Trim-to-Beat 3-Layer Compositing
Split only the exact headline segment into Background Plate, Middle Graphic Layer, and Foreground Roto Subject so previews and renders stay responsive.
Editing, Color & Post
Program #081 · Editing & Color
✓ Free Online Intro Included
Subject Occlusion: Compositing Typography & Graphics Behind Speakers
Place bold headlines and floating data cards cleanly behind moving speakers using disciplined three-layer compositing, clean hair edges, and optical depth matching.
Tucking a bold headline partially behind a talking subject gives a simple studio or office shot genuine foreground-to-background depth, yet careless execution ruins the illusion fast: masking entire timelines freezes RAM playback, chattering edges chew into hair and ears, or low placement hides half the word. In this course, we practice trim-to-beat 3-layer architecture, After Effects Roto Brush + Refine Edge & Freeze alongside DaVinci Resolve Magic Mask, the 80% legibility overlap rule, and subtle lens blur/edge-light integration.
✓ Free Online Introductory Session
Start with a free online intro consultation for this course: we review the syllabus together, clarify how many sessions you need based on your goals and pace, and decide whether continuing Online ($69 CAD/hr) or In-Person ($99 CAD/hr) suits you best.
First Session
Free Online Intro
Session Rates
$69/hr Online · $99/hr In-Person
Course Structure
Tailored to Your Level & Pace
Instructor & Language
Iman Adlkhah · EN & Persian
Prefer done-for-you commercial filming, kinetic typography, and color grading for your brand? View our Video Production Studio, Client Portfolio, and recent edits on @tehranto.plus on Instagram.
Course Learning Pillars
Core Capabilities Developed in This Course
Every learner starts from a different background. These are the core capabilities this course develops, paced to your goals across the sessions we plan together.
Roto Brush + Freeze vs DaVinci Magic Mask
Propagate clean foreground mattes, tame curly hair wisps with Refine Edge and chatter controls, lock cache via Freeze, and know when Resolve Magic Mask is faster.
The 80% Visible Legibility Geometry
Scale and position headlines above shoulder level so the speaker's head overlaps only 15%–20% of lower letter stems, preserving instant word recognition.
Optical Lens Blur & Edge-Light Integration
Match background optical defocus on rear typography and add subtle edge-light wrap or parallax drift so graphics feel physically present in the room.
Course Syllabus
Core Concepts & Topics Covered
Below are the main concepts and topics covered in this course. In your Free Online Intro Session, we align the exact depth and number of sessions to your experience and goals.
Topic 01
Three-Layer Architecture, Shot Selection & Overlap Geometry
Evaluating which camera angles, shutter speeds, and lighting setups isolate cleanly, and structuring the timeline before drawing a single mask stroke.
- Why lighting separation and a 180-degree shutter speed prevent smeared motion edges around waving hands
- Trimming the duplicated foreground clip strictly to the graphic's entry and exit markers
- Positioning typography, stat cards, and brand icons using the 15%–20% stem-overlap rule
Topic 02
After Effects Roto Brush, Refine Edge & Freeze Discipline
Isolating talking subjects inside the After Effects Layer Panel, correcting difficult hand gestures or glasses frames, and freezing matte data before animating.
- Drawing clean foreground/background strokes and refining hair strands with the Refine Edge tool
- Tuning Feather, Contrast, Shift Edge, and Reduce Chatter to eliminate grey halos over bright white type
- Freezing roto propagation so typography and camera keyframes scrub smoothly without recalculating
Topic 03
DaVinci Resolve Magic Mask & Low-Contrast Edge Repairs
Comparing After Effects roto against DaVinci Resolve's Person/Object Magic Mask and rescuing tricky shots where a dark jacket blends into a dark wall.
- Isolating speakers with single-stroke Person Magic Mask and matte finesse controls in Resolve
- Combining garbage masks or manual Bezier patches when automatic tracking slips on low-contrast edges
- Exporting ProRes 4444 alpha mattes when bridging Resolve isolation with After Effects typography
Topic 04
Lens Defocus, Light Wrap & Subtle Z-Space Parallax
Blending crisp digital vector text into real optical camera footage so the middle layer shares the lens blur, grain, and ambient glow of the physical space.
- Applying subtle Camera Lens Blur to rear graphics so sharpness matches a shallow f/1.8–f/2.8 background
- Building gentle light-wrap spill so luminous headlines tint the speaker's hair and shoulder rim
- Pairing subtle opposing push-in scale between foreground subject and rear text for natural parallax
Course Reference Overview
Subject-Occlusion Compositing Quality Matrix
Core practical benchmarks and standards covered as part of this course's curriculum.
| Composite Factor | Amateur Failure Mode | Principled Studio Standard | Viewer Perception |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline Scope | Running heavy roto across an entire vertical edit | Splitting and freezing strictly the active headline beats | Fast timeline iteration and clean focus on key moments |
| Overlap & Readability | Hiding 50%+ of the word behind the speaker's head | 15%–20% lower-stem overlap keeping 80%+ of wordforms open | Unmistakable depth without forcing viewers to squint |
| Hair & Shoulder Matte | Flickering grey fringes and clipped ear contours | Refine Edge hair strokes with negative Shift Edge & De-Chatter | Clean separation over both bright white and colored type |
| Optical Believability | Razor-sharp vector text pasted over a blurry f/1.8 wall | Matched Camera Lens Blur, subtle light wrap, and unified grain | Graphics look anchored inside the real studio space |
Start With Your Free Intro Session
Book Program #081: Subject Occlusion: Compositing Typography & Graphics Behind Speakers
Choose a time for your Free Online Intro Session to map out your course path, or book an Online ($69/hr) or In-Person ($99/hr) session directly.
1. Choose Option & Preferred Time (ET)
Program FAQ
Common Questions
What kind of footage works best for learning behind-the-speaker compositing, and can I test my own clips?
Clips filmed with clean key/rim light separation between the speaker's hair and a slightly darker or softly defocused background isolate cleanest. In your Free Online Intro Session, we review sample footage from your own camera or phone and plan your sessions around After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, or both.
How does the Free Online Intro Session work, and how many sessions will I need?
Every course begins with a Free Online Introductory Session where we review the core syllabus together, evaluate your current background and goals, and map out how many sessions you actually need and whether continuing Online ($69 CAD/hr) or In-Person ($99 CAD/hr) suits you best. Session count is never a rigid one-size-fits-all number; it adapts to your own level and pace.
Do I have to commit to a multi-session package upfront?
Never. There is zero upfront package commitment: once your free online intro session maps out your path, any coaching sessions you choose ($69 CAD/hr online or $99 CAD/hr in-person) are scheduled flexibly session-by-session at your own pace.
Are courses taught in English, Persian (Farsi), or bilingual?
Your choice: every session with Iman Adlkhah can be conducted 100% in English, 100% in Persian (Farsi), or naturally bilingual with industry terminology.
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