What is the MOST convincing way to simulate a tracking shot with a 2D element?

[Joey Foreman]

What do you mean by “simulate a tracking shot”?

Joey Foreman
Editor/Compositor/VFX Artist

[Clay Vernon]

Hey Joey, a tracking shot is something like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjKz_rlwoFA

An actual camera is moving around so there is a lot of depth. You see more of the subject’s left side when it is left of center, and more of its right side when it is right of center.

I’m wanting an Effect that might simulate that to some degree with static 2D elements as they move (horizontally to be specific).

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

Track the camera move using Camera Tracker or Syntheyes or Boujou. Position your 2d elements in AE 3d space and you’ll get the best result.
Of course you can animate this just 2d- objects in the front move faster than those in the bk- but why do that when you have 3d (2.5d) capabilities?

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Arvin Bautista]

Cut the 2d elements into various layers, as many as you’re able to, and then reposition them into 3d space from background to foreground.

This tutorial (and its 2nd part) teaches you the basics, even though it’s for Motion, not AE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xu8jle0OqU

I suggest at least 3 3d layers, for back, middle, and foreground. Depending on the severity of your move you might have to clone parts of the background that will get revealed that weren’t originally there.

Arvin Bautista
Greasy Pig Studios
Los Angeles, CA
https://www.greasypigstudios.com

[Walter Soyka]

I am sure that Joey knows what a tracking shot is — my guess is he was asking you what elements you have, and what specifically you want to do with them.

Without any more information on what specifically you’re looking to accomplish, I’d suggest you might want to use camera mapping.

Here are a couple Video Copilot tutorials to get you started:

https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/3d_camera_projection/
https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/3d_camera_projection_2/
https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/3d_vanishing_point/
https://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/submerged/

Additionally, Digieffects offers Camera Mapper [link], a tool to make this easier in AE.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
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