Slo Mo a single object in AE

You will need three copies of the footage. The bottom copy is the original footage. The next layer is a replacement background without the basketball. You create that by using a track matte for the basketball and then shifting the background as needed or generating a fill somehow to create the replacement background in a pre-comp (nested composition). The top layer is a layer with only the basketball. You might be able to use Rotobrush or Mocha AE to create a matte so only the ball shows up on the layer. The ball layer, or ball-only pre-comp, will have to be pre-composed, and then time remapping will be applied to create the slow motion.

The biggest problem you will face is that the slow-motion ball layer will last longer than the original shot. The only way to solve that problem would be to plan ahead and then shoot the original footage at a higher frame rate with a higher-than-normal shutter speed so that you can create a good slow-motion ball layer without motion blur. The shot also needs to hold position long enough so that you have time to get the ball in the hoop.

If you could share a copy of the shot, I could give you more specific workflow suggestions. I've done a fair amount of this kind of shot, and it's always easier if you plan ahead and then shoot with the workflow in mind. There is a very low chance of getting just any shot to work.

Hi @ian_5770,

Thanks for the message. Are you familiar with video compositing techniques using mulitiple image layers and masking? That would be where to start. That's the kind of effect ideal for pulling off in After Effects.

Check out this tutorial:

See also these resources:

• Roto Brush and Refine Matte
• Create Masks
• Speed

Please return with questions after reviewing the above.

Thanks,
Kevin