4 replies to this topic

[deceasar]

Just wondering if anyone has shot ink blots for use as an alpha matte.

I found a few decent ones on pond5 stock footage.
But if it's not too challenging probably rather just shoot it myself.


any advice or tips?


Thanks

[hamax1]

I have done this quite a bit. used most effectively here to reveal the Tree diorama:
Super simple way to do it:

cheap black ink, india ink or caligraphy ink is nice but sometimes expensive (you are gonna waste a lot so go affordable, and buy extra)

1 piece of plexi glass or glass aquarium (like for fish or reptiles)

1 squirt bottle or easy water source (to wet paper)

absorbent yet thin paper, I used paper towels, coffee filters, and cheese cloth to varying effect

lights

thin wooden skewer or squeeze bottle

method: spike the camera below the glass, put the paper ontop of the glass, wet paper with squirt bottle, mark the paper (with ink) and focus camera, set up lights to blow out white a lot but don't get too fancy, can adjust levels later. hit record, drip ink onto paper at the same location to make it spread from that location (using a thin wooden skewer or squeeze bottle is helpful here).

Let me know if this is clear, I will look for my raw files but I think they are less than 720p.

There is also a method to clean up footage and help the ink blot spread using black masks and shapes and applying "roughen edges" to match the texture of the ink and help it spread into trouble areas.

-m

Edited by hamax1, 05 January 2012 - 10:26 PM.

[edrhine]

exactly as above.. not very difficult and works really well. Plus you can tell the few stock elements out there from a mile away

[deceasar]

Thanks so much. It is good to know i was on the right path. I really appreciate it man!

Gonna go get some supplies.

I was gonna start buying stock but I have time and I'd way rather do it myself.

Edited by deceasar, 06 January 2012 - 07:45 PM.

[hamax1]

so, how did it turn out?