Week #13: Difference Animation HOW TO

THE DIFFERENCE MATTE EXAMPLE
This process compares the two images, and removes everything that matches identically, leaving only the foreground object/actor.



NOTES & HOW TO EXPLANATION:

Both shots are Locked-off
NOTE: a "clean" background is referred to as a clean plate

SHOT SET UP
These shots are as follows:
Frame two shots. These shots must be locked-off or motion stabilized to match.
Any offset will cause the matte effect not to work properly.

COMP SET UP
Layer 1 holds the animation ( Screen with actor in front of it)
Duplicate the layer.
Layer 2 holds the freeze frame (Screen has no actor in front of it)
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Create the Freeze Frame
Layer 2 will hold the freeze frame layer.
In the Timeline place the CTI in a frame with no object/actor. It should be a clean view of the background.
select Layer > Time > Freeze Frame
[RESULT: a square is placed in the Timeline at the CTI location ]
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Apply the Difference Matte Effect
1. Apply Effect > Keying > Difference Matte to layer 1 (the layer with the animation)

Change the Difference Layer setting in the Effects Controls
2. In the Difference Matte Effect Controls for layer 1, Difference Layer to 2. freeze frame
Adjust Tolerance ( Increase/decrease %) to fine tune the image
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Animation to Disappear
Set a couple keyframes to increase Difference properties to have the object disappear
In Layer 1,
adjust the Effects, Difference MAtte,
_ increase Matching Tolerance
_ increase Matching Softness
_ increase Blur Before Difference