PE 3.0 & Rotoscoping

[sidd finch]

Greetings,
I have PE 3.02 and I was interested in doing a quick rotoscoping clip. Can I output the video clip from PE 3. 02 into pictures to do this, and if so how do I output that?

Thanks Sidd

[rfjg]

You need to export the clip as a "Filmstrip" file

ScreenShot014.jpg

Then open the file in Photoshop, edit, save and then load the edited filmstrip file back into your project.

I can post more info later tonight, I sure others will too.

[sidd finch]

sweet, thank you

SIdd

[momoffduty]

Sidd, a word of caution. You export a very,very short segment as a filmstrip. Maybe 15 frames to start. After working in PSE, BE SURE the file reads Filmstrip when you save it. If I remember correctly (it has been a long time when I worked on this) the file reverts to a psd while working on it even tho you brought it in as a Filmstrip to PSE. And, can't save any transparency. The work around would be to paint the background green and key it back in PrEl.

[rfjg]

momoffduty is correct, exporting 15 or 30 frams to start is good advise. Filmstrip (*.FLM) files will be very large, about 1mb per frame, so for example exporting 200 frames is going to be well over a 200mb file.

If I remember correctly (it has been a long time when I worked on this) the file reverts to a psd while working on it even tho you brought it in as a Filmstrip to PSE

This is ture if you add layers, if you flatten/merge down to one layer before you save, then it will save as a *.FLM file. If you need to work with layers you can save the file as *.psd (handy if you want to make changes later) before merging to one layer and saving back to FLM.

This link, although based on older versions of Photoshop is a good read and has lots of good info http://alienryderflex.com/rotoscope/

Also, see this thread http://muvipix.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3579&p=31162&hilit=rotoscoping#p31162

Enjoy, lots of work, but the results can be very impressive.

[rfjg]

I guess this is something else that can't be done in ver 8 & 9 of PRE anymore

[Chuck Engels]

You need to be able to export a filmstrip file, did they remove that option?

[rfjg]

I don't have v9, but since moving all the export options to the share tab with version 8, I don't see any options that allow for exporting .FLM files

[Chuck Engels]

I have sent an email to Adobe asking about the Filmstrip file export and the Alpha Channel export as well.
Hopefully they will respond and I will let you all know what they have to say. Hopefully we just aren't looking in the right place

[rfjg]

Hopefully we just aren't looking in the right place

I'd really like that to be the case, thanks for contacting Adobe.

[Bob]

I was looking at the Premiere Elements 8 and 9 help files for supported file formats and found that filmstrip(.flm) is only listed in version 8 as supported for import, not export. Version 9 doesn't list filmstrip for either. Interestingly enough Organizer version 9 still lists filmstrip. But, I couldn't find it as a supported file type for Photoshop Elements 9. I didn't look at Photoshop Elements 8. Certainly looks like it has been removed. Also, After Effects CS5 removed support for importing and exporting filmstrip. And, I couldn't find it mentioned in Premiere Pro CS5 or Photoshop CS5 Extended. It certainly looks like the filmstrip format has been relegated to history's scrap heap.

It will be interesting to hear the Adobe response to Chuck's question.

[Chuck Engels]

It seems to me that many people would still be using that as a relatively easy way to accomplish some great effects. I had planned on doing some more rotoscoping at some point. I would be interested in knowing if this functionality has been removed from other programs as well, like Sony Vegas or Pinnacle Studio.

[rfjg]

Thanks Bob, I guess Adobe response on the FLM format will simply be its not supported anymore. The bigger issue is the Alpha Channel export from PRE8/9, waiting to hear what Adobe will say about that

[Chuck Engels]

Response from Adobe;

Filmstrip import was dropped from PPRO so we had to drop it too

Didn't realize that they dropped this from Premiere Pro also, what are they thinking?

Found out that After Effects CS5 doesn't import or export filmstrip files anymore, now what?

[rfjg]

and any answer on the Alpha Channel export in PE9 ? EDIT: I see answer is http://muvipix.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=8457&p=75101#p75101