Cover a part of something with overlays

[x_meliiii]

Hey ! I wanted to vreate a scene, where people sit at a table but obviously it has to look like the people are behind the table and i know that I can do that with overlays, but how exactly? Can someone please make a script example?
I’d really appreciate it

[JemU776]

You’d need to put the table at a higher layer than the people (so, it’s in front of them)

Example: if the people are at layer 1, then the table would be at layer 2. If you put the table at layer 0, it would be behind them.

Check out this on layers: HOW TO: Move Characters / Overlays to the Layers

And check out this on overlays: A Guide to Using & Animating OVERLAYS

Good luck!

[JemU776]

When it comes to layers:

For character(s):

@Apes

Commands:
@CHARACTER moves to layer #
@CHARACTER spot % X Y in zone # at layer #

For overlay(s):

@Apes

Commands:
INT. BACKGROUND with OVERLAY at layer #
(when you want your overlay to be already in the scene)
@overlay OVERLAY to layer #
(when you want to move your overlay in the middle of the scene, works for the beginning of the scene as well)

What these symbols mean:

@RudeInception

S = size of the CHAR (default size is 1.280)
X = X axis (left to right)
Y = Y axis (up and down)
zone # = the zone number (1, 2, 3, and sometimes 4)
layer # = the layer number (infinite)

OVERLAYNAME is the overlay name
# means “number”

Examples for a character:

@CHAR moves to layer 1

@CHAR spot 1.280 200 0 in zone 2 at layer 3

Examples for an overlay:

INT. BACKGROUND NAME - DAY with OVERLAYNAME at layer -1

@overlay OVERLAYNAME to layer 5

Hope this makes sense ^^

[x_meliiii]

Yes it does, thank you so much!

[JemU776]

No problem!

Also, can have a look at this:

For overlays this command is possible when you want them at a layer (this is for when you want to position them a certain way):

@Dara.Amarie

INT. BACKGROUND NAME - DAY with OVERLAYNAME to % x y in zone # at layer #

What these symbols mean:

@Dara.Amarie

OVERLAYNAME is the overlay name
x coordinate is where the overlay is placed on the screen horizontally (side to side)
y coordinate is where the overlay is placed on the screen vertically (up and down)
% is the scale size
T stands for time in seconds
# means “number”

So, for example when you test out your story, move your overlay around and look at your overlay helper on the side, you’ll see these codes:

@Dara.Amarie

@overlay OVERLAYNAME shifts to 196 223
@overlay OVERLAYNAME scales to 1.0 1.0

196 is the x coordinate, 223 is the y coordinate, and 1.0 is the scales size (%)

Now, let’s plug these numbers into INT. BACKGROUND NAME - DAY with OVERLAYNAME to % x y in zone # at layer # as well as replace # with a number.

Here it is:

INT. BACKGROUND NAME - DAY with OVERLAYNAME to 1.0 196 223 in zone 1 at layer 0

Btw, you’d use an existing background of your choice for your scene, as well as an overlay that exists. And these were just example numbers, you will probably come up with different numbers, playing around.