MorphMan 4.0 what are layers for

STOIK Imaging - makers of photo and video editing software

When do you need layers in morphing project

MorphMan 4.0 introduces morphing layers which open ways for creation of new morphing effects and facilitate integration with video compositing tools.

Morph details without affecting other parts of image
Consider for example this warping task – you have image detail contoured with markers and now you want to replace or distort it without affecting other parts of the image (e.g. tear nose to overlap mouth). In classical morphing this is impossible since replacing and distorting of any shape would inevitably cause distortion of image outside the shape.

Original	Flat morphing. All image is distorted	Morph of nose on separate layer

Morph parts with different rate of details without affecting other parts of image

In classical morphing you can control rate of marker motion and color blending of source and target along the morphing sequence using Distortion and Transparency curves. But these curves are global – the single distortion curve controls motion of all markers. Often, however, you need to differentiate rate of transformation between groups of markers. In morphing between Miss Marple and Hercules Poirot, for example, for better visual effect you may want different details to morph sequentially – with faster transformation of hair in the beginning of project, face contours, then nose and eyes - in the middle, and moustache – in the end.

In the example below dog's ears are defined as separate layer with flat transparency curve and steep increase of distortion curve towards the end of the sequence.