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Multi-layer Composite in Action

Published by: Autodesk Creative Finishing Training

Category: Action
Skill: Intermediate

The Trumpet Scene: This exercise introduces Action; Smoke powerful 3D compositing environment. You will composite and position elements inside an Action scene using the schematic and the object menu. Tools used in this exercise: Action, Keyer, Garbage Masks.


Tutorial Steps
1. Setup the Action scene 2. Key a green screen clip inside Action 3. Position the elements in the scene 4. Save and render the scene 5. BONUS: Add the remaining trumpet players

1. Setup the Action scene

In this video:
Enter Action
Choose the scene settings
Load a background image
Load a first media layer

Video: Setup the Action scene (03:44)

(click on image to open video player)

Lesson in written form

We will use Action to create a multi-layer composite.

Action is a 3D compositing environment where you can combine layers of multi-format media, cameras, lights, 3D text and 3D geometries.

In this lesson we will combine a backplate clip and three green screen elements onto a sky background.
The result will look like this.

To access Action:

1. Choose Thumbnail in the Source Area Layout. You will not see the Action button if you are in the Player view.
2. If Editing is enabled (blue LED), click on it to deactivate it.
3. In the EditDesk Library, enable the View tab on the “Compositing_Trumpet” source folder.
4. Click on the Action button.
5. Choose the None option.
6. Hold the ALT key to clear the module when accessing it.
7. Click anywhere on the EditDesk to enter Action.
8. And hit Confirm.

Set Action Preferences:

This is the Action module.
1. Change the duration of the composite: click on the duration field and enter 48 frames.
2. Deactivate Autokey to prevent animation (Yellow button on the right side).
3. Click on the Setup menu to access the Preferences.
4. Keep the default image behavior setting Auto Image.
With this option, each time you add new media an image object is also automatically added to the scene.
5. Choose a Hardware anti-aliasing sampling level in the Hardware AA box.
6. That depends on your hardware; choose the maximum level available in your system.

Load the background element:

We will load a sky image as the background layer in our Action scene.
The background layer does not participate in the 3D composite of the scene; it just faces the camera at the very back of the scene. But we still need it for keying and tracking purposes.

1. Select the Media tab.
This is where you load media clips to be used in your composite.
2. Make sure the loading option is set to From Desk and not From Lib.
3. Select the Background layer, which is labeled B.
4. Double-click it to load a clip on the EditDesk.
5. Notice that the cursor is GREEN, which indicates that you are selecting a back clip.
6. Click on the “Sky” image to select it.
Important: There is a hot spot to load clip: you have to click on the upper left corner of the thumbnail in order to select it.
7. You are back in Action.

Load a first media layer:

1. Click on (From Desk).
2. When you load new media, you are prompted to choose a Front as well as a Matte clip as part of the layer.
3. Notice that the cursor is RED, which indicates that you have to pick a front clip.
8. Click on the left top corner of “Trumpet_Backplate”.
4. The cursor turns BLUE to indicate that you have to pick a matte clip.
9. Click on the left top corner of “Trumpet_Backplate_matte”.
10. Back in Action, notice that an image has been added to the scene automatically because of the Auto-Image option.
11. Also notice that a media layer 1 has been added: the front part of the layer contains the image; the matte part contains the alpha.
12. Note: you can replace a media by double-clicking the layer.

Tip

You can also load Media sources from the Library instead of From Desk.

Tip

Action cursors are: red for Front, green for Back and blue for Matte. A white cursor prompts you to choose a destination for the processed result. If an image doesn’t need a matte, choose the front, then press Exit Clip Select to return to Action with an empty matte.

Tip

If the clips you need to bring into Action are in the timeline; copy them to the EditDesk first. Choose the Thumbnail layout (ESC) and the Record view (F5). Select the clips you want in the timeline (CTRL-click for multiple selection). Hold C (FCP user profile) or, F (Smoke user profile) and drag them to the EditDesk.

2. Key a green screen clip inside Action

In this video:
Load a green screen clip
Perform a key in Action
Add a garbage mask

Video: Key a shot inside Action (03:45)

(click on image to open video player)

Lesson in written form

We have performed a nice key on the layer but the green-screen does not fill the entire frame and there are elements that still need to be removed from the matte. To fix this, we are going to use a garbage mask.

Add a garbage mask:

1. Click the GMask tab.
2. Go the last frame (48) where the trumpet is up in the air.
3. Click Add Geometry to create a mask.
4. Click and lift the cursor to add a first point;
5. Continue to tap around the talent to add more points to the mask.
6. To close the shape; click on the initial point or click the Close button.

Adjust the mask:

7. Look at the Matte view. We need to adjust the mask.
8. Enable the Outside button to fill the outside of the mask.
9. Drag the Color value from 100% white to 0% black.
Now the trumpet player is the only visible object in the shot.
10. Go back to Result view.
11. Scroll the shot and adjust the mask over time if needed.
12. Click on the RETURN button to go back to the Action module.

Tip

To turn a Keyer Patch ON or ON click on the Patch blue LED. To reset a patch, click Reset and confirm.

Tip

If you want to start drawing the mask over again: Under the GMask tab, select All Nodes in the Selection Box. Press Delete and confirm. Then click on Add and draw a new mask.

Tip

You can adjust points on the mask, or you can manipulate the entire shape by moving the shape axis; either by dragging it directly onto the image, or use the Axis controls.

3. Position the elements in the scene

In this video:
Position the elements in the scene
Group objects in the schematic

Video: Reposition the elements in the scene (03:34)

(click on image to open video player)

Lesson in written form

The elements need to be reposition in the scene.

Display two Action viewers:

1. Switch the layout to two view-up.
2. This will allow the display of the schematic and the result view side by side.
3. Click on the View tab to select the layout, and choose 2-up.
4. Then click Exit View tab.
5. You can also press ALT+2 on the keyboard.
6. Click on the left window to put it into focus and choose the schematic view - hotkey is ESC.
7. The schematic is a node-based view, which represents the objects of the scene in a graphical manner.
8. Keep the result view on the right window. Result view hotkey is F4.
9. Click on the right window to put it into focus
10. Zoom out to see the entire frame.

Move and scale the trumpet player:

1. Select the Object tab.
2. The trumpet player should still be selected, but to make sure you are modifying the correct element, look at the schematic view.
3. Select the Axis on top of the image.
4. Scale it down to approximately 80%.
5. Slide the Position X and Position Y to place the talent inside the middle arch.
6. You can also drag the element directly in the player.

Parenting:

If you press Preview:
you will see that the 3K plate is outside of the HD window.
We could position the backplate separately but then we will need to also reposition the talent.
Instead we will group these 2 elements with a new axis and move them together.
This is called parenting objects.
Click on the result window (to get out of Preview mode).

Add a new Axis:

1. Select the Node Bin.
2. Under the ALL Nodes tab, double-click the Axis object.
3. This adds a new axis into the scene.
4. Locate the axis in the schematic, Pan if needed.
5. Put the axis on top of the two images, and with the cursor, pull a link that goes from the new axis to the axis of the backplate.
6. Then connect the top axis to the axis that controls the trumpet player.
7. Double-click the top axis.
8. That opens the Object tab and displays the controls for that parent axis.
9. Scale it down to 75%.
10. Also move it up in the Y position.

The Sky image is not moving because it is not an image object and is not part of the schematic: it is only in the back layer.
To add it as an image: you would need to add it in a media layer and then move it back in the scene with the Z position.

Tip

You can resize the viewers by clicking and dragging the window border. Layout hotkeys: ALT+1, ALT+2, ALT+3, ALT+4.

Tip

To reset a numerical field to its default value in Smoke: CTRL-click the value.

4. Save and render the scene

In this video:
Save the Action setup
Render the scene
Save the result clip in the Smoke library

Video: Save and render the scene (01:44)

(click on image to open video player)

Lesson in written form

To save the Action setup:

1. Press Save.
2. Type a name for your setup.
3. Press ENTER.
4. You can reload that setup later if needed.

To render the scene:

1. Go to frame 1.
2. Press Process.
3. A Player is available for the rendered clip in Action.
4. The result clip goes to the EditDesk.
5. Exit Action.

Save the clip in the library:

1. If you want to save that clip to the Library:
2. You can drag it on top of the Library Box and it saves it inside the selected library.
3. You can also select it in the EditDesk folders and press Save Selected.
4. The clip can now be edited to the timeline.

At this point you can continue with the next bonus video or you can jump to next tutorial exercise.

5. BONUS: Add the remaining trumpet players

In this video:
Return in Action with the Same clips
Add the two remaining trumpet players
Copy the keyer settings
Reposition the players

Video: Add the remaining trumpet players (03:53)

(click on image to open video player)

Lesson in written form

Go back in Action with the Same clips:

1. Click on the Action tab.
2. Press the S button to return with the same clips.
3. Click on the EditDesk.
4. If you have a problem, you can click Load and choose your saved setup.

Load the two remaining trumpet players:

5. Click on .
1. Choose the “Trumpet_Left” clip as the Front and also as the Matte.
2. Click on again.
3. Choose the “Trumpet_Right” clip as the Front and as the Matte.

Copy the Keyer setup:

Instead of re-building the entire key; we will copy the keyer effect from the media layer to the next one.

1. Select the keyer cell on the media 2 layer “Trumpet_Center”.
2. Click Copy on the Media tab, to copy the Keyer effect to the clipboard.
3. Select the keyer cell on media 3 layer “Trumpet_Left”.
4. Click on Paste. This copies the entire keyer module’s parameters from the previous layer to the current layer.

Because these two shots were filmed with the same camera using the same background, the key works for both.
But we need to adjust the mask:

1. Double-click the K icon to access the Keyer.
2. Go to the last frame.
3. Adjust the mask.
4. Scroll the shot over time if needed.
5. Return to Action.

Repeat the steps for the “Trumpet_Left” shot.

1. Select the keyer cell on the media 2 layer “Trumpet_Center”.
2. Click Copy on the Media tab.
3. Select the keyer cell on media 4 layer “Trumpet_Right”.
4. Click on Paste.
5. Double-click the K icon to access the Keyer.
6. Go to the last frame.
7. Adjust the mask.
8. Scroll the shot and adjust over time if needed.
9. Return to Action.

Connect and position the images into the scene:

1. Work in two view-up, press ALT+2.
2. Connect the top axis to the two new clips axes.
3. Double-click the left trumpet player axis and adjust it.
4. Scale it down (80%), and position it inside the left arch.
5. Repeat the steps for the last trumpet player.

Save your setup and process the new result.

Tip

Auto-connect nodes: SHIFT-drag. Hold down SHIFT and “kiss” the nodes in the schematic.

Tip

You can color correct a media layer in Action by double-clicking the CC field. As well, you can access the Color Corrector from within the Keyer: in the MasterK menu, under Colour, press the CCF button.

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1. Setup the Action scene

2. Key a green screen clip inside Action

3. Position the elements in the scene

4. Save and render the scene

5. BONUS: Add the remaining trumpet players