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Overlaying an image exactly on top of identical image
Hi
I’m trying to do the following – I have a static image that appears in video clip, and I also have that image as a separate independent file.
(For example – a video of a kitchen with a specific cup, and I have that exact cup in an image file).
The camera in the video is STILL, and it’s a 2D animation.
I want to be able to place the image EXACLTY on top of the identical image that appears on the video (but again – the object in the video is STILL through the entire time).
I need to do it multiple times, so doing it manually is not an option.Is there any way I can use to track motion or something like that, to make it easier?
I’ve tried doing the following:
Let’s call the video Layer 1, and the image file Layer 2.
I’ve put both in a comp, and used track motion for 1 frame, to identify the offset (which was random) between Layer 2 and it’s appearance in the video in Layer 1.
It does find this offest (position and scale), but I do not know how to “reverse” it in order to place Layer 2 exactly on top of that object in Layer 1.Any ideas?
Thank you
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18 Replies
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I am sure we can take advantage of the fact AE knows to search for a specific point when using “track motion”.
I already was able to track the movement between the image that’s in the video to the independent image file that I randomally placed on screen.
I just don’t know how to inverse that movement onto layer 2, in order to position it on top of the video.Do you get my point?
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I meant tracking the offset between the first layer and the second layer.
I’ve recorded an example:
https://youtu.be/8PgwFp4YC_oYou can see I found the movement between the first layer and second one, and I know we can somehow use this movement as an offset/difference in order to move the second layer back onto the first layer.
Makes sense?
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Dave, did you watch the demo?
Manual placement is never 100% exact.
The tracking data will help me calculate the exact offset between the layers (which is a “1 frame movement”).
Using this offset I can calculate what’s the exact distance and scale between the layers.
I just need to know how to use this info in a reversed manner.
If this still isn’t clear, then I’m not sure how else to explain it 🙁 -
Dave is terse, but correct. There is NO solution that allows AE to automagically identify an image as being similar or identical to an onscreen object, and correcting the position, scaling, etc to match. That’s a job for advanced computer vision and machine learning specialists working with huge supercomputers on custom software, and After Effects just can’t do it.
So, as Dave says, either prepare to do some manual work (and get used to it, there’s a lot of that in this business!) or perhaps if you can explain what exactly you’re trying to accomplish, we can find a better way to help you.
Personally, I don’t really understand why you’re trying to replace a still object with a 2D image of the same still object.
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No Dave, this was just an example.
On the real issue, I have an animated video and I want to overlay identical objects from AE on top of it. -
Put the top layer on difference blending mode and change the position/scale/whatever until you get a black image. When it’s black there’s no difference between the layers.
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It’s never perfectly black, it can take about 3-5 minutes to achieve 95% match, and if I need to do it 10 times for a project – that’s a lot of time.
I’ll see what I can do with the motion track.. -
maybe this same thread topic in Adobe forums will give the contributes more information as to what Op is trying to accomplish:
https://forums.adobe.com/message/9188303Roei Tzoref
After Effects Artist & Instructor
♫ Ae Blues Tutorials -
As I thought, it is indeed possible using motion tracking.
I figured it out with a quick, precise and easy method.
Here it is:
https://youtu.be/ScmnlzKCtGc -
Sorry, but I’m also a little confused on this whole problem. Why do you need to place the exact copy of a still image on top of the animated one. Could you not simply freeze frame the animation where you need to?
Unfortunately I don’t think the motion tracker is designed to work the way you are attempting to use it.
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