Tracking lights to object

[Curious Turtle]

Hi,

The problem is that you haven’t attached the tracker to the effect.

I would:
i) Create a “New Null Object”
ii) Track your source footage, as you did previously. This time ensure that your “target” in the motion tracker panel is the null object.
iii) Alt-click on the stopwatch next to the “Center” property on the CC Light Rays. This will open up an expressions line on the timeline. Use the pickwihp (the swirly button) to choose the Position value of your null object. This will link those values together and your effect should look like you expect.

Hope that helps,
Ben

Curious Turtle Professional Video
Training | Editing |Support

http://www.curiousturtle.com

[Bob Tanner]

Thanks, but what do you mean by the pickwihp (the swirly button)?

[Kyle Hamrick]

Sounds like you might want to watch some expressions tutorials when you get the chance.

Kyle Hamrick

Editor/Motion Graphics Artist

http://www.kylehamrick.com

[Bob Tanner]

Thanks, yep, Andrew Kramer

[Bob Tanner]

Doesn’t seem to work. Any other way? Can’t I some how just track the light?

[Kyle Hamrick]

After reading your post more carefully…. CC Light Rays is a 2D effect. Unless done correctly, tying it to a 3D light = not working as desired. It can be done though, relatively easily, with a couple expressions. Forget where this is off the top of my head. Probably MotionScript. Did Kramer do this recently? Hmmm.

Honestly, from your initial explanation, I’m not entirely sure what’s going on in your project. Maybe if you explain what you’re trying to achieve instead of what how you’re trying to do it, we might be able to be more helpful.

Kyle Hamrick

Editor/Motion Graphics Artist

http://www.kylehamrick.com

[Bob Tanner]

I filmed footage in the day and created a day to night look and now I need to illuminate the street lights. I just the lights I created to stay with the street lights

[Kyle Hamrick]

Aha.

So…. handheld footage? Is that where the tracking is coming from, I assume?

I’d suggest watching this, if you haven’t already. Will probably answer most of your questions.

https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/day_to_night_conversion/

Let us know if you need additional help!

Kyle Hamrick

Editor/Motion Graphics Artist

http://www.kylehamrick.com

[Bob Tanner]

I watched that, and thats how I applied the day to night look. I saw in the tutorial that Andrew placed a light on a solid layer and then turned into a 3D layer and key framed everything. Should I turn the layer into 3D, could I then track it?

[Kyle Hamrick]

Seeing that still helps a lot.

Does your shot have significant movement on the Z axis? If not, I’d forget about this whole 3D thing.

– Track the light on your footage.

– Apply your tracking data to a Null.

– Create a solid/adjustment layer with Light Rays/Lens Flare/etc.
Most of these effects will force you to position the center of the “light” from within the effect. You can either:
~ Precomp this layer, then parent it to your Null.
~ Use a pickwhip expression (plus some potential adjustments) to tie that effect’s center point to your Null’s position.

– If necessary, do manual adjustments to the scale of your “light” to accommodate for Z-axis movement. (Also, brightness/spread/etc. if appropriate).

Does this sound like what you’re going for?

Kyle Hamrick

Editor/Motion Graphics Artist

http://www.kylehamrick.com