Lesson overview
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to do the following:
- Track footage using the 3D Camera Tracker.
- Add camera and text elements to a tracked scene.
- Set a ground plane and origin.
- Create realistic shadows for new 3D elements.
- Lock elements to planes using solid objects.
- Remove rolling shutter distortions from DSLR footage.
This lesson will take about an hour and a half to complete. If you haven’t already done so, download the project files for this lesson from peachpit.com/AfterEffectsCIB2024, following the instructions in the Getting Started section under “Accessing the lesson files and Web Edition.”
PROJECT: TV AD
The 3D Camera Tracker effect analyzes two-dimensional footage to create a virtual 3D camera that matches the original. You can use this data to add 3D objects that merge realistically with your scene.
About the 3D Camera Tracker effect
The 3D Camera Tracker effect automatically analyzes the motion present in existing 2D footage, extracts the position and lens type of the real camera that shot the scene, and creates a new 3D camera in After Effects to match it. The effect also overlays 3D track points onto the 2D footage, so you can easily attach new 3D layers onto the original footage.
These new 3D layers have the same movement and perspective changes as the original footage. The 3D Camera Tracker effect even helps create “shadow catchers,” so your new 3D layers can appear to cast realistic shadows and reflections onto the existing footage.
The 3D Camera Tracker performs its analysis in the background. Therefore, you can work on other compositions while the footage is being analyzed.