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Track a Layer and Its Mask?
Hey Everyone,
I am an old hand at FCP, but am trying some new stuff in AE CS3 and as a noob, I’m running into constant problems. 🙂 Hopefully some of you can help me with this first particular problem.
I am using motion tracking to follow a horizontal pan where the talent starts on the left side of the 16:9 frame, but then the camera pans left to “reveal” that the Title Bumper Text has been next to their head the whole time.
The text is generated in AE.
I motion tracked a point on the talent’s shoulder and applied its results to a Null Object. Then I Parented the Title Text to the Null Object.
That part is working well.
But what I would like to do, is give the impression that the Title Text block is BEHIND the talent.
So on the Title Text layer, I made a mask and traced around the shape of the Talent’s head and swoop of her hair. The Mask is set to subtract the text when it is over her head and hair so that it looks like the Title Text is BEHIND her.
It works, but she moves her head during the pan and things don’t line up perfectly.
Is there a way to make the Mask follow the tracking? Or to make some NEW Tracking and tie that to the Mask?
If I make a new Tracking to a new Null Object, how can I tie that to the Title Text’s Mask?
or, inversely,
If I put a Mask on the newly tracked new Null Object, how can I make THAT Mask hide the Title Text?
Phew! This is exhausting!
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2 Replies
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I would add a new comp-sized adjustment layer then lock the footage layers below. Ram preview the whole shot. That way you’re not having to load each frame continuously as you rotoscope. Then draw a mask on the adj layer and animate it frame by frame (well, do 10 frame intervals then fill in the gaps where necessary, to cut down on the number of keyframes you need). When you’re done you can copy the mask to the footage layer, or maybe use the adj layer as a track matte for the text.
I wrote this quickly so apologies if it doesn’t make sense – or work!
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysfx
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Hey Simon, I think it will work. I don’t have the files here right now, but thanks for the tip.
I actually tried to use an Adjustment Layer before I asked for help here, but I am such a noob, that I didn’t realize how to set the Effect for the Adjustment Layer and thus, couldn’t get it to do anything!
Just now I tested your advice with a Solid and an Adjustment Layer with a Mask and I it looks like it will help!
Thanks again, Simon and Dave!
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