Track Camera – 3D tracking
Use a video that contains: perspective, walls & floors, a steady camera.
The footage should have movement, high contrast and a scene where the camera doesn’t go through too many drastic changes.
1.Import the video into After Effects project window
2.Right Click on the video and choose “Make Comp From Selection”.
3.Click the Video Layer in your timeline.
4.Go to Window>Tracker
5.Click Track Camera (the computer will start tracking, this may take a while)
6. You will see a series of points appear.
7. Drag your mouse across the points and you will see a Red Target symbol defining the plane that AE can create.
8.Select the set of points/target you like. Now Right Click and choose Create Solid and Camera.
9. To have more flexibility go to the Solid Layer and right click and choose Pre-compose. This creates a new composition based on the solid that you can add too
10.Double click your new pre-composed layer and in the new composition change the composition settings to make the target area bigger. Add footage here. Make sure to SAVE any changes.
11. Now go back to you original composition and adjust the transformation and rotation settings!
*shortcut= Shift + Command + Y = To change size of Solid Layer
3D model of Ivysaur
3D Camera Tracker and Cinema 4D
We can use 3D Camera Tracker to set up a plane for a 3D model.
1.Import the video into After Effects project window
2.Right Click on the video and choose “Make Comp From Selection”.
3.Click the Video Layer in your timeline.
4.Go to Window>Tracker
5.Click Track Camera (the computer will start tracking, this may take a while)
6. You will see a series of points appear.
7. Drag your mouse across the points and you will see a Red Target symbol defining the plane that AE can create.
8.Select the set of points/target that exist on what you would like to be a ‘ground plane’. Now Right Click and choose ‘Set Ground Plane and Origin’ .
9.Next click on the same plane (or another ) and choose ‘Create Solid and Camera’.
10.Go to File Export> Maxon Cinema 4D Exporter
11. Save this file as 3d_World.c4d and put the file in a familiar folder.
12. Now find the 3d_World.c4d and import this file into your project window.
13. Place this file above your other layer in your timeline.
14. Now select this layer and go to Edit > Edit Original
15. This will open up CINEMA 4D *next steps are for Cinema 4d
16. Add a downloaded 3D object. You can find some free files on turbosquid.
17. To add the 3d object go to File> Merge your 3D object to the C4D file. In our practice we will use an .fbx file.
18. In the Objects menu – delete the LIGHT and CAMERA layer that came with your 3d model.
19. Shift click to select all the other layers (these are the layers that your model is made up of). Then Right-Click and Choose Group. This will create a NULL layer that will hold all of the shapes of the 3d model.
20. Now use the MOVE and ROTATE tools to put the pokemon on top of the solid that came from After Effects.
21. Make the model bigger in size by clicking on the NULL in the OBJECTS MENU and then clicking on COORD. area. Increase the values for X,Y,Z to 10 (or more) or until the object is big. Press Save
22. Now Double-Click the Pokemon Texture Ball.
23. Now click the COLOR option and look to the right and find the TEXTURE menu and click the ‘…’ dots.
24. Load the Diffuse Jpeg here.
25. *for more advanced color/texture ideas look at the notes in the link below
26. Save the Cinema4d file.
27. NOW GO BACK TO AFTER EFFECTS
28. You should see your object appear in the preview.
29. In the CINEWARE effect menu change the REDERER to FINAL.
30. It should work! Now have fun with more models!
31. Additional: Now go back to C4D and add a light and light the scene. Add more textures to the objects, and animate them!
Free 3D models
Texture maps
how to keyframe in C4D