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

0. Introduction

01 - The art of tracking
02 - What you should know
03 - Using the exercise files

1. Getting Started with Motion Tracking

04 - What is motion tracking
05 - Common problems and solutions

2. Preparation for Comp

06 - Project brief
07 - Preparing for compositing and VFX

3. One-Point Tracking

08 - The Tracker panel
09 - Options settings
10 - Tracking and stabilizing motion
11 - Applying tracking data
12 - Tracking obscured objects
13 - Tracking outside the frame
14 - Using nulls for tracking data
15 - Compositing foreground elements
16 - Applying tracking data to effects

4. Mask Tracker

17 - Creating a clean plate
18 - Creating nulls from path
19 - Tracking a background object
20 - Using the mask tracker for rotoscope

5. Additional Trackers

21 - Using two-point tracking
22 - Using Face Tracking (Outline Only)
23 - Using Face Tracking (Detailed Features)
24 - Adding background elements
25 - Compositing foreground objects

6. Use Stabilization for Tracking

26 - Introducing Warp Stabilizer
27 - Using Warp Stabilizer for tracking
28 - Using Reverse Stabilization

7. Planner Tracking

29 - Using Perspective Corner Pin
30 - Using Mocha
31 - Tracking a surface
32 - Applying Mocha data in After Effects

8. Camera Tracking

33 - Using the 3D Camera Tracker
34 - Creating a placeholder
35 - Replacing a computer screen
36 - Adding additional elements
37 - Reverse camera tracking
38 - Finalizing and rendering

Conclusion

39 - Next steps