Painting out an object in a Video

**rogdodge** · 11-16-2011, 06:48 AM

Hi,
I hope I have come to the right place to ask this question.

Is there a program where it is possible to clone or paint out an object from a video film? Frame by frame if necessary.

I have an old film with a large hair on it, which I would like to paint out. I know this will be tedious but I have the time to do it and I am only talking about 2 minutes of film time.

I can clone out errors in a still photo and I wondered whether this was possible with a video. So far I have tried a number of video editors but they only change colours for the whole frame. I have not found one that will allow me to view one frame at a time and edit a part of it.

I have seen references to rotoscoping and thought this might be a possible way forward. I am a complete novice at this, as you will have gathered and perhaps what I am asking for is beyond current technology.

rogdodge

**Bpotter908** · 11-16-2011, 10:15 PM

Do you mean a hair on the lens of the camera?

Could you post a screen-shot of the offending footage if possible?

**rogdodge** · 11-17-2011, 07:11 AM

Yes I do.

I am posting two images. (after a number of failures)

**TimStannard** · 11-22-2011, 03:09 PM

If you're familiar with doing this with stills, I'd suggest you do precicely that.
Obtain a video editing program which allows you to export and import an "image sequence". Export your section into [120(seconds) x 25(frames per second - you're in Europe so I assume PAL)]=3,000 still images. Edit each of those and reimport. That's quite a collosal task.
Editing the first sample you posted in an NLE such as Sony Vegas Pro, which allows you to create randomly shaped masks) would be fairly easy for someone familiar with the product, but the second example would be a stinker though probably quicker than using the "image sequence" methos.

**rogdodge** · 11-23-2011, 02:27 PM

Hello Tim,

I tried the frame by frame option, which was my original thought, but quickly realised each frame has a slightly different colour hue. Matching it up is not feasible.

Your suggestion about NLE and masking would seem to be the way to go.

Thank you for your help.

rog

**martchap** · 11-24-2011, 03:25 PM

I suggest you download a 30 day trial of After Effects and use that. It's definitely one of the best tools for the job. You can edit the video frame by frame and if your familiar with photoshop the principles are very similar such as clone stamp. There's some good tutorials on videocopilot.com.

**Thurston Lang** · 12-12-2011, 10:05 PM

If that first shot stays static (ish) - yes.. you can do it....quite easily

2nd shot.... moving background.... not a freaking hope...... you will clone or paint out the hair.... but create a vaguely different pixel pattern each time you do so..... when this is run together - you just end up with a squirmy wiggly pixel shifting mess where the hair used to be.