Tracking in After Effects

3h 5mIntermediate2019-08-13

Authors

Eran Stern

Teacher and Motion Designer, 20+ years of post-production experience

Course details

Tracking is an art and a science. It involves locating a point or object in your footage as it moves from frame to frame. The resulting data can be used to stabilize footage or solve camera movement. After Effects provides many powerful tracking tools, allowing you to focus on the creative rather than the technical aspects of your job. This project-based course reviews all the different methods for tracking inside After Effects: one- and two-point tracking, mask tracking, camera tracking, facial tracking, and planner tracking in Mocha AE. Instructor Eran Stern explains which scenario each tool is best suited for, and helps you use your tracking data for specific purposes—effects, rotoscoping, compositing, and more—and render the results.

Learning objectives
Motion tracking
One-point tracking
Applying tracking data to effects
Mask tracking with the After Effects Mask Tracker
Two-point tracking
Warp stabilization for tracking
Planner tracking
3D camera tracking

Skills covered

Motion GraphicsAfter EffectsRenderingMotion Graphics and VFXProjectVisualization and Real-TimeAdobeAECProduct and ManufacturingAnimation and Illustration

Concepts

Introduction

The art of tracking
What you should know
Using the exercise files

Getting Started with Motion Tracking

What is motion tracking
Common problems and solutions

Preparation for Comp

Project brief
Preparing for compositing and VFX

One-Point Tracking

The Tracker panel
Options settings
Tracking and stabilizing motion
Applying tracking data
Tracking obscured objects
Tracking outside the frame
Using nulls for tracking data
Compositing foreground elements
Applying tracking data to effects

Mask Tracker

Creating a clean plate
Creating nulls from path
Tracking a background object
Using the mask tracker for rotoscope

Additional Trackers

Using two-point tracking
Using Face Tracking (Outline Only)
Using Face Tracking (Detailed Features)
Adding background elements
Compositing foreground objects

Use Stabilization for Tracking

Introducing Warp Stabilizer
Using Warp Stabilizer for tracking
Using Reverse Stabilization

Planner Tracking

Using Perspective Corner Pin
Using Mocha
Tracking a surface
Applying Mocha data in After Effects

Camera Tracking

Using the 3D Camera Tracker
Creating a placeholder
Replacing a computer screen
Adding additional elements
Reverse camera tracking
Finalizing and rendering

Conclusion

Next steps