Apple Shake 4 - Manual (Page 755)

Chapter 25 Image Tracking, Stabilization, and SmoothCam 755
Masking Important Features
The SmoothCam node has two inputs. The first one is for the input image to be
processed. The second input is for an optional matte with which you can isolate a
subject or area that you want the SmoothCam node to ignore while performing its
analysis.
When creating a matte to use with the SmoothCam node, white areas are ignored, and
black areas are analyzed.
Using the SmoothCam Node
The SmoothCam node works similarly to the AutoAlign node, in that the input image
must be analyzed first in order to derive the data that is used to smooth or lock the
image. This data is stored within the Shake script itself, so that each clip needs to be
analyzed only once.
To analyze the media using the SmoothCam node:
1 Attach a SmoothCam node to the image you want to process.
2 Load the SmoothCam node’s parameters into the Parameters tab.
3 If necessary, set the analysisRange to the frame range you want to process.
By default, the analysisRange is set to the number of frames possessed by the media of
the FileIn node to which it is attached.
4 Choose an analysisQuality mode. Start with Normal, which provides excellent results in
most cases.
Note: If, at the end of this process, the result is not what you’d hoped, then you should
try again with the analysisQuality mode set to high. Be aware this will significantly
increase the time it takes to perform this analysis.
5 Click the “analyze” button.
The frames within the frame range are analyzed, and this data is stored within your
script. To stop the analysis at any time, press Esc.
After the analysis has been performed, it’s time to choose the mode with which you
want the SmoothCam node to process the image.
To smooth a shot using the SmoothCam node:
1 Once the analysis has concluded, set steadyMode to smooth.
2 Open the smooth subtree.