Get ready to take your video production to the next level! In this article, we’ll explore how to set up markers for custom geometry tracking so you can easily track objects in your green screen footage. As a 3D artist, I’ve always been fascinated by the magic of live-action movies. And now, with affordable tools and techniques, anyone can create professional-looking shots with CGI elements.
Have you ever watched behind-the-scenes footage of your favorite movies and wondered how they create those amazing scenes? Giant green screens with tracking markers, flying actors supported by wires, and physical assets in the shooting location are all commonplace. It’s so exciting to understand these techniques applied to the film industry!
In this two-part series, we’ll show you how to create a real shot with 3D object tracking. In this first part, we’ll cover the preliminary steps, including the equipment you’ll need. Let’s dive in!
First up, you’ll need a green screen. Depending on your available space and the nature of your shot, you can opt for either a portable or permanent one. We recommend the KHOMO GEAR Collapsible Chromakey Panel, which is easy to mount and offers sufficient space for your shot. Plus, it’s portable and comfortable to use.
Next, you’ll need a series of tracking markers to track the movement of your subject. We recommend using skin-safe ink markers, which are cheap and easy to remove from your body. Creating the right contrast on the skin will make the tracking process much easier.
Finally, you’ll need two softboxes to illuminate the green screen and your subject. The softboxes produce soft shadows and are suitable for portrait lighting. Position them on the left and right sides of your subject for the most straightforward configuration.
With these tools and techniques, you’ll be able to create professional-looking shots with ease. Stay tuned for the next installment, where we’ll cover lighting, rendering, compositing, and other professional tips while working with your 3D software. Let’s get started!Welcome to the studio! Are you ready to learn about lighting schemes? Let’s start with soft lighting, which is created by placing cloth in front of an incandescent lamp. The scattered light produces a soft effect that’s perfect for creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Check out the OMBAR Softboxes for a great example of this type of lighting.
Now, let’s talk about camera equipment. A tripod is essential for adjusting the height of your camera and getting the perfect shot. The MACTREM Professional Camera Tripod is a great choice for any photographer.
When it comes to preparing your shooting location, you don’t need a big stage. In fact, you can easily replicate a short clip at home with just a few simple tools. Check out the green screen setup in the living room, illuminated by soft lighting from lamps on either side. Remember to avoid casting shadows on the green screen for a professional look.
Next, let’s talk about object tracking. This technique involves recording the movement of a video element to overlap a 3D mesh. For example, you can wear a 3D mask like Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th and use object tracking to follow your head movement. Check out the 3D mask from the web for a spooky touch.
Ready to see the whole tracking process in action? Stay tuned for more tips and tricks on creating professional-quality videos.Check out this amazing 3D mesh representing Jason’s mask! PFTrack software is the perfect tool for this project, with its feature-rich nodes. After importing the video sequence, we dive into the primary interface with the series of used nodes. The Edit Camera node is crucial here, as it provides a fundamental hint to PFTrack. We manually enter the camera focal length parameter, which has to be as precise as possible. But what if you don’t know that value? No worries, the Estimate Focal node works like a charm!
The User Track node allows us to pick custom markers on the face and record their movement during the whole shot. By using the tracking commands, we can record the movement and use those trackers as helpers for the Geometry Track node.
The Geometry Track node is outstanding, as it can work even without tracking markers. It’s sufficient to match a 3D mesh to a moving object in the video and start tracking back and forth. And why did we use black markers on the face? The Geometry Track node also accepts user trackers to improve and refine the result.
To utilize this node, load the 3D model (Jason’s mask) by clicking on the Load button of the Geometry Track node. Translate, rotate, and scale the imported 3D mesh to match the face at a certain frame. Use the arrows to track back and forth, and the single arrows work frame by frame, while the double ones keep tracking for more frames. This is an incredible tool for refining the orientation of the 3D mesh as the head moves. Check out the images and video to see it in action!Looking to create a smooth transition in your tracking? If you notice that the tracking is a bit off, don’t worry! Simply re-orient the face on that frame, add a key, move to the next frame, and click on the Refine button. This will ensure that the refine button is applied to the previous frame as well. Check out the image below for a visual guide.
But that’s not all! You can also add previous user trackers as helpers to the Geometry Track node for even better tracking. Don’t worry if the laces don’t match the head at this stage, they can be adjusted later on in Maya. Here’s a list of the previous trackers:
And voila! The result we obtained is shown in the video below:
Now it’s time to export the mask animation from PFTrack to your favorite 3D software. In our case, we exported for Maya, but PFTrack offers different exporters like fbx, obj, and 3DS Max to name a few. The Export node also allows you to select what to export from the scene. In our case, we only need the 3D mesh with the embedded animation and that’s included by default.
And that’s it for the first part of the series! Stay tuned for the next episode where we’ll continue working on this shot. In the meantime, follow me on my Linkedin page for more updates. And if you’re interested in 3D, check out these articles:
- Best FREE Animation Software — Ready to Download Right Now
- Best Site to Download 3D Models for Blender, Cinema 4D, and More
- How to Create Real 3D Terrain in Blender (Without Plugins)
- Six FREE 3D Models for Cinema 4D Users
- The 10 Best Blender YouTube Channels for 3D Artists
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