Chris Smith
Forum Replies Created
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No. To do that you need to use a (the) tracker. But I’m saying that AE’s tracker will not use it’s tracking data on any of the mask points or the mask itself. But you can apply it to the layer the mask sits on. So the net result is that the mask as a whole will move on the X&Y according to whatever point you tracked.
Some compositors will allow you to assign tracking points to each mask point so that it will reshape the mask depending on what the tracker can track.
There simply is no completely automated way of rotoing complex objects. Trackers help, but still need a lot of futzing with. In my experience, not worth tracking individual points.
But I do think having a tracker – let’s say track a point on someone’s hand – making a mask shape move generally with the hand. But Still use the keyframe techniques Steve and I argued about above to actually reshape the mask for the hand 🙂
So when you are using interpolation keyframing, You are only changing the local shape to comply with the hand while the tracker moves the overall X&Y of the mask to follow the hand. This is generally how I roto and it can be pretty fast (relatively speaking).
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Well, I think you may be talking about 2 different things. If you are manually putting in Keyframes, then just engage the ‘Mask Shape’ parameter’s stopwatch to start keyframing using whatever method you wish. AE will interpolate for you like any other program.
But if you are not keyframing but using a tracker instead, That’s where you will need to apply the tracker data to the layer the mask is a part of. As opposed to applying that data to the mask itself, much less any individual point.
Shake IS excellent but I wouldn’t call it inexpensive at around $3000. I have never used it, but I heard Sihlouette is the shennanigans. I personally used to use Commotion and Shake (left for dead by Pinnacle) for roto and tracking.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Well, I think you may be talking about 2 different things. If you are manually putting in Keyframes, then just engage the ‘Mask Shape’ parameter’s stopwatch to start keyframing using whatever method you wish. AE will interpolate for you like any other program.
But if you are not keyframing but using a tracker instead, That’s where you will need to apply the tracker data to the layer the mask is a part of. As opposed to applying that data to the mask itself, much less any individual point.
Shake IS excellent but I wouldn’t call it inexpensive at around $3000. I have never used it, but I heard Sihlouette is the shennanigans. I personally used to use Commotion and Shake (left for dead by Pinnacle) for roto and tracking.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Unlike about every other program, AE won’t let you track your mask directly. But you can put a mask on a layer and track the position of a layer to move the whole mask. This layer can be used as an alpha matte on another layer.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Unlike about every other program, AE won’t let you track your mask directly. But you can put a mask on a layer and track the position of a layer to move the whole mask. This layer can be used as an alpha matte on another layer.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
You are absolutely right Steve. Out of lazyness I was giving an extremely simple example to counteract the idea of frame by frame. I did a roto just today where I start like I describe using the halfway method until I “Box in” the motion detail that isn’t linear. At which point I bookend specific motions. I think there are a few methods and knowing when to switch between them is a great thing.
The halfway method I learned from the great Matt Silverman from the Commotion training tapes.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
You are absolutely right Steve. Out of lazyness I was giving an extremely simple example to counteract the idea of frame by frame. I did a roto just today where I start like I describe using the halfway method until I “Box in” the motion detail that isn’t linear. At which point I bookend specific motions. I think there are a few methods and knowing when to switch between them is a great thing.
The halfway method I learned from the great Matt Silverman from the Commotion training tapes.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Roto generally shouldn’t be done frame by frame. It defeats the benefit of having the computer interpolate for you. There’s definately an art to roto. You should check the Cow archives for ‘roto’ as there are many tips. Two primary notes:
1. Break up your subject into multiple masks. For example if you are rotoing a person, use a seperate mask for the head, each leg, torso, etc..
2. Draw a shape on the first frame. Go to the last frame. Modify the shape to fit. now HALF the two keys. Meaning go to a point halfway between the others and reshape. Then go to the halfway points between those keys, reshape. Etc. The more keys you add the more the motion locks up. This method decreases your amount of work and decreases your chance of roto chatter.
Side note, I would use the B-Spline option in AE (“Rotospline”) instead of bezier.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
Roto generally shouldn’t be done frame by frame. It defeats the benefit of having the computer interpolate for you. There’s definately an art to roto. You should check the Cow archives for ‘roto’ as there are many tips. Two primary notes:
1. Break up your subject into multiple masks. For example if you are rotoing a person, use a seperate mask for the head, each leg, torso, etc..
2. Draw a shape on the first frame. Go to the last frame. Modify the shape to fit. now HALF the two keys. Meaning go to a point halfway between the others and reshape. Then go to the halfway points between those keys, reshape. Etc. The more keys you add the more the motion locks up. This method decreases your amount of work and decreases your chance of roto chatter.
Side note, I would use the B-Spline option in AE (“Rotospline”) instead of bezier.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com