Reduce Reflection on Wood (Vegas)

gdstaples wrote on 1/16/2006, 12:48 AM
I have got a nice interview with perfect lighting on the subject and background. The background is a mahogony fireplace and is lit very evenly with the exception of one minor hotspot where the softbox was closest to the background - yes should have flagged it.

How can I reduce this hotspot in Vegas? I was thinking a bezier mask with reduced opacity on a top layer but can't figure out how to make that happen.

Any pointers or links to articles would be appreciated. Vegas 6.0c.

Thanks,
Duncan

Comments

vicmilt wrote on 1/16/2006, 5:57 AM
Sometimes you can use this "gag" - depending on the nature of the errant background.

Grap a freeze frame and open in Photoshop. If you've got a good piece that you can cover the bad spot with (in Photoshop) - you can make a copy of the patch and bring it into Vegas.

Postion the patch over the bad spot.

Shift the upper track until you've replaced the hot spot with some usable stuff from somewhere else in the background.

If your camera was on legs, and you've got the right sized replacement piece, you're in.

If the camera is moving, zooming or hand-held, this won't work.

This can also be done directly in Vegas, using masks and two tracks, but I'm not the one for that particular tutorial... (I look up things like that, when I need them in the Help section - or I'll turn to my ever handy VASST Vegas disc).
gdstaples wrote on 1/16/2006, 6:10 AM
I appreciate the response. The interview was on sticks however I don't have a place that I can grab to super-impose over the area.

All I really want to do is drop the brightness down just a bit on that particular area only with a slight feather around the edges for smooth blending. It is a rather small area.

I am sure this is a job for a mask but a step by step would certainly help get me on my way.

Thank you,
Duncan
Grazie wrote on 1/16/2006, 6:30 AM
Duncan, email me a "frame" snapshot/grab. I'll make you a VEG. Yeah? . .Just got back from a dusty shoot and could do with a puzzle!

Grazie
busterkeaton wrote on 1/16/2006, 8:10 AM
Duncan,

Have you worked with bezier masks before? It seems like your initial solution is a good one. From the way I read your post, you need advice on how to work with bezier masks is that correct?

Once you mask out the area, there are several Vegas image correction methods you can use. Color Curves would probably do it.
gdstaples wrote on 1/16/2006, 8:11 AM
I need your email addy - I sent you mine via Vegas email.

Thanks,
Duncan
Grazie wrote on 1/16/2006, 8:22 AM
Hasn't appeared at my end yet? :(

Graҗie
johnmeyer wrote on 1/16/2006, 8:33 AM
I think your original idea is absolutely the right way to go. Color Curves may work, but if the reflection results in a blown out highlight, all you will get is gray, instead of the color of the desk. Therefore, you may have to offset the mask image to use part of the desk that is properly exposed and then use Color Curves to increase the exposure so that it matches the exposure at the edges of the mask. You'll probably have to blur things a bit as well.
gdstaples wrote on 1/16/2006, 8:34 AM
My email to you via Sony bounced:

deleted email...

Thanks,
Duncan
gdstaples wrote on 1/16/2006, 8:36 AM
Is there a way to copy a selection of video selected by the Bezier mask? If I could copy a section I may be able to blend it. It is difficult to get the sizing correct in Photoshop when doing a screen grab.

Duncan
Grazie wrote on 1/16/2006, 8:41 AM
emailed yah!

Stop with the Bezier .. pleas // ! Let me have butcher's at it ..

G
Grazie wrote on 1/16/2006, 8:42 AM
Duncan remove your email .. yeah? G
busterkeaton wrote on 1/16/2006, 8:57 AM
Duncan,

Use two tracks.

Track one Video with bezier mask showing only the highlight.

Track two the whole video. If the situation is right you can shift the bottom video slightly as per Vic's solution and you don't have to correct anything.
gdstaples wrote on 1/16/2006, 9:03 AM
Thanks Buster.... I will try that.

Graze - sent email at 9.67MB - ZIP file.

Duncan
Grazie wrote on 1/16/2006, 9:04 AM
The other method I've used is the a single Cookie Cutter circle or whatever fixes the shape . .and yes two tracks and either pancrop one or TM one.

G
Grazie wrote on 1/16/2006, 9:06 AM
Duncan! Are sending a "clip" 9 meg wont get thru! Just send me a Snapshot - please!

Oh do you know how to do snapshots? Grazie
Grazie wrote on 1/16/2006, 10:09 AM
Done it! . . I Cookie Cuttered it and used the lower column .. plus a bit of . .well you'll see ..

G
gdstaples wrote on 1/16/2006, 10:37 AM
If you could let me know what you did that would be great so I can reverse engineer it.

I will post the results and tutorial on my website in the next day or so.

Duncan
vitalforce2 wrote on 1/16/2006, 10:39 AM
I've used a Bezier on hot spots but if the spot isn't too "big" in the picture--you can also use the secondary color corrector to develop a mask and then (a) lower the gain on the masked portion / highlight, and (b) eyedropper a similar color from elsewhere on the mantle.

This though is for small or subtle spots, and not a major blowout.
johnmeyer wrote on 1/16/2006, 10:52 AM
I will post the results and tutorial on my website in the next day or so.

Yes, I'd like to see the VEG for this to see how it works.
gdstaples wrote on 1/16/2006, 11:25 AM
Graze did an excellent job. I am waiting to get all the files and VEG from him.

Duncan
gdstaples wrote on 1/16/2006, 12:30 PM
Graze just spent 30 minutes with me on SKYPE teaching me what he did. It is really very simple once one understands the concept. He is an excellent educator and I appreciate his time.

I am under a deadline until Wednesday morning but when done with my project I will create a Camtasia movie with step by step instructions per Graze.

Duncan
Grazie wrote on 1/17/2006, 12:05 AM
Yeah! It was great fun Duncan . . . G :-)