Tracker UI			Choosing a Reference Point
Chapter 25, Tracking and Stabilizing

Tracking workflow usually consists of the following steps:

• Choosing a reference point.

• Positioning the reference box.

• Resizing the reference and tracker boxes.

• Resetting the reference and tracker boxes (optional).

• Analyzing the footage.

• Correcting errors.

Adding a Tracker Tool to the Dependency Graph

Once your project folders, project preferences, layout (including the Player Options) are set up, and the media is imported and opened, you are ready to begin your tracking task.

• Do one of the following:

  • From the Tools tab, drag the Tracker tool to Schematic.

  • From the Tools tab, open the Tracker folder and drag the Tracker Analyzer tool to Schematic. You do not need to attach it directly to the dependency graph but rather to the image sequence you want to analyze as it is not going to be modifying the image but rather, you will be using data associated with that tracker.

  Unlike the Tracker Analyzer, the Tracker lets you add multiple Tracker Analyzer tools. If you added the Tracker tool and you want to add more than one Tracker Analyzer, click Add in the Tracker Browser.

  

You can also add Trackers and Tracker Analyzers to a dependency graph using the Create Trackers feature found in any tools with position, rotation, scale, and pivot parameter controls. These tools include the Panner, 2D Transform, Reaction, Warp 2D, Garbage Mask, and Remove Dust. Furthermore, shape tools (Warp 2D, Garbage Mask, and Remove Dust) also let you create Trackers on a per point basis.

The Create Trackers toggle button is found in the Tracker Selection Dialog. It only applies if you are going to press the Link button. Ordinarily the Tracker Selector Dialog allows you to select a set of 1 or more tracker analyzers to link or copy to. However, if Create Trackers is selected, then when you press Link, it will actually create the required number of tracker analyzers. Where it creates them depends on whether you have a tracker tool selected or not. If one is selected, it creates the new analyzers in that tool, otherwise, it creates a new tracker tool, with the required number of analyzers. In the following example procedure, the 2D Transform tool is used to create the Tracker and required number of tracker analyzers specified by the Transform Type selected.

1. Add a 2D Transform tool to the dependency graph.

2. Select 4 Point from the Transform Type menu.

   

3. Right-click the Source label and select Select Trackers.

   

   The Tracker Selector window is displayed.

   

4. Toggle the Create Trackers button and click Link.

   

   A Tracker with four Tracker Analyzers is created in the dependency graph.

1. Select the point you want tracked in the Player.

   

   Note: If you want to track all the points in the shape, use Ctrl + Ato select all the shapes while your cursor is in the player.

2. Right-click the point and select Select Trackers.

   

   The Tracker Selector window is displayed.

   

   Note: You can also right-click the Position label under the Point # label to display the Tracker Selector window.

3. Toggle the Create Trackers button and click Link.

   

   A Tracker and Tracker Analyzer is created in the dependency graph.

   Note: If you selected all the points in the shape, a Tracker Analyzer will be created for each point.