VFX Techniques: Tracking Objects onto a Face

Course details

VFX Techniques introduces common yet critical visual effects techniques that are used in film and television shows on a regular basis. This installment shows how to build complex composites with Adobe After Effects and mocha, where motion graphics are mapped to live-action footage of an actor. Author Lee Lanier starts by combining rotoscoping and effects to digitally apply makeup to an actor to disguise motion tracking marks. Then discover how to transfer footage into mocha and generate planar tracking data that you can use to motion track graphics to the moving face of the actor. Plus, learn how to build and adjust motion graphics to create the look of a virtual tattoo and a pair of holographic heads-up glasses.

Learning objectives
Disguising tracking marks with rotoscoping and effects
Preparing footage for motion tracking
Planar motion tracking a face in mocha
Applying tracking data to artwork in After Effects
Fine-tuning motion tracking curves in After Effects
Animating text and graphic elements
Applying color and light effects
Batch rendering the final comp

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - Using the exercise files
03 - What you need to know about this course

1. Getting Started

04 - Breakdown of the final comp
05 - Review of the image sequences
06 - Setting up the project in After Effects

2. Applying Digital Makeup

07 - Rotoscoping tracking marks
08 - Disguising marks with grading and noise
09 - Rotoscoping the foreground
10 - Removing remaining track marks

3. Planar Tracking with mocha

11 - Preparing the footage for tracking
12 - Setting up a mocha project
13 - Planar tracking a face
14 - Adjusting planar surfaces
15 - Looking at the Curve Editor

4. Importing and Applying Tracking Data

16 - Importing track data from mocha
17 - Adjusting corner pin curves
18 - Fine-tuning tracked artwork
19 - Adding a second tracking layer in mocha
20 - Offsetting the planar surface

5. Preparing a Motion Graphic Heads-Up Display

21 - Animating an artificial camera
22 - Animating text
23 - Wrapping up the motion graphics

6. Adjusting Tracked Artwork and 3D Layers

24 - Tracking the heads-up display
25 - Fabricating geometry and shadows
26 - Adding highlights and light effects

7. Color Grading and Rendering

27 - Applying color and light effects
28 - Batch rendering the final comp
29 - Looking at the final scene

Conclusion

30 - Next steps