During this lab, i'm able to practice more on using the motion tracking tool. I'm amazed on what the motion tracking tool can do. Besides, we use two separate entities of images and videos and combine them together into one footage.
With motion tracking, we are able to:
- track the movement of an object and apply the tracking data for that movement to another object - such as another layer or an effect control point.
For example the video i did above, the footage originally only have the person walking towards an empty land with no buildings.
ORIGINAL VIDEO:
After effects tracks motion by matching image data from a selected area in a frame to image data in each succeeding frame. You can apply the same tracking data to different layers or effects. You can also track multiple objects in the same layer.
After applying the tracking motion to the footage, we just need to link the different entity which is the image and parent it to the footage. The image will then follow the tracking motion. Hence, with this motion tracking tool, i am able to make my edited footage more realistic as if the buildings were already there when the person walk towards it. Besides, we can track the original video's motion by it's position and the rotation to make it even clearer.
Photoshop files -> After effect files
We can export the after effect files into layers of psd files and edit them together. Hence, in this video, i've exported it out and added the background image to the footage.
The original picture:
In this picture, i've used the background eraser tool in photoshop to clear off the unnecessary background of the picture and added it to the footage. Then, i saved and import it back to After effects. Hence, i find this connection useful as sometime we might forget to add or deduct images or any asset to the photos and footage. This will make it easier for us to edit anything in easily.
Lab B
In week 11's Lab B, i was told to choose any tutorial from the web: http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/
Hence, i chose this tutorial which is called the "Sub surface skin".
In this tutorial i've learnt a few new tools that its not being taught in the lab:
- The Grid effect
- Fractal Noise
- Invert
- Mocha AE
The Grid effect
Use the Grid effect to create a customizable grid. Render this grid in a solid color or as a mask in the alpha channel of the source layer. This effect is good for generating design elements and mattes within which other effects can be applied.
Fractal Noise
Fractal Noise
The Fractal Noise effect uses Perlin noise to create grayscale noise that you can use for organic-looking backgrounds, displacement maps, and textures, or to simulate things like clouds, fire, lava, steam, flowing water, or vapor.
Hence, in this case, i've used the fractal noise effect to make the vein scar more realistic. It add on to the little details inside the veins, which made the veins not too "clean" and enhanced it to make it realistic. Besides, adding the fast blur effect will make it more realistic as it will make the scar seems like it have a few layers instead.
Invert
The invert effect inverts the color information of an image.
For example in this case, there's an image background is in black while i need to make it white in order to add luma to certain layers but i need to use that image, hence, with the help of the invert effect, i am able to.
BEFORE
After applying the invert effect, the image will change the background colour to the vein colour and vice versa.
Mocha AE
Mocha AE is able to these:
Mocha AE is a great tool in tracking motion. It allow us to track motion for a patch instead of two points which we always use in AE. In this case, i used the Mocha AE to track the person's face patch in the solid layer with the factual noise effect, this make it easier since the person's face does not have two different particular spots for us to trace while using the normal track motion tool. In addition, we can export the track motion out and paste it to the after effect's layer or composition which works like the normal track tool. As a result, i believe that this tool is great for us to track more advanced stuff while compared to the normal track motion tool.
Hence, in this case, i've used the fractal noise effect to make the vein scar more realistic. It add on to the little details inside the veins, which made the veins not too "clean" and enhanced it to make it realistic. Besides, adding the fast blur effect will make it more realistic as it will make the scar seems like it have a few layers instead.
Invert
The invert effect inverts the color information of an image.
For example in this case, there's an image background is in black while i need to make it white in order to add luma to certain layers but i need to use that image, hence, with the help of the invert effect, i am able to.
BEFORE
AFTER
Mocha AE
Mocha AE is able to these:
- Planar Motion Tracking
- Advanced Roto Tools
- 3D Camera Solver for After Effects & Hitfilm
Mocha AE is a great tool in tracking motion. It allow us to track motion for a patch instead of two points which we always use in AE. In this case, i used the Mocha AE to track the person's face patch in the solid layer with the factual noise effect, this make it easier since the person's face does not have two different particular spots for us to trace while using the normal track motion tool. In addition, we can export the track motion out and paste it to the after effect's layer or composition which works like the normal track tool. As a result, i believe that this tool is great for us to track more advanced stuff while compared to the normal track motion tool.