Bluring a number plate

rvanner · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2006, 09:02 PM

Hi, I want to blur out a number plate but I am finding that the cookie cutter rectangle cannot be resized to fit the number plate. Any ideas on how to do this?

GTWCMT · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2006, 01:08 AM

I dont know how to do it with Video, But you should be able to mask it (using masks) and effects

yeebsy · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2006, 08:00 AM

Yup, in the pan and crop use the Bezier mask.

Mark W · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2006, 08:18 AM

Not sure if this is the best way, there are usually a few ways of doing anything in vegas, but this is how I just did it.

Put a track above the video in question. Fill it with a clip using the insert solid colour tool (in 'insert' menu in 'generated media'), select black as the colour. Then select the 'event pan/crop' icon on that clip. At the bottom of the window that opens, tick 'mask'. Use the 'ink pen' tool to draw a box around the clip (decrease the level of the track to make this easier, you can then see the track below). Put the level back up, now insert the 'gaussian blur' effect onto that track and only the part selected ny the mask will be blurred.

Edit, also you can use the track motion tool on the mask track to keyframe in any movements needed to follw the plate.

Hope that helps, if anything isnt clear there post again and I will have another go.

Andy Lockwood · #5 (**permalink**) 10-11-2006, 08:52 AM

The way Mark did it is pretty much the same way that I did it in the final few frames of Killer Queen (The joint winner in the Summer Comp

) , except, I duplicate the track below, apply gaussian blur, and mask.

rvanner · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2006, 11:41 AM

I tried to use that pen icon but I found it a nightmare to use. I managed to get it to create a rectangle but then re-positioning it seems impossible. Any tips on using it?

Andy Lockwood · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2006, 12:29 PM

If you draw the rectangle where you want it and then move along the timeline (as the number plate moves for instance) land at the point you want it to move, right click select all click one of the corners and drag it to the new position. You can also move any point individually too of course. This evening I will post up a clip using this technique to have a girls face in colour with a b/w background as I walked around her. Lots of keyframing and effort involved......