SAM2 Demo: Extracting Video with White Background
This guide explains how to use the SAM2 demo to extract a segmented video with a white background for use with ActionMesh.
Why Use SAM2?
While ActionMesh includes RMBG-1.4 for automatic background removal, this is mainly designed for flat backgrounds. For more complex scenes, we recommend using SAM2 to generate a video of the object in motion with a white background.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Open SAM2 Demo
Navigate to https://sam2.metademolab.com/demo
2. Upload Your Video
- Click Change Video → Upload and choose your video file
3. Select the Object
- Navigate to the first frame of your video
- Click on the object you want to segment (e.g., an animal, person, or object)
- SAM2 will automatically generate a mask for the selected object
4. Propagate the Mask
- Click Track objects → Next to propagate the mask across all frames
5. Export with White Background
- In the Selected Objects section, select Original
- In the Background section, select Erase
- Click Next to validate your choice
- Download the exported video
6. Use with ActionMesh
Run ActionMesh on the exported video:
python inference/video_to_animated_mesh.py --input path/to/your/video.mp4
Tips for Best Results
- Start with a clear first frame: Choose a frame where the object is clearly visible and unoccluded
- Use multiple positive clicks: For complex objects, click on multiple parts to ensure full coverage
- Check key frames: Review the mask on frames with significant motion or occlusion
- Re-segment if needed: If tracking drifts, go back and re-initialize on the problematic frame
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Mask includes background | Add negative points (right-click) on unwanted areas |
| Mask misses parts of object | Add positive points on missed regions |
| Tracking drifts over time | Re-initialize the mask on the problematic frame |