The Benefits and Features of The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V
How to Use The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V to Create Stunning Visual Effects
If you are a visual effects artist who uses Adobe After Effects, you might be interested in learning how to use The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V. This is a powerful plug-in that lets you pull 3D motion tracks and matchmoves without having to leave After Effects. It analyses the source sequence and extracts the original camera's lens and motion parameters, allowing you to composite 2D or 3D elements correctly with reference to the camera used to film the shot.
The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V
In this article, we will show you how to use The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V to create stunning visual effects in After Effects. We will cover the following topics:
What is The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V and what are its features?
How to install and activate The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V in After Effects?
How to run The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V on a source sequence and create an After Effects camera?
How to use the in-viewer menu and keyboard shortcuts to control The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
How to create and position objects and text using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
How to set and adjust the ground plane using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
How to preview and render the point cloud using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
How to estimate and correct the lens distortion using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
How to check and refine the solve stats and workflow using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
By the end of this article, you will be able to use The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V confidently and creatively to enhance your visual effects projects.
What is The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V and what are its features?
The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V is a plug-in for After Effects that allows you to perform 3D motion tracking and matchmoving within the same software. It is based on the technology that was previously only available in NukeX, Foundry's high-end film compositing tool. The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V has the following features:
It can track camera movement in a 2D footage and create a virtual camera that matches the original camera.
It can extract the lens and motion parameters of the original camera, such as focal length, film back, and distortion.
It can operate in two modes: Sequence and Stills. Sequence mode is designed to track a contiguous frame sequence with minimal intervention. Stills mode allows you to manually define keyframes from reference frame stills taken on site.
It has an in-viewer menu that lets you control the plug-in without moving the cursor away from the image. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to access the menu functions.
It can create and position objects and text within your comp, aligned to the tracked feature points. You can also set and adjust the ground plane to orient and offset the entire scene.
It can preview and render a 3D point cloud that shows the positions of the tracked feature points and their selection and frame state.
It can estimate and correct the lens distortion of the tracked clip, and also flatten and re-distort the plate.
It has a comprehensive solve stats and refinement workflow that shows useful statistics after the track and solve phases. You can also tweak various parameters to improve the quality of the track and solve.
How to install and activate The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V in After Effects?
To install and activate The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V in After Effects, you need to follow these steps:
Download The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V installer from the Foundry website or from your reseller.
Run the installer and follow the instructions on screen. You will need to accept the license agreement and choose a destination folder for the plug-in.
Launch After Effects and go to Window > Extensions > The Foundry CameraTracker to open the plug-in panel.
Click on the Activate button and enter your license key or serial number. You can also activate online or offline using your Foundry account or a license server.
Once activated, you can start using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V on your footage.
Click on the Track Features button and wait for the plug-in to analyze the source sequence and generate track points. You can monitor the progress and status in the panel and in the viewer.
Click on the Solve Camera button and wait for the plug-in to calculate the camera's lens and motion parameters. You can monitor the progress and status in the panel and in the viewer.
Click on the Create Scene button and wait for the plug-in to create an After Effects camera that matches the original camera. You can also choose to create a null object or a solid object along with the camera.
You can now use the After Effects camera to composite 2D or 3D elements into your scene.
How to use the in-viewer menu and keyboard shortcuts to control The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V has a unique in-viewer menu that allows you to control the plug-in without moving the cursor away from the image. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to access the menu functions. Here is how to use them:
To open the in-viewer menu, press and hold Ctrl+Alt (Windows) or Command+Option (Mac) and click anywhere in the viewer. A circular menu will appear around your cursor with different options.
To select an option, move your cursor towards it and release Ctrl+Alt or Command+Option. The option will be highlighted and executed.
To cancel the menu, move your cursor back to the center of the circle and release Ctrl+Alt or Command+Option.
The in-viewer menu has different options depending on the mode of operation of The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V. For example, in Track Features mode, you can select options such as Add/Delete Track Points, Auto Track, Manual Track, etc.
You can also use keyboard shortcuts to access some of the menu functions directly. For example, you can press A to add track points, D to delete track points, T to toggle auto track, etc.
You can find a full list of the in-viewer menu options and keyboard shortcuts in the documentation of The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V.
How to create and position objects and text using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
One of the benefits of using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V is that you can create and position objects and text within your comp, aligned to the tracked feature points. This allows you to add virtual elements to your scene that match the perspective and movement of the original camera. Here is how to do it:
After you have tracked and solved your source sequence, select some track points in the viewer that you want to use as reference points for your object or text.
Open the in-viewer menu and select Create > Null Object or Create > Solid Object depending on what you want to create. A null or a solid object will be created in your comp and linked to the selected track points.
You can also create text layers by selecting Create > Text from the in-viewer menu. A text layer will be created in your comp and linked to the selected track points.
You can adjust the position, rotation, and scale of the object or text using the standard After Effects transform controls. You can also use the ground plane controls to orient and offset the object or text relative to the scene.
You can repeat this process to create more objects and text using different track points as reference points.
How to set and adjust the ground plane using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
The ground plane is a virtual plane that defines the orientation and offset of the entire scene. It is useful for aligning objects and text to the scene and for setting the horizon line. You can set and adjust the ground plane using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V in the following ways:
You can use the Auto Ground Plane option in the Camera Tracker tab to automatically set the ground plane based on the average orientation of all track points.
You can use the Set Ground Plane option in the in-viewer menu to manually set the ground plane based on three selected track points.
You can use the Adjust Ground Plane option in the in-viewer menu to manually adjust the ground plane by dragging it up or down, left or right, or rotating it clockwise or counter-clockwise.
You can use the Ground Plane Offset and Ground Plane Orientation controls in the Camera Tracker tab to manually adjust the ground plane by entering numerical values.
How to preview and render the point cloud using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
The point cloud is a 3D representation of the tracked feature points and their current selection and frame state. It is useful for visualizing and verifying the quality and accuracy of the track and solve. You can preview and render the point cloud using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V in the following ways:
You can use the Point Cloud Preview option in the Camera Tracker tab to toggle the visibility of the point cloud in the viewer. You can also adjust the size and color of the point cloud points using the Point Cloud Size and Point Cloud Color controls.
You can use the Render Point Cloud option in the in-viewer menu to create a new layer in your comp that contains the point cloud as a 3D layer. You can then use this layer as a reference or a guide for your compositing.
You can use the Render Point Cloud option in the Camera Tracker tab to render the point cloud as a separate file in various formats, such as .obj, .fbx, .ma, or .chan. You can then import this file into other applications or software for further processing.
How to estimate and correct the lens distortion using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V?
Lens distortion is a common phenomenon that occurs when a camera lens bends or warps the image due to its shape and characteristics. It can affect the accuracy and quality of the track and solve, as well as the compositing of elements into the scene. You can estimate and correct the lens distortion using The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V in the following ways:
You can use the Estimate Lens Distortion option in the Camera Tracker tab to automatically estimate the lens distortion parameters of the original camera, such as focal length, film back, and distortion coefficients.
You can use the Lens Distortion tab to manually adjust the lens distortion parameters by entering numerical values or using sliders. You can also refine an estimate you dial in by clicking on the Refine button.
You can use the Flatten Plate option in the Lens Distortion tab to create a new layer in your comp that contains a flattened version of your source sequence, with no lens distortion. You can then use this layer as your new source for tracking and solving.
You can use the Re-distort Plate option in the Lens Distortion tab to create a new layer in your comp that contains a re-distorted version of your source sequence, with lens distortion applied. You can then use this layer as your final output for compositing.
You can use the Lens Distortion Viewer option in the Lens Distortion tab to toggle between different views of your source sequence, such as Original, Flattened, Re-distorted, or Grid Overlay. This helps you to compare and evaluate the effect of lens distortion on your footage.
Conclusion
The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V is a powerful and versatile plug-in for After Effects that allows you to perform 3D motion tracking and matchmoving within the same software. It has many features and functions that enable you to create stunning visual effects with ease and accuracy. In this article, we have shown you how to use The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V to track and solve your source sequence, create and position objects and text, set and adjust the ground plane, preview and render the point cloud, estimate and correct the lens distortion, and check and refine the solve stats and workflow. By following these steps, you will be able to use The Foundry Camera Tracker 1.0 V confidently and creatively to enhance your visual effects projects. b99f773239
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