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Using channels in After Effects


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I'm new to working with AE and channels so I need some help, I've rendered out my scene as different channels and I'm putting them in after effects so that I can have more control over the scene. One thing I want to do is replace my sky with another one so I've rendered out a VrayBackground channel and now I need to figure out how to isolate that channel so that my sky background will show through. I'm also using AE CS5 if that makes any difference.

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look in to track mattes.....

 

place the render element above the new background, and change the track matte to be the layer above it.

 

look to the right of the name of you replacement layer and you'll see a drop down list of other layers in the stack.

 

(sorry I just had my machine rebuilt and don't have AE installed yet otherwise I'd post a screen shot)

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I've received some good advice from Chris Grant, Nils, and Fooch in regards to using multimattes, and adjusting color base don Z-Depth. Perhaps you could get some info from there.

 

I think the multimatte directions might be applicable on how to isolate channels for replacement or adjustment.

 

http://forums.cgarchitect.com/61028-vray-multimatte-adjustment-layer.html

http://forums.cgarchitect.com/63253-color-adjust-via-z-depth-channel.html?daysprune=100

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One thing I´d add is that if you rendered a z-depth pass, you can use the LENS BLUR effect to simulate depth of field. It uses the luminance information of your z-depth pass to blur the image accordingly. It´s not as accurate as the one out of MAX but its sure pretty fast and convincing. Good luck.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Try lenscare frischcult as well if budget allows...

way better than AE's lens blur.

 

Another trick is precomping the Zdepth pass so within in you can adjust levels or mask certain bits to control the how "dark/light" your z-depth is .. (which then allows you to control your Depth of Field blurs) Example: If I want to make my FG really focused i would make it really white in the Zdepth layer)

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