Apple Motion : Difference Keyer Tutorial

A quick tutorial that shows you how to make your own difference keyer in Apple Motion, together with some tips on getting around the problems associated with this technique.

[@swbhlearningdevelopmentdep6178]

Thanks again Simon. Plenty here to get my head around, another good tutorial.

[@toddlask]

im enjoying your mini motion tutorials run! im seeing u use the levels/alpha trickery more and more... very interesting

[@timbeaton5045]

Nice. as I said last time, some simple straightforward projects are great. Tried the one from yesterday, and got into a few knots, but i managed to get most of it up and running. And actually learned some stuff in the process. Just keep 'em coming! PS have been using the Hawaki Super split and Super Glow plugins. Really happy with them.

[@jjk246]

thanks Simon and stay save also!

[@anthonybrown1577]

Simon been at it again, nice one si keep it rolling n thx again for your time n insight

[@stepsisfn2744]

Great and helpful tutorial just tried it and it worked perfect. I also wanted to asked if you can make a Video about how to animate affects like an explosion or some magic stuff in a for example camera shot where a person runs through a forest or over a field. Stay safe everyone!

[@GJamesBerigan]

I’ve been doing something rather similar in Final Cut Pro (7 and X) without using Motion, and this Motion tutorial may make what I do a lot easier in FCPX to reproduce as a filter effect. Thank you!

[@GJamesBerigan]

Turns out it isn’t quite that simple. It feels like I’m wrestling with Motion and/or FCPX bugs replacing the images with drop zones. I’m using it as a filter on a compound clip intended as a midground insertion. The compound clips I’m dropping in the wells get zoomed in 178% and don’t align with each other or the timeline. I’m using Motion 5.4.7 and FCPX 10.4.10 as I’m still dependent on Mojave 10.14.6.

[@rap819]

Thank you

[@lzfp8699]

Simon thanks for all your hard work. I have LOVED your tutorials in the past. I learn so much from you. Quick question: often times when you start a project you make clones of objects, texts, etc. When do we use clones over the original and what is the advantage as I learn to set up my own projects. Stay safe everyone!

[@SimonUbsdell]

Thanks for your kind comment. I made a tutorial specifically to address the subject of Clones which I hope answers your questions, but please let me know if there's anything you still find puzzling: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXKsm5Rof7ZnnMk

[@lzfp8699]

@@SimonUbsdell you are the best!

[@MarkBowenPiano]

Is it possible to get this working on video? I know that obviously this is a 'video' application being used here (Motion) however I tried this out on a static shot of my piano and then a video of my hands playing and I don't get very good results at all. You can see through the hands to the keys in a weird sort of way. I don't get just the difference in the two clips. Anyone any tips / ideas on how to get this working well other than me painting all the keys green ;-)

[@GJamesBerigan]

I think what you’re getting is not just the difference of your hands vs the bare keys but also the travel of the keys as they are played. That key travel will be a difference seen on any replacement background. Have you tried miming the playing of the keys?

[@wintyrqueen]

Couldn't get this to work on video. Simple shot walking up stairs, with a locked off camera shot of the stairs as the background. Couldn't get anything but unusable ghosting