6 Replies Latest reply: Mar 12, 2014 3:33 PM by owiseone61755 RSS

    Understanding Track Matte Keys

    owiseone61755 Community Member

      I'm new to keying and I've created something that has confused me.  My basic understanding of track matte's are that they cut a hole through the track being keyed in the shape of the selected track above it so you can see through to the track below it.

       

      In this first example that is just what I did and it worked as expected:

       

      No tint:  https://vimeo.com/88616908

       

      The first example The strip scenes are on track 3, The "las vegas" title is on track 2 and the oceans 11 tracking shot is on track 1.

       

       

      In both examples the track matte is placed on track 2 and the selected matte is track 3.  They both use Matte Luma.

       

      In the second example though I have the title on track 3, the strip shots on track 2 and the oceans 11 shot on track 1.

      If the track matte is supposed to be in the shape of track 3 I don't understand what it's doing.  It appears to work basically the same but there is a tint to whats inside the title letters.

       

      Tint: https://vimeo.com/88616907

       

      Basically I don't understand what its doing in my second example and I would like someone to explain to me whats happening. 

        • 1. Re: Understanding Track Matte Keys
          Ann Bens CommunityMVP

          Can you post a screenshot of your mask.

          • 2. Re: Understanding Track Matte Keys
            SAFEHARBOR11 Community Member

            I'm going to guess that there might be some COLOR in the matte? Should be black and white. ONLY black and white used for pure keyhole cutout, or shades of gray for semi-tranparent areas.

             

            Thanks

             

            Jeff

            • 3. Re: Understanding Track Matte Keys
              owiseone61755 Community Member

              I got that backwards. 

               

              The first video:

               

              3. Vegas title

              2. Strip shots

              1. Oceans 11

               

              The second video with the black/white looking filter

               

              3. Strip shots

              2. Vegas title

              1. Oceans 11

               

              No filters or colors are applied to either.  The only difference between the two is the order of the tracks.  I have no idea why the second example appears to have a black/white tint to it. 

               

              I would like to be able to create a black/white tint through a mask like this in the future but I don't understand why it's happening in this example. 

              • 4. Re: Understanding Track Matte Keys
                SAFEHARBOR11 Community Member

                Well I think you just answered your own question. I haven't used Track Matte in forever, but I believe there is a certain order that the tracks need to be stacked. Put the order of the tracks as you did the first (successful) time and that should do it for you then! Also, when I referred to colors, I meant did the video source (title) being used as the Matte have colors in it? Not did you apply any color effects.

                 

                Regards,

                 

                Jeff

                • 5. Re: Understanding Track Matte Keys
                  owiseone61755 Community Member

                  Forgive me.  The fill color of the Las Vegas text is white with a lime green outer stroke.  I guess the reason I'm asking is because I would like be able to achieve the results in the second example but doing so "in the right way"  I like how you can see the color of the outer stroke and the strokes are transparent.  In the first example the strokes just become more like a blurred border and lose the color of the outer strokes.

                   

                  Also, I don't understand how the second example is working with the Vegas strip clips on the top layer.  If the matte is just a video with no discernable shapes to matte with how is it even working?  Can someone explain this to me?

                  • 6. Re: Understanding Track Matte Keys
                    owiseone61755 Community Member

                    matte example.jpg

                    Hi Ann, I made a few more posts on the end of this thread elaborating on the issue.  My description of the track order for each video was wrong in my original post. whoops!