Hour 14. Compositing Part 1: Layering Images and Clips

Another great strength of Premiere is its ability to layer (or composite) multiple clips over one another. It can be as simple as placing a logo over a product shot or shooting actors in front of a green screen and then electronically placing them within a scene.

There are four basic composite methods:

• Reducing the opacity of an entire clip so a clip (or clips) below it on the timeline show through.

• Using "keys" to make portions of a clip transparent so clips below it on the timeline show through.

• Blocking or matting parts of one clip to let parts of other clips show through.

• Using a clip's alpha channel to create a transparency.

This hour will cover the first two topics, and I'll save the latter two for Hour 15, "Compositing Part 2: Alpha Channels and Mattes."

The highlights of this hour include the following:

• Compositing?what it is and how it can spice up your video projects

• Shooting video that you can use for compositing

• Changing a clip's opacity to let other clips show through

• Making colors transparent?using chroma-keying, blue/green screens, and the RGB Difference key

• Using Luminance-style keys to create transparencies