Exercise 8 · Isolate & Integrate

Project 4 · Mixed-Media VFX Spot + Template · Week 12 · AI-Assisted Compositing · ~60 min

Practice goal: Isolate a subject with the AI Object Matte, key a light element with Unmult, and integrate edges/light.

Set up: New project. A clip of a subject on a busy background, a new plate, and a light/atmosphere element.

Steps

1. New comp Main from the subject clip.
2. Use the AI Object Matte (AE 2026) to select the subject; let it propagate across frames.
3. Refine the matte edges (Refine Edge for hair / motion blur); freeze/lock it.
4. Optionally run the Next-Gen Roto Brush and compare speed/quality.
5. Add the new background plate below the isolated subject.
6. Bring in a light/atmosphere element (fire, smoke, flare) and key it with Unmult to drop its black.
7. Add a light wrap so the plate's light bleeds onto the subject's edges.
8. Color-match the subject to the plate with an adjustment layer + Lumetri.
9. Add a contact shadow/grade so the subject is grounded.
10. Scrub the whole clip for edge chatter and refine.
11. Save & render.

Free tutorials & references

• AI-powered Object Matte (official) — Adobe Help
• New Object Matte Tool Tutorial — YouTube
• Using the New AI Object Matte — YouTube

Done when

A subject is cleanly isolated with the AI Object Matte, placed in a new plate with an Unmult light element, light wrap, color match and grounding — edges hold across the clip.

Files

Pittman_Ex08_IsolateIntegrate.aep → render Pittman_Ex08_IsolateIntegrate.mov · versions Pittman_Ex08_IsolateIntegrate_001.aep

This drill is your in-class activity for the week (worth 2 points) and ladders directly into the project.