Yeah. I just determined that I will need to use the mask via the graphics software. That is merging two different images 415 times and then cleaning up the result. Well, 411… the first four frames don’t have any elements to mask. Plus about 120 images (a lot of which have no lasers, just ships) for the lasers and engine glow. I did find an interesting way to isolate just the engine glow and eliminate the star destroyer. But a lot of work ahead. But at least I don’t have to align and resize the frames like I would with the 81 elements. One thing I did discover (not a big thing, but significant) - for the 81 flyover they refilmed the Star Destroyer (or used a different take). It is hard to tell, but the ship isn’t in 100% the same positions. You can tell when the hanger moves across the top of the screen. The edge doesn’t align when you overlay the two different flyovers. They look identical unless you overlay them and catch it. And I thought they just reprocessed it to make a new matte.
That seems pretty important to me. Shouldn’t the reconstruction use the correct take? I know it’s more work, and I’m not trying to step on any toes, but I don’t see the point of a hybrid 77/81 flyover. Maybe I’m just forgetting why the '81 sources can’t be used.