Stop Re-Tracking Magic Masks in Davinci Resolve!

[@Tekkerue]

I made a request on the Resolve forum a while back asking for an option to export magic mask data to a file/location of our choosing and import it back in. The thread is called "Magic Mask Data Export/Import" so for anyone who is on the forum, give this thread a bump and let BMD know we want this. While there are workarounds, being able to save/load the data directly from the Magic Mask would be the best.

[@DecrepitGamer-j2u]

If you save the magic mask data to a file, then change your clip and re-import the magic mask data, wouldn't that create a clip with mask data that no longer aligns with the clip? Isn't that why we lose the magic mask data when we make a change, because it becomes invalid when it no longer matches the clip, so it has to be re-created? I'm not arguing the point, just trying to understand.

[@TheSpeedReels]

Man this kept driving me crazy for almost half a year before i gave up and finally decided to use magic mask in the fusion tab which i encourage everyone to do so

[@NickBorodenko]

Yeah, magic mask tracking in fusion is much more stable. However it takes longer to track compared to color page.

[@Nobmaser]

​@@NickBorodenko can you do it?

[@Deatarus51]

This is very useful, thank you! There are so many other ways to use the alpha matte created too.

[@JohnUntivero]

I have a similar workflow, but one that can be used if the clip is moved (in/out points). Open it in Fusion instead of Color. Use the magic mask there and output that to a saver node. Then add a loader node and output that to a new media out. You can then add a new input alpha in the color tab and it’ll directly use the loader. If you have multiple masks (e.g. person 1 and person 2) you can add more media out in fusion, and add more input alpha in the color tab. If the clip is moved, you’d only need to go to the fusion tab and regenerate savers. MediaIn 1 -> MediaOut1 MediaIn 1 -> MagicMask 1 -> Saver1 Loader1 -> MediaIn 2

[@MoviesXB]

Excellent! What a great idea and very well explained! Thank you very much.

[@iamfrankbiesta]

Very helpful! Thanks, Nick.

[@lenonfernandes8584]

Thank you very much! Magic Mask was frustating but now it doesn't need to be.

[@philippkowalski1105]

this also made me wonder when I first switched from other tools ... 'hey, where's my Magic Mask??' ... thanks for sharing this, it really helps a lot.

[@comradesXcosmos]

ive been rendering my masked clips w/alpha channel in apple 4444, and i thought this was a glitch in the program. glad to know this is how davinci works for everyone. not glad its happening but glad for the solidarity of frustration in the comunity

[@magitekguitarfacility]

Awesome video man 👊

[@akcivan]

you are makin so much work bro, but thanks anyway :D i generally make magic mask add alpha output, connect it. Then render in place with alpha supported codec. Thats all, MUCH easier

[@NickBorodenko]

Thank you for sharing your method! I got so used to my workflow that I forgot the easier way exists xD However, for some use cases, the method shown in the video might be more beneficial. Using the mask as an external matte offers more flexibility in the color tab, allowing grading both inside and outside of the mask in the same node tree. Additionally, the same mask can be used for multiple nodes. Also, black and white .mp4 mask renders take up very little space. For example, on a 4K 30fps timeline: - 1 min magic mask cache ~14 GB - 1 min magic mask rendered to transparent ProRes 4444 ~3.5 GB - 1 min magic mask rendered to black and white H.264 ~70 MB

[@u_shanti]

Thank u!!

[@luis.a.sanchez]

man THANK YOUUUU subbed fs

[@KontrolStyle]

This makes me happy that is't not JUST happening to me. Sometimes it works, other times NOPE. you hit play and it gives you blackness.. edit: more steps of course, that's how it'll work. ty for a workaround. cheers

[@dicolorist]

Thq

[@christianmcnally4323]

Why the heck is it so hard?? Why isn't there a button that says "lock this node" and it just locks out there?? Why would they even assume that i want it to change??

[@lansemedya]

Hello ! Great tutorial, thank you for that. But I did not understand why the sequence of masking clip and background clip is not matching. Can anyone help?

[@NickBorodenko]

Thank you for watching! Please check 02:39 of the video, I've covered how to easily fix this.

[@lansemedya]

@@NickBorodenko thank you Nick. Parently I was so exciting to try it rather than watch the video carefully 😄

[@FunnyVibes555]

cool

[@TonyBabarino]

I’m sorry but for most of us I think you’re missing out a fewdetailed steps. I really wanted to try to understand this, but I think a few little things here and there you might’ve skipped over? Any chance to update the video to teach us this process?

[@NickBorodenko]

Thank you for your feedback! I tried to make the video as detailed as possible while maintaining a fast pace for the algorithm. The main thing I didn't include is the initial magic mask setup, which didn't fit nicely into the video. If I've missed something critical further down the line, please let me know. Sorry for any inconvenience!

[@DavidWinstead]

Awesome method man, great job, I learned something new and you earned a new sub!

[@christospherein2631]

This magic mask losses are really annoying. Change something in your node tree before the mask and you have to rerender it. But in a normal 3 minute clip i have probably dozen of mask. Your work around would be a lot if extra steps 🥴

[@NickBorodenko]

Indeed, considering your workflow, it would be easier to allow those masks to rerender.

[@NealWiser]

I’ve all but given up on Magic Mask. It simply will not retain the mask data. I’ve rendered in place. Used Saver and Loader nodes. At some point, almost immediately, it will lose the connection to the savers/loaders, if not the mask data itself. I’m using 18.6 on a Mac Studio M2 Max. I’ll try this, but if anyone has any suggestions, I’d appreciate it.