occurred (above).
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DRAG DOWN A GREEN SCREEN PHOTOWith a CK Template selected (the Default ChromaKey Template has beenselected here, below left), drag a green screen thumbnail image (below
right) down into the Image Preview Window.
If you were experimentingwith CK Templates andwant to clear out thecurrent template, just clickthe Change ChromaKeyTemplate button andselect another CKTemplate.
With the green screen image in the Image Preview Window (below left),click once on the image to access the Image Tool Bar (below right) and theChromaKey Settings.
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ACCESSING CHROMAKEY SETTINGSPull down the menu at the top of the Image Tool Bar (it says Shift/Zoomimage), slide down to the bottom and select Chroma Keying (below left).
You will now see the 4 stepsessential to compositing your imagewith a background. Follow them inorder from 1 to 4 (below right).
C and M are the differentviews you use while goingthrough the 4 steps. C isthe Composite Image andM is the Mask (AlphaChannel).
STEP 1 Select the Background ColorSelect a color that is representative of themajority of the background and click once there(left); you may see a shift in colors after doing
so (below right). TheView defaults to C forstep 1.
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STEP 2 Clean Background NoiseWhen you click step 2 the image previews in Mask View (below).
The idea is to have little(far right) or no (left)background cleaning.If there are a lot of grayareas in the black back-ground then you should adjust your lighting and try steps 1 and 2 again.
If you still can’t get rid of shadows, try leavingthem alone and see if they blend in OK with yourbackground. To clean up, click and drag the cursor(left) over the gray portion(s) until you see a solidblack background (above center).
STEP 3 Clean Foreground NoiseWhen you click step 3 (below center), you remainin the Mask View (below right). In this step you
need to select theforeground gray areas.Start by dragging thecursor over the subject; in this sample, the cursoris dragged from the forehead down to the arms(right). See the next page for the results depend-
ing on your cursor selections.
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What you are aiming for is a white subject on a solid black background(below left). If you have a little gray area left after your 1st attempt (belowcenter), drag your cursor around the individual areas still present (below right).
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Selected Only Face A r e a Selected Only Chest Area Selected Only Arm A r e a
Ideal Results Gray Patch Left Drag Cursor Over Area
+ Z = Undo (or, Edit menu > Undo)Use the Undo keystrokes to undo steps you don’t want.
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STEP 4 Fine Tune Selected ColorClick step 4 (below left) to fine tune green spill. You will be back in theComposite View for proper viewing. The spill is the area around the edge of
the subject that looks like an outline usuallyconsisting of the color of your green screenbackground (below right in red outline).Therefore, if you are using a different colorbackground, your spill will be that color.
Ideally, you’d like to have NO greenspill or very little. If there’s a lot, youcan play with it but you will find thatyou will probably over-correct andcause the image to have an outlineeffect. Try re-shooting with differentlighting to lessen the green spill. Ifthere is very little spill you may beable to leave it alone and skip step 4altogether, depending on the back-ground you drop in. For example, theBookcase sample with lots of darksolid colors hides the spill more thanthe Light Gray or Cloud Blue backgrounds . . . something to keep in mindwhen selecting or photographing backgrounds for ProMatte use.
If you can see the spill easily enough in the Image Preview Window, thenyou can click once on any part of it. Doing so will bring up the Fine TuneColor sliders (see page 7-10) and you can make your Spill Removaladjustments.
If you would like a larger view than provided in the Image Preview Windowso you can zoom in to accurately click on the spill, then press the enter keyon your keyboard (see next page).
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Pressing the enter key takes you to a window with a larger view:
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To zoom in for green spill, you must 1stclick step 4 (above top), then click the ZoomTool (magnifying glass) to zoom to desiredenlargement (above top). To zoom out,Option Click the Zoom Tool. When you cansee the green spill clearly, click once anywhereon the spill (right).
Click Here 1st Click Here 2nd
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The Fine Tune Color Sliders appear. You should only adjust the top slider(Spill Removal) for most operations. The other two sliders are for smokeand glass and similar transparent types of photos (see blue screen imagesbottom of page).
The idea is to move the slider either left or right, keeping an eye on thespill area. Try to blend it in with the background or foreground so it is lessnoticeable. In the green screen sample shown on the previous pages, whenthe slider was moved to the left it accentuated the green - not what you’dwant. Moving the slider to the right slightly (below) changed the green to abrownish color similar to the hair color and blended in nicely
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Sample Images of Smoke (left) and Water (right) where youwould use the Transparency and Detail sliders to obtain theideal fine tuning.
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After completing step 4, click the Save & Closebutton on the Fine Tune Color slider window (right).
If you would like to Save the settings, click the Save Settings button. Fromthe Operations window you will be able to Load the settings as well as fromthis menu. You can click Set As Default which will apply all of the adjust-ments you made to any further images you use. If you don’t click the
Set As Default button here, you will be asked again upon exiting theenlarged view window. These settings are also available on the Image ToolBar when you return to the Image Preview Window (below left).
So select wherever you desire.
After completing steps 1-4 it isrecommended that you Save AsDefault. This will minimize workon your part. Saving Sets willcome in handyif you encounterdifferent situa-tions that call
for different settings (maybe due to hair color, skin tonesor lighting). By saving the settings you can quickly loadthem and eliminate the task of re-doing steps 1-4.
To Exit the Enlargement window, click OK (right).
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The following message will appear:
If you are happy with the results, click Save As Default.
The easiest way to clear the template to get back to your originalstarting point is to click the Change ChromaKey Template button (below)
and reselect the desired CK Templateand click Open. Drag the photo backinto the template, click on the image,select Chroma Keying from the ImageTool Bar and begin steps 1-4 again.
Swapping Backgrounds and GraphicsTo swap backgrounds and or graphics on a 2 layered CKTemplate (right), Option Click once on the backgroundin the Image Preview Window (hold down the Option Keyon the keyboard and click once on the background partof the picture).
If you have a multi-layered CK Template (more than 2layers) then you can option click on the background orthe graphic layer which will enable you to target all of thelayers and select the appropriate one. See the next page to view a3-layered CK Template.
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+ + =
Background ImageBottom Layer
ChromaKey ImageMiddle Layer
Graphic OverlayTop Layer
CK Template With Image Added
Note: The CK Template usedhere is the 5x7 CK Template.Click the Change ChromaKeyTemplate button to select it.If it is not there then you havean earlier version of ProMatte.You can build one of your ownusing the same basic idea.
{See Chapter 5 > Pg 5-2}
Option clickinga multi-layeredCK Template willbring up the SelectA Graphic Layerwindow enablingyou to select thetarget layer (right).
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The default category will be displayed in the thumbnail strip at the top of thescreen (below). If the category you need isn’t displayed, pull down theCategory menu and select it. Note: you can change the default to open adifferent category in the preferences.
Highlight the background you want and click Apply. Click Done to returnthe image thumbnails to the strip. Your selection will appear in the ImagePreview Window.
Printing your CompositesWhen composite is complete, be sure your printer is selected in the PrintTool Bar, select the canvas of your choice and click Print Canvas.For more details, {See Chapter 6 > Pg 6-2}.