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Tracking that ZIT
I got good help here a couple days ago with my need to erase a couple of zits from a face in an 18-second ECU soundbite. Chris Smith — If you are reading thing, your suggestions left me with one problem that I hope you or someone else can address. I am unable to get the mask that I created to track the zit. You wrote:
First open your tracker and get a good track on the zit… Apply the data to a null layer.
I opened the tracker (for the first time in my experience) then RTFM on tracking, and I was able to get a good track over time on the zit. Then I created a null object.You went on:
Create a solid. Make a small circle shaped mask in the middle of the solid (anywhere on the solid really). Now parent this solid layer to the null. Your little circle should track in sync with the zit. Now just grab the circle layer in the comp window and move it right over the zit… Now the circle should track right over the zit the whole time.
Following these instructions, I was able to get an excellent zit removal on that first frame. However, I could not get the mask to track the zit. Itg doesn’t seem to be “using” the tracking data…and I did parent the solid to the null layer. But that little colored dot just sits there. Do you have any idea what I might be doing wrong? One thought: for the mask, I just added a new mask to the solid layer and then set the mask shape to 15×15 ellipse. Is that the right way to do what you suggest? Another thought: Does the tracking data need to be erased from the main layer after it is applied to the null object?Any assistance on this new (for me) use of AE would be much appreciated.
Lee
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4 Replies
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So is the null moving in sync with the zit? Did you set the null layer as the target track?
Other option (which I do) is to do a raw track with no target. I select all the position keyframes from the track and paste them onto the position keyframes of the null (by selecting the position parameter and hitting paste).
If the null layer is moving in sync with the zit than you are mostly there. You should select the parent pull down menu on the solid layer (with the circle mask on it) and select the null layer so it rides along with it.
As far as the mask, it can be very imprecise, it just needs to cover an area over the zit. It’s basically working as a garbage matte to confine the effect to the zit area. Just make sure once you get it to move that the zit always stays inside the mask.
Another note. The track on the mask does not have to be perfect by a long shot. Only that the zit never leaves the masked circle. Tracking is the easy way, but you can sloppily keyframe the mask to move with the zit and still get the exact same effect in the end.
But you said the removal worked well on the first frame. So the blurred duplicate set to lighten mode was doing the trick for you?
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
So is the null moving in sync with the zit? Did you set the null layer as the target track?
Hi Chris:
No, the null is not moving. I am unable to set the null as the Motion Source in the Tracker Controls window. In that windows Motion Source pulldown, three items are lited: The solid, the null and the (pardon the bluntness) ZitFace layer. But the null and the solid are grayed out and cannot be selected. Is this the heart of my problem?One other note which might be important: After I copy the frame-by-frame positions from the tracker and attempt to past those keyframes into the null layer (with the position parameter selected), the pasted data do not attach to the position parameter. Instead, the paste creates a new “Motion Tracker” for that layer and the pasted data resides there. I can’t get it to affect position.
Hmmmmm…there’s some operator error here. If you know the error or my ways and have the patience to stick with me on this, my thanks to you.
Lee
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PS…the only reason is got good zit removal on that first frame was that I manually moved the mask down to cover it. I could do that in every frame, of course, but I sure would like to avoid doing it for 18 seconds-worth of frames! Plus, I’m hoping to learn something here…
Lee
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The motion source would be the zit layer because it is deriving it’s motion from that. The target layer should be the null.
As far as the pasting, you need to select position parameter on the motion track layer before hitting copy, then selecting the position paramter of the null before hitting paste. If it’s pasting the whole layer than the layer is what was selected when you hit copy.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com
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