Tips on using the AI Background Removal Tool in PowerDirector

Cyberlink just added a tool that allows you to isolate a subject and remove the background when working with a video clip. The tool has some promise and some limitations. We offer some tips on how and when to use this with your video clips.

[@LadyVintageBags]

Thanks for taking the time to show all the different examples!

[@SharperTurtle]

You are welcome. The subject you use makes a big difference in the quality of the outcome. I expect that as this is refined it will become better at working in diverse footage. --Jim

[@donaldcashman570]

Thanks Jim, very useful. I have been using AI for a variety of subjects but your examples open up some new doors of creativity.

[@SharperTurtle]

You are welcome. Glad to show both the possibilities and limitations of this tool in its current form. --Jim

[@PalmFronds]

Thanks Jim, this is actually a great start. It's not quite ready for serious use yet, but I have no doubt it will improve rapidly. I was quite impressed for what it achieved in this first release.

[@SharperTurtle]

It certainly has potential. I don't know what kind of programming it takes to separate foreground pixels from background pixels for every frame in a clip, but the challenge of getting it right must be massive. --Jim

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Well I'm surprised, it actually worked quite well. Not a replacement for green screen yet but it looks promising.

[@SharperTurtle]

Hopefully it will become more robust in the future. It's a step in the right direction. --Jim

[@WiljanWiljan]

Very impressive. Would be great to improve and extend this feature even more moving forward.

[@SharperTurtle]

Hopefully this is only the beginning of what they will do. --Jim

[@RoadsideRC]

Thanks! I have never used that feature before!

[@SharperTurtle]

It was just released, so I thought I'd unpack it for PowerDirector users. Thanks for checking this out. --Jim

[@byhark1]

I like the ability to e able to blur the background or remove it, but will have to work with it a bit before I think about publishing anything with it due to its many artifacts and variations... As it improves, the usage will improve as well... Thank you for sharing this feature, Jim...

[@SharperTurtle]

You are welcome. It's obviously a limited tool currently. I can't imagine the difficulty of distinguishing between adjacent pixels in every frame of a video clip. Huge task. --Jim

[@tpcomcam]

Thanks Jim - I think this BG remove has a way to go yet! David.

[@SharperTurtle]

David, I totally agree. It's a challenging piece of programming to pull off--Identifying which pixels in each frame belong to the subject or the background. And it would be especially difficult if they were similar colors. --Jim

[@glenbarker7515]

Thanks Jim for the info. I will experiment.

[@SharperTurtle]

Hopefully you will find some situations where this will be helpful. --Jim

[@smurfettetutorialchannel8248]

I love your voice it's so soothing

[@SharperTurtle]

Thanks! That's unique feedback. --Jim

[@AncientAdventures]

Good Video and examples.

[@SharperTurtle]

Thanks for your feedback. --Jim

[@corb4969]

the clips from Power director are perhaps the best explained clips you can find! very good! and also good, the clips are not too long!

[@SharperTurtle]

I'm glad you find these useful. --Jim

[@RamsyPlays]

What editing software are you using in this video.

[@SharperTurtle]

Great question. I use Camtasia for screen capture and PowerDirector 365 to produce the finished tutorial. --Jim

[@udasinsan2589]

Please Help Me What Can I Do YOUR Version is 365 2024

[@SharperTurtle]

When I try to tag the versions of a tutorial I use something like (2024 /365) because it separates it from earlier products. It does not distinguish the difference between PD 365 and PD 2024 Ultimate or PD 2024 Ultra. I would have to own all 3 programs and compare and contrast between the three of them in order to distinguish between product features. That's not feasible for me. The tutorials are built around the 365 Subscriber product with the understanding that some of the features will not be available for the other two options. It's the best I can do with this multi-tiered product. --Jim

[@shipyard44444]

I have powerdirector 365 (2024).can't see AI background removal.its not between chroma key and pan/zoom.any idea

[@SharperTurtle]

This feature was added in November. Use your CAM (Cyberlink Application Manager) program to get the newest update. It should show up after updating your copy of 365. --Jim

[@DonJoyce]

Not too bad, particularly when the viewer is focusing on things other than the edges. I just wish they didnt slap "AI" on everything that is just complex.

[@SharperTurtle]

AI is the new buzzword that most every marketer has embraced. I'm afraid we will hear it until the public tires of it and the marketers go a different direction. --Jim

[@udasinsan2589]

i can not see Ai Background remover opsion ** I am Using Powe Director Ultimate Suit 2024

[@SharperTurtle]

Looks like that is currently only available with PD365. Here is a link to the comparison chart from Cyberlink. www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector-video-editing-software/comparison_en_US.html Jim

[@udasinsan2589]

@@SharperTurtle AI Image Generation NEW -NO AI Background Remover NEW NO AI Sticker Creator NEW No in PD Ultimate Suit 2024 these Function Not Available Thanks Alot I am Just LOOKING LOOKING and LOOKING Again Thanks Alot Really SAD Now What Can I Do

[@SharperTurtle]

Cyberlink seems to want to encourage users to migrate to the subscription model. But that choice on your part or mine really depends on the focus of our editing. Some of the newest tools are great while others need some maturing to work the way we would like. Some I will use occasionally. Some almost never. So the direction you go depends on what your editing objectives are and if any of the new tools seem critical to that or not. I'm glad Cyberlink has not abandoned users who want to buy a perpetual license, but the difference between the two programs can complicate the decision making. --Jim

[@udasinsan2589]

@@SharperTurtle the subscription model Have Audio And Color Pro Setting

[@udasinsan2589]

@@SharperTurtle I Buy Power Director Ultimate Suit Because it Have Audio and Color Director I need BOTH

[@shipyard44444]

Found AI background remover but cant use it because "core processor" cant handel it.

[@SharperTurtle]

Too bad that this requires a certain level of processor. --Jim

[@neilforbes416]

It wouldn't be so bad if, when Cyberlink offers the "free download", then you should get the *FULL VERSION,* not just a trial or a bare-bones version. Then we could use this function to our heart's content.

[@SharperTurtle]

It would be great if anyone could experiment with it. --Jim

[@neilforbes416]

@@SharperTurtle AI(Artificial Intelligence) should be *HEAVILY RESTRICTED* to audio and video applications. Video: background removal(as you've demonstrated) and Audio: digital extraction of components of a mono recording(vocals and various instruments in a pop song) so as to reconstruct the song in a genuine-sounding stereo effect.

[@neilforbes416]

I'd like to see this feature as a free add-on, retro-fitted to PD versions as far back as PD17.

[@Mediawatcher2023]

@@neilforbes416 there shouldn't be a free trial version of any video editing software it should be *FREE*

[@Mediawatcher2023]

@@neilforbes416 exactly what has been done to John Lennon's demo tape Now & Then.

[@adamp4333]

New to video editing, but tried out a few video editing programs and overall disappointed with this one.. similar priced competitors, like filmora, allow you to paint and edit frame-by-frame for this type of video mask/cutout effect. It's not nearly as quick to render and sometimes requires repainting troublesome spots, but seems like the AI is much better than this... All my attempts with powerdirector produced videos with far too many artifacts and distortions to be usable, unless the goal is to be goofy. Other software let you modify the parameters for better fit, re-mask and process from any point, or manually alter each frame with relative ease. Not to say this software has some perks vs others, but after limited testing this just feels like it's only able to handle simple editing like transitions, while more advanced features could be appreciated by children but disappointing from my perspective. *However, please let me know if I'm missing something (e.g. options for more specificity, like selecting specific profiles or objects, or if there's any manual editing control)

[@SharperTurtle]

I have 4 video editing programs, and wish one of them had all the benefits of the four collectively. No matter which one I use, there are advantages and disadvantages. And each has it's own learning curve and stylistic format to figure out. Hopefully, each development team looks at the competition and tries to build in some of the best of what each other is doing. Then you have to factor in price--not only to start with but the cost of keeping up with enhancements over time. And the bottom line will be tied to what your editing is like most of the time. Where do you spend your energy? There is a lot that PowerDirector can do that is not obvious. That's one reason I've produced hundreds of tutorials. Yet there are some things I wish were designed differently. As you assess the field of options, I hope you find an NLE that works great for you. --Jim

[@secrets461]

The AI function is useless then. All the examples look horrible. You can't help the impression Cyberlink included the tool just to add the abbreviation everybody's talking about (AI) to the list of the available program features.

[@SharperTurtle]

There is certainly some marketing going on. But I also believe it's an honest attempt to do something that is incredibly complex. How do you differentiate the pixels in an object from those outside it? Our brains know that instinctively. How do you develop a program that doesn't have 10 million lines of code to differentiate that? Huge task. --Jim

[@secrets461]

@@SharperTurtle True, but would take medicine that's undergone only half the test required? If the AI functionality has been added, the presumptiom must've been you could make use of it.

[@SharperTurtle]

Good point.

[@KTHKUHNKK]

Not too bad

[@SharperTurtle]

Considering the challenge of figuring out what pixels belong to the subject and which ones, to the background, it's not a bad start. So far it can't begin to match how our brains can make that distinction. --Jim

[@emmettfitz]

impossible to watch.. too many commercials.

[@SharperTurtle]

That's odd. I just tried viewing it anonymously and had a commercial at the front end that I could skip after 5 seconds. It's less than 7 minutes long and should not be interrupted by any commercials once it starts playing. What was your experience? --Jim

[@emmettfitz]

I do not have the option to skip the two commercials at the start of the video. I was able to see the video, it looks promising but not ready for primetime. @@SharperTurtle

[@SharperTurtle]

I agree that the tool is not yet all that it could be. It has potential, but it will have to be more mature before I use it in a serious way. Thanks for telling me about the two starting commercials. I'll have to see if I can turn it off or if KZbin is forcing that to happen. I haven't changed anything on my end, but I'll look and see if they give me an option for my viewers. I'm more interested in helping users than generating revenue for KZbin. --Jim

[@SharperTurtle]

I did some checking, and I have no control over the pre-roll ads. You can go to this link where I have a parallel channel I manage that has no ads. kzbin.info/door/-fAPw0bg5RZDBxMv3VcWlg Jim

[@ourdigitalbusiness]

Far from perfect. AI has a long way to go to be of use for this application.

[@SharperTurtle]

Agreed. The challenge of making software do what our eyes and brains can do easily is a massive one. --Jim