Best tracking markers?

[Tony Kloiber]

In AE your choices are RGB, Luminance or Saturation, whatever you feel is going to get you the best separation from the background and your markers would obviously be the choice. Other tracking software maybe able to use a particular channel. Are the walls white and are the frames all black then maybe you can just use the frame’s corners as the track points. If your able to use the frames then you don’t have to remove the tracking dots. If they don’t mind you putting stickers on the art then put black and white makers in the inside corners of the frame then your replacement art will cover the markers.

TonyTony

[Jack Kelly]

Thanks for the reply. To be honest, we haven’t secured the “gallery” location yet so we’re not entirely sure what the frames will look like. We’ve been doing some tests with frames in our own flats and the tracking can be a bit hit-and-miss for a variety of reasons… so we were thinking of using some coloured dots to see if they track better.

Thanks,
Jack

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Jack Kelly
London
Dir / Prod / Camera
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[Greg Neumayer]

I’d say use anything that gives you good contrast for your tracker. You don’t necessarily need to track the actual frame or art, if marring is an issue. As long as you’re tracking relative to the frame (i.e. trackers on the wall near the frame) it would seem like you’d be good to go.

Now, this is totally presumptious of me, but once you put your image into the hole, make sure you take the time to match lighting, etc. of your filled element so it really looks integrated. We’ve all seen way too many video shots just slapped up on a billboard with no thought to the atmospherics. (not that a Creative Cow’er would do that!)

-Greg

Antifreeze Design
https://www.antifreezemotiongraphics.com

[Chris Smith]

Why red out of curiousity? I know sometimes they will do orange trackers when on a green/blue screen. But for everyday use, like the others say, just get good contrast. In most situations ppl track by luminance. So assuming the pictures are dark, white dots do very well. However I’d like to say the easiest solution is probably to track the outside corners of the picture frame itself. No markers to add or digitaly remove.

If your pictures are behind glass by chance, remeber to try and isolate the sheen and comp it back on top of the picture you added in for extra realism.

Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com

[Steve Roberts]

[Chris Smith] “I’d like to say the easiest solution is probably to track the outside corners of the picture frame itself. No markers to add or digitaly remove.”

I agree. The sharp corners should also be easier to track than dots. In case you get closer at some point, dots can become difficult to track, but sharp corners are still sharp. Ad infinitum, to a degree.

Steve

[Jack Kelly]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your excellent advice!

Let’s change the brief a little bit… say we find a gallery space that has completely blank, white walls and our job is to place four tracking points on this white wall. In other words, we have complete freedom as to what we use as tracking points. What would make the best tracking points?

We’ve already established that high-contrast between the background and the tracking point is essential. But what shape would be best? A cross? A dot? A square?

Thanks,
Jack

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Jack Kelly
London
Dir / Prod / Camera
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[Steve Roberts]

Some prefer chevrons ( < > V L ) for the sharp corners.

Steve

[Chiauran]

*Some prefer chevrons ( < > V L ) for the sharp corners.

Hi, I’m new to tracking. Why does <>VL shape is good as a marker for corner? Does AE read <>VL shape easier?

chiauran

[Steve Roberts]

It’s just that as you close in on a dot, it becomes a circle, and it’s harder to find a small point to track. If you’re far away, a dot is fine.

It’s easier for trackers to find sharp points on corners. Squares and X’s should be fine as well.

If you’re keen, check out Matchmoving: The Invisible Art of Camera Tracking by Dobbert.

Steve