How to stabilize an unsteady Steadicam

[Steve Roberts]

In my opinion, you need to do it by hand, because there is no static point in the shot to track.

However, as a guide … you might be able to track certain points, apply that tracked motion to a solid, then copy that path into a mask and apply render>stroke to create a stroked path of each of the points. Next, you could remove mask points and smooth that path to create a guide representing the ideal, smooth path. You’d use this guide as you manually adjust the footage position and/or anchor point to attempt to steady it.

I’ve never tried it. 🙂

Steve

[Fred Matthews]

Here is what I am currently doing.

I have added the 3D layer to the clip and frame by frame I have adjusted the Z Rotation acording to a vertical line that I placed on the clip that I compare to the center most vertical line in my clip. It workes okay but is very time consuming and I have been at it all day.

If I don’t like the results from this I will attempt what you suggested.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks

[Steve Roberts]

[Fred Matthews] “Any other thoughts?”

Sorry, not really. It’s easier to smooth something when you have a guide for comparision.

Steve

[Marc Bauwens]

Try a plugin called Steadymove Pro from a company called 2D3.
It’s quite nice and might yield the results you’re looking after.

[Fred Matthews]

My initial attempt has proven to be okay at best but with the time crunch will have to do. I will look into that product for the future. We don’t call upon the use of a Steadicam very often.

Thanks

[Superstar]

I’ve used a plug-in from The Foundry called Steadiness and it worked a treat on a similair type of shot to yours. I think you can download this or get it from The Foundry to evaluate.

The nice thing about the plug-in is that you don’t have to place tracking markers in the scene. It saved a couple of major jobs I worked on a while ago.

Best of luck with the shot!