best way to remove wires in after Effects

[J***@adobeforums.com]

I'm going to shoot a short using wires like the matrix. whats the best way to remove them.

[A***@adobeforums.com]

that depends entirely on how you are shooting it. Do you plan on using locked off (or at least slow-moving) cameras?

[J***@adobeforums.com]

Yes the camera's will move slowly and will be stationary most of the time during those scenes.

[N***@adobeforums.com]

Don't the new AE 6.5 plug-ins include a simple wire remover?

[J***@adobeforums.com]

I have 6.0 if it does I'll get it. Has anyone heard of something called Edge masking?

[P***@adobeforums.com]

I don't know if this is the same thing but one method for getting out wires is to shoot your scene twice. If the camera is in motion, you would need to make sure each shot is done exactly the same. Shot once with the action in your shot. Then without, just a clear shot of your background. Lay the two layers of footage on top of each other in your composition and use the masking tool to remove the unwanted portions.

[P***@adobeforums.com]

Did you try just cloning them out (assuming an out of focus or uniform background)?

[D***@adobeforums.com]

AE6.5 supposedly has a wire removal plugin (think it was part of FE). Not sure how well it works (I'm still waiting for my upgrade to arrive......), but I'd definately try the clone brush. Think that's probably your best option.

[J***@adobeforums.com]

jodi,

the simple wire remover is pretty cool. i have to say, especially getting it for free in ae 6.5 pro.

have tried it out and it works pretty well. you do have to go a couple of frames at a time and set the beginning and end of the wire remover. it is basically a setup like the basic lightning tool. you put a start point and an end point and keyframe it as time moves on. it does a fairly good job with some tests i have ran on it. if you don't want to spend the money to upgrade i would agree that the clone tool would be useful and would work pretty well, probably just as good as the basic wire remover. also- i think in some cases making a mask for the wire and then shooting a background plate is easier-just my opinion.

and you have to respect that pretty much everyone has tried to do some special effects from the matrix.

anyway good luck and post how things are going on this project.

[J***@adobeforums.com]

plus, if you have the money laying around i would pick up ae 6.5pro, it come with a ton of new effects since adobe bought up the cult effects, which is the pack the basic wire remover is from