How to Motion track Masks in Adobe Premiere pro

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How to Motion Track Masks in Adobe Premiere Pro

Mask tracking is an incredibly useful feature in Adobe Premiere Pro, which can be employed to fine-tune effects on specific portions of a video. This guide outlines how to use mask tracking for adding effects like a color tint to just a portion of your footage, such as a backpack.

Step 1: Apply an Effect

First, add an effect to your original video clip. For instance, let's use a color tint.

Step 2: Create a Mask

After applying the effect, you need to create a mask. Here's a step-by-step guide:

  1. Add the mask to the effect.
  2. Drag the mask to cover the portion of the video you want to highlight (e.g., a backpack).

Step 3: Play Without Keyframes

If you play the video without setting keyframes, the mask won't stay on the selected portion. It will drift out of position as the video progresses.

Step 4: Adjust the Mask Position

To fix this, set the mask properly on the first frame. Check if the mask covers the selection adequately.

Step 5: Use Mask Path to Track

Next, press the play button on the Mask Path. Premiere Pro will now start tracking the mask:

  • The software tries to perform 2D tracking.
  • It will add a keyframe for every frame, attempting to follow the contours of your selection.

Step 6: Observe the Results

Once the process is complete, the mask will stick to the selected logo or portion consistently throughout the video. Though it's not perfect and may require some manual adjustments, this feature can be incredibly useful for many creative applications.

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FAQ

Q1: What is mask tracking in Adobe Premiere Pro? A1: Mask tracking is a feature that allows you to track specific areas of your video frame by frame, applying effects like color tints only to those selected portions.

Q2: How do you apply a mask in Premiere Pro? A2: After applying an effect to your clip, you can create a mask by selecting the effect and dragging the mask to cover the portion you want to highlight.

Q3: Why does the mask move out of position during playback? A3: If no keyframes are set, Premiere Pro can't keep the mask in position, causing it to drift.

Q4: How does the mask path feature work? A4: When you press play on the Mask Path, Premiere Pro tracks the mask's position frame by frame, adding keyframes for each one to try to follow the contours of the selection.

Q5: Is mask tracking always perfect in Premiere Pro? A5: No, it may not always be perfect and might need manual adjustments. However, it substantially helps in maintaining the mask on the selected portion.

By following these steps and leveraging the mask tracking feature, you can add professional-quality effects to specific parts of your video projects in Adobe Premiere Pro.