color keying tutorials from Andrew Devis (and more)

Andrew Devis recently released a set of four video tutorials on the Creative COW website about color keying.

This series goes into more depth than many tutorials about color keying do, as Andrew shows how to use multiple layers to apply different color-keying settings to different parts of an image. This is a fundamental conceptual hurdle that I see many beginners struggling to clear—as they try instead to use one instance of Keylight on one layer to create a matte for a complex subject.

Here are direct links to Andrew’s tutorials:

• Pulling a basic key
• Dealing with multiple light spill issues
• Dealing with edge issues
• Creating variable-width edge feather with mocha-AE

For much more information about color keying in After Effects, see “Keying introduction and resources”.

Mark Christiansen covers color keying in great depth in the new edition of his book After Effects Visual Effects and Compositing Studio Techniques.