Burning out number plates

[MatthiasC]

Hi guys, I don't post here much but was wondering if anybody would be able to tell me if there's a way I can burn out a number/lisence plate on a video I captured, either by blurring or pixelating, using iMovie HD 5.0.2 or, as I think will be the case, by some other software.

I'm wondering if anybody knows any good freeware software that'll have the ability for me to do this (if iMovie 5 won't). I'm guessing there's nothing, but I'm a student and I have no money, so freeware all the way!:D

Thanks if anyone can help!

[aspendenver]

You might look at Steve Martin's site: www.rippletraining.com under free video tutorials. I think that he has something that may fit your need.

My suggestion is that you find a local collective of video and movie makers in your city and use the tutorial to get that sequence done on a Final Cut Pro system and reimport the clip back into your iMovie project.

[seniorstinky]

I believe you are looking for a gaussian blur filter.

Here's one that has a free trial:

http://plugins.bkms.com/imoviepluginfuzz.html (http://plugins.bkms.com/imoviepluginfuzz.html)

[MatthiasC]

Thanks guys.

I was more looking for something that'd blur just a part of a frame, not the whoe thing. Never mind, after searching the highs and lows I couldn't find anything so i guess it's too specialised for free software. Thanks again everyone.

[Father Jack]

Could you use a single frame grab and blur the number plate in Photoshop ?

[MatthiasC]

Hi. I considered that, but the problem was the car number plate is in shot for about 8-10 seconds. With 30 frames a second. That could be as much as 300 images. I don't really have the time unfortunately. But this is probably the only free option. Okay Photoshop wasn't free when I got it, but 'free' in that I won't be spending any cash now which is what I need to avoid.

I suppose I could set up an action in Photoshop which would help a bit. Then manually move the blur bit over the number plate each time.

I'll look into it, thanks.

[Father Jack]

Reduce the length of the clip (less images needed)

FJ :)

[MatthiasC]

I can't reuce the length of the clip by cutting anything out but I suppose lowering the frame rate to 15 fps wouldn't harm anything. Okay so it won't flow as well but it's not a particularly good quality vid anyway.