Author: Martin Overmars | Website: http://www.56k.nl/

Step 1: tracking in After Effects

Basic AE stuff

-Start After Effects
-File -> New -> New Project (CTRL+ALT+N)
-File -> Import -> File... (CTRL+I), pic your vid

-Make sure the 'Project', 'Composition' and 'Timeline' tabs are active.
-Drag and drop like in the picture.

tracking

The best part to Track is the part with the greatest contrast in it, which changes the least in the entire sequence.
And ofcourse it has to move together with the animation that you choose later.
So you won't pic someones head to Track if you want to put his feet into big icecubes later on.

-Move the 'Current Time Indicator' till you see a nice point to Track.
Put the 'Tracker-Controls' window on stage if it isn't already:
-Window -> Tracker Controls
-Click 'Track-Motion'.
-Click 'Edit Target...' to make sure the right movie is selected.
-Check the 'Position' thing.
-All other options are ok as they are.

I chose this part of my hand.
The small box makes a sort of picture of the hand.
In the next frame AE is going to search for a look-alike of the picture in the big box.
So with a smaller detail the small box should be even smaller.
If the big box is too big it's going to take more time and there is a bigger chance that he finds other things that might look-alike.
-Click on the 'Analyze forward' play icon in the 'Tracker Control' window.

-Now you have your 'tracking-Points'.

Copying data to clipboard/memory

-Collapse the following: Your movie(like in the picture) -> Motion Trackers -> Tracker 1 -> Tracker Point 1
-Click on the text 'Feature Center' to select that complete layer. (all tracking points become yellow if correct)
-CTRL+C / APPLE+C
-You can exit Adobe After Effects now.

» Level Intermediate

Added: 2007-05-02 Rating: 5.4 Votes: 5

» Author

Digital Media Design Student

» Download

Download the files used in this tutorial.

Download (2215 kb)

» Forums

More help? Search our boards for quick answers!