Help with removing boom mic shadow from background.

Apolgies - had posted this in How to section in error - but think that's for actual guides so my bad. Not sure if a site admin wants to remove that post? Really sorry!!!

This is my first post, been using the site for ages and it's a great resource.

I'm working on a final draft of a small commercial film. The issue I have is that on a few shots there's a very slight shadow cast from the boom mic. The client hasn't picked up on it and we're nearing completion. That said I want to resolve it for my own sanity. It's bugging the hell out of me. We have two ladies at a desk, white background lit from the front and a light casting on the rear wall. The shadow is right in the middle, central to the top of the frame.

I've tried a couple of things and feel that Keyer hold the key (pardon the pun). Can anyone give me some assistance? I've got a still of the middle of the frame. As you can see it's so slight but I need to fix it.

Link to screen grab




Thanks Frank.

You might try to use a mask to cut that shadow out. Soften the edges! Then put a custom generator below the clip, solid color. Use the color picker and choose the color from the original background for the generator. Adjust the mask if necessary. That should do it.

Hi Overturf....it's really really close but no cigar. Behind the subject we had a light, which lit the wall (background) upwards. Even though it's only subtle there is a gradient to the light cast. It's like I need to be able to clone some of the background..... then move it over....it's so frustrating!

I had this problem once..
I simply duped the clip, made a mask of the adjoining area with a feathered edge, then moved it over the problem area. I even had a moment where the speaker waved his had over the area so I duped the 1st layer again, mated just the hand wave area using a luminance key and put it on top (for only for he few seconds his hand waved over the area). It was all real simple and effective.

You should probably try to do it in After Effects or Motion, especially if the shot has any motion in it. For FCPX, something like SliceX would work cause it has a masking function. The general procedure would be the same though.

1. Duplicate the shot as another layer and put it on top. This will be your "patch."
2. Mask out an area of the wall near the top that seems to look like it could substitute for your shadowed area. I would pick a spot at the same level, but over to the right or left of the frame. Make sure you feather the edges of the mask.
3. Move this top layer over the shadowed area as the patch.

Doing the above will make sure your patch has the same subtle color and gradient. If your shot has any camera movement, you will have to do some motion tracking to the patch to match the movement. Good luck!

Thanks guys. I tried each one of the process described. Due to this light effect it always made it more noticeable. I went away and looked at Slice X and this was the tool I needed. It was a combination of fiddling with opacity, gamma correction and softness. It also took me a lot less time to apply to all affects clips.

Thanks though guys, I really appreciated everyones input.

I was just about to suggest SliceX. It, TrackX and Lock & Load should be in every editor's tool kit.