[Rikk Wolf]

Yeah, my nulls were given motion track data from only X and Y movement. To be honest, I don’t know how you even track movement in Z space. By tracking “scale” from the motion tracker?

I am totally willing to share the .aep file with you but I’ll need to give you the download link privately. Hit me up at wolf.rikk@gmail.com and I’ll send you the file.

Super cool of you to offer, I can’t thank you enough. I would’ve never thought something like this would be so complicated. Cheers!

[Rikk Wolf]

Hey Steve,

I’ve had some luck getting things into C4D from After Effects and while my nulls transfer over, unfortunately, their motion or “position” data is not showing up in C4D.

To try an’ fast track this and wrap things up, I decided to shoot a quick video showing preciously the issue. Should be faster and more accurate than describing things in text.

Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/iA1hTG1G0vw

In the meantime, I’ll read over your previous instructions to see if I missed something. Thanks again!

[Rikk Wolf]

Hey Steve,

Thank you for the in-depth outline! I hope I’ve said how much I appreciate your time.

Alrighty, you’ve sold me on Cinema 4D. I’ve spent the last several hours watching tutorials to get the basics. I really like the simplistic interface.

I’ve built a chain with individual links each as their own objects in Cinema 4D Lite but I’m uncertain of how to proceed from here. I’ve searched for about 15 mins. on how to import my two null objects (one tracked from the actor’s fist, one from the saw blade I need to attach the other end of the chain to) into C4D but everything I find online is centered around taking data from C4D into After Effects, not the other way around.

I’ll keep searching for tutorials that apply to my situation. I’m really anxious to see this IK system at work.

[Rikk Wolf]

Hey Michael,

Perhaps I’m overlooking something simple but I also assumed the same. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to work like that for me.

I do indeed have the chain parented to a null created from motion tracking the actor’s fist. However, there doesn’t seem to be anyway to tie the other end of it to my saw blade null/track point and get acceptable results.

I’ve attempted to pick whip things in Element 3D like “World Position XY”, “Y Rotation” and “Bend” (under Deform) to the saw blade but it bizarrely pushes the chain in all kinds of strange directions. It can even push it completely off screen or wrap it around itself (picture attached).

Sometimes I get something that seems to move properly in 3D space but it’s severely misaligned with the scene.

[Rikk Wolf]

Hey Steve,

Unfortunately Particular has developed a strange bug on my system, so I’ve been unable to use it for some time now. I’ll see if I can get it fixed but simple uninstall and re-installs aren’t doing it.

If I use Element 3D, can you clarify for me if I should be cloning the chain links in the plugin interface or approaching it directly in the After Effects controls (pic attached to previous post).

Sounds like it would be easier in C4D, I just don’t have any experience with it but I’ll attempt to remedy that.

[Rikk Wolf]

Hey Steven,

Thanks for the further info. Sorry my response is so brief but it’s about 3:00am and I’ve gotta call it a night.

Dumb question – when we’re discussing creating/cloning individual chain links in Element 3D, are we doing this in the Element 3D interface or doing it using the effects settings directly in After Effects? Image included to clarify.

I’ll also keep watching tutorials on Cinema 4D. Im not much past figuring out how to import OBJ files and duplicating them on that front, ha ha.

Cheers mate,
Rikk

[Rikk Wolf]

Hey Steven, sorry for the radio silence. Had some other projects that needed attention.

I’m in After Effects CC 2017 14.2.0.198.

I’m almost embarrassed to say I had no idea Cinema 4D was now being bundled with After Effects. I do in fact have it and I’m poking around in it now. It sounds like a good option, though I’m completely unfamiliar with the software. I’ve been watching some tutorials in an attempt to familiarize myself with it.

The chain has a very simple “green glass” texture applied to it. Doesn’t seem too system intensive but it does take quite awhile to render each frame.

Would making clones of individual chain links in Element 3D requite me to create different solid layers each with an instance of Element 3D loaded on them, or is there some way to do this cloning all on one instance of Element 3D in After Effects?

I’ll keep trying to learn about splines/paths and looking into the C4D and Element 3D route for now.

As always, thanks so much for your time and willingness to help. Everyone on the project appreciates it. 🙂

[Rikk Wolf]

Thanks for the prompt reply, Steve!

I figured it was a long shot. I’m sure you’re familiar with the lightning effects in After Effects, with their “origin” and “direction” functions. I was hoping to discover something that would allow me to do something similar.

I did consider making each link its own 3D object but I fear my computer may not be up to it. However, would you happen to have a link to a good spline/path tutorial? I’ve never used those functions before.

I’m unfortunately not equipped with any of the software you mention but I’ll look into them and see if there’s perhaps trial versions I can play around in!

Very much appreciate your time and helpfulness, thank you!

[Rikk Wolf]

“If your camera is locked down and you have a clean plates that locks up, do you really need the remove module?”

Oh, most definitely.

The puppet goes through a lot of complex motions and I can tell from watching the tracker module do its thing, it will save hours of tedious work. Also, if we’re being honest, I’m not exactly a virtuoso when it comes to manual roto masking.

There’s also some slight lightning inconstancies we couldn’t have noticed on our monitors that I was hoping the Illumination Model would smooth over.

Does the tracking of the background have to be tracked through all the frames that the removal needs to be done? I attempted to do this but the background tracking keeps getting disturbed and thrown off by the puppet’s movements. My clean frames are frames 1 – 25 or so before the puppet and its rig enter the shot and that’s what I’ve been tracking.

Anyway, for at lest this shot I cut and paste the mask track data back into After Effects and was able to move on. I had to do another clean plate ON TOP of the portions with lighting issues, though.

[Rikk Wolf]

Having the exact same issue.

Done this a few times before without issue and no idea what’s changed.

Mocha has mind-blowing tracking power but so far I have to say I am very disappointed with all the computability issues it seems to have.

Anyone get this figured out?