Photoshop: Creative Video Compositing

Learn how to perform creative video compositing using a tool you already know and love: Adobe Photoshop.

Introduction

• Welcome
• How to use the exercise files

1. Essential Concepts and Techniques

• Create a file structure for projects
• Create a simple video composite
• Add a mask to a video layer
• Custom split-screen effect
• Add crossfade transitions
• Control opacity with keyframes
• Animate elements with keyframes
• Modify Smart Object video layers
• Export finished video clips

2. Composite with Type and Graphics

• Use type to mask a video layer
• Animate layer styles
• Copy animation keyframes to a layer

3. Use Blend Modes to Create Composites

• Composite elements with blend modes
• Select > Focus Area and Select and Mask
• Blend modes and masks to combine clips
• Combine blend modes and animations

4. Custom Transitions and Special Effects

• Prepare a custom layer mask transition
• Create a custom layer mask transition
• Custom transitions: Filters
• Animate a Smart Object
• Use videos as masks
• Lighting effects with adjustment layers

5. Shoot Video for Composites

• Previsualize composites
• Lighting, motion, and the "action area"

6. Put It All Together: Create Virtual Locations

• Bring in the video layer and refine masks
• Match color and brightness
• Finalize the project with animation

7. Advanced Blending Techniques

• Keyframe a mask to track motion
• Use Blend If sliders for motion masks
• Limitations for color keying

Conclusion

• Next steps