REMOVE BACKGROUND from VIDEO in After Effects | Rotobrush Tutorial

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will discover how to effectively remove backgrounds from videos using Adobe After Effects' Roto Brush tool. Follow these steps to achieve professional-looking results.

Step 1: Set Up Your Composition

1. Open After Effects: Begin by launching the After Effects application.
2. Create a Composition: To create a composition that matches the video resolution and frame rate, drag your video from the project window onto the timeline. This action will automatically create the necessary composition.

Step 2: Using the Roto Brush Tool

1. Select Your Video: Double-click on the video layer to open it in a separate preview window.
2. Choose the Roto Brush Tool: From the toolbar, select the Roto Brush tool. Your cursor will change into a green circle with a plus sign.
3. Adjust Brush Size: If the brush size is not to your liking, adjust it by holding the Control key and left-clicking while moving the mouse left or right to resize it.
4. Create a Selection: Paint over the subject you want to keep in the video—in this case, a penguin. After Effects will attempt to automatically select the painted area. The purple outline indicates the selection area, while the rest remains unselected.

Step 3: Refining Your Selection

1. Adding to Your Selection: To add more areas to the selection, zoom in using the mouse wheel and then paint over the desired area.
2. Excluding Parts: If you need to exclude a section from the selection, hold the Alt key to turn the cursor into a red minus sign, then paint over the areas you wish to eliminate from the selection.
3. Finalizing the Selection: Ensure you’ve accurately selected the penguin without any unwanted areas.

Step 4: Previewing and Finalizing

1. Preview Your Selection: Press the Space bar to activate the preview. Watch how well the Roto Brush identifies the selection. If adjustments are necessary, stop the preview, correct the selection at that frame, and resume the preview.
2. Double-Check: Once you are satisfied, preview the entire video from the start to catch any imperfections.
3. Freeze the Frame: Click on the “Freeze” button to cache the frame. This helps After Effects avoid rendering it again each time you work on the project.

Step 5: Adjusting the Effect

After freezing the frame, switch back to the composition view. You will observe that your background has been removed. In the Effect Controls panel, you can adjust several settings:

• Feather: This smooths out the edges of your selection.
• Shift Edge: This allows you to bring the edge in or out.
• Decontaminate Colors: Enable this option to remove color bleeding along the edges. Expand the dropdown and slightly increase the radius to refine the selection.

Conclusion

At this point, you have the flexibility to explore various creative options with your footage. Some ideas for utilizing your newly isolated subject may appear on your screen right now. Thank you for watching!

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Keywords

• After Effects
• Remove background
• Roto Brush
• Composition
• Selection
• Feather
• Decontaminate colors

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FAQ

Q1: What is the Roto Brush tool in After Effects?
A1: The Roto Brush tool is a feature in After Effects that allows users to easily create selections around moving subjects in videos, enabling background removal.

Q2: Can I adjust the brush size while using the Roto Brush tool?
A2: Yes, you can adjust the brush size by holding the Control key and dragging your mouse left or right.

Q3: What should I do if the selection looks incorrect during preview?
A3: If you notice an incorrect selection, you can stop the preview, refine the selection manually, and then continue the preview from that frame.

Q4: How do I remove color bleeding around the edges of my selection?
A4: You can remove color bleeding by enabling the "Decontaminate Colors" option in the Effect Controls panel and adjusting the radius.

Q5: Is it necessary to freeze the Roto Brush selection after making it?
A5: Yes, freezing the selection helps cache the frame, preventing After Effects from having to render it every time you work with the project.