HOW TO track text to motion in any video in After Effects

HOW TO Track Text to Motion in Any Video in After Effects

Introduction

Tracking text to motion in Adobe After Effects is a powerful technique that allows you to seamlessly attach text or objects to moving elements within your video. This guide will walk you through the steps required to effectively track text to the motion of a video clip.

Step-by-Step Guide

Import and Setup

1. Import the Clip: First, import the video clip you want to work with into After Effects.
2. Open Tracker Menu: Navigate to the tracker menu located on the right side of the screen.

Track Motion

3. Select the Track Motion Option: In the tracker menu, click on "Track Motion". This will enable the tracking features for your clip.
4. Adjust Tracker Point: Select an area of high contrast within your video to use as your tracking point. The tracker will follow this point as the video plays.

Configure Tracker Options

5. Set Tracker Options: Click “Options” in the tracker menu. Ensure that “RGB” and “Adapt Feature on Every Frame” are selected, then click “OK”.
6. Track the Motion: Click “Play” to begin tracking the motion. After Effects will analyze the clip frame by frame.

Null Layer Setup

7. Create a Null Layer: Once tracking is completed, right-click and create a new null layer.
8. Edit Target: In the tracker menu, click “Edit Target” and ensure it is set to your newly created null layer (“null 1”), then hit “Apply”.

Add and Adjust Text

9. Create Text Layer: Now that your tracking is complete, you can create a text layer by selecting the text tool.
10. Position Text: Position your text where you want it to appear in the video.
11. Make Text 3D: Check the box next to your text layer to make it 3D.
12. Adjust Rotations: Tweak the X, Y, and Z rotations to correctly align the text with the motion in the video.

Link Text to Null Layer

13. Parent Text to Null Layer: Use the pick whip tool (swirl tool) to drag from your text layer to the null layer. This will parent your text to the null layer, ensuring it follows the tracked motion.

Final Check

14. Play Through: Play the video to ensure your text is perfectly tracked and moves seamlessly with the motion in the scene.

Keywords

• After Effects
• Track Motion
• Null Layer
• Text Tracking
• High Contrast Area
• RGB
• 3D Text
• Pick Whip Tool

FAQ

Q1: What is the first step in tracking text to motion in After Effects?

A1: The first step is to import the video clip you want to work with into After Effects.

Q2: How do you select the tracking point in a video?

A2: You adjust the tracker point to an area of high contrast within your video.

Q3: What settings should be enabled in the tracker options?

A3: Ensure that “RGB” and “Adapt Feature on Every Frame” are selected in the tracker options.

Q4: What is the purpose of creating a null layer?

A4: The null layer acts as a target for the tracking data, allowing you to link text or other objects to the motion tracked in the video.

Q5: How do you make text follow the tracked motion?

A5: You parent the text layer to the null layer using the pick whip tool, ensuring the text moves along with the tracked point.

By following these steps and utilizing the provided settings, you can effectively track text to motion in any video using After Effects.