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christopheru18772433
Inspiring
October 30, 2017
Answered

Is there a way to follow a object with your active camera?

  • October 30, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 2852 views

I'm doing some roto, and my object is moving around nearly every frame so i have to reorient the camera to follow it before i can make my edits.  I was wondering if there is a way to parent the camera onto the object to follow it around for me? which will speed up my work a great deal.  Kind of like parenting a camera in maya. 

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer christopheru18772433

    Hi Kevin,

    yes i did figure it out.  Andrew set me on the right track, and i ended up working out the rest on my own.  I was having trouble connecting the cameras position, and point of interest, to the targets position; since you cant separate the dimensions of the cameras point of interest, and the z value was causing problems.  So i ended up just creating a null, and connecting that to the position of the target.  Then i just parented the camera to the null, then presto it worked solid.  Here is a video of how i did it, if anyone wants to see:

    After Effects: how to parent a camera to a layer - YouTube

    2 replies

    Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
    Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
    Legend
    November 10, 2017

    Hi ChristopherU,
    Did you end up solving this issue? How did you end up doing it? Did any of our experts assist you in reaching a solution? Let us know!

    Thanks,
    Kevin

    Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community and Engagement Strategist – Adobe Pro Video and Audio
    C
    christopheru18772433AuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    November 11, 2017

    Hi Kevin,

    yes i did figure it out.  Andrew set me on the right track, and i ended up working out the rest on my own.  I was having trouble connecting the cameras position, and point of interest, to the targets position; since you cant separate the dimensions of the cameras point of interest, and the z value was causing problems.  So i ended up just creating a null, and connecting that to the position of the target.  Then i just parented the camera to the null, then presto it worked solid.  Here is a video of how i did it, if anyone wants to see:

    After Effects: how to parent a camera to a layer - YouTube

    Roei Tzoref
    Roei Tzoref
    Legend
    October 30, 2017

    any particular reason you are using a camera? if you want to stabilize your footage for roto, use your tracker of choice to stabilize it, do your roto, then introduce the motion back. it all depends on the shot. if you show it to us, we could offer some more help.

    C
    christopheru18772433Author
    Inspiring
    October 30, 2017

    The footage is not suitable for a tracker i think? There's so much motion blur, and motion, that mocha didn't want to cooperate, so i'm doing it by hand. I'm working with a star wars scene, and i'm tracking/rotoing the lightsabers.  Here is a frame: 

    Roei Tzoref
    Roei Tzoref
    Legend
    October 30, 2017

    I am guessing this is fast movement? you can stabilize it manually using ruler guides as a reference, then roto, then re-introduce the motion. no need for a camera. or you could roto it frame by frame. if the motion is abrupt and fast it will have to be manual. still, looking at the shot moving and not a frame will give us (me in this point) more information. by the looks of it I am guessing this is only manual work.

    hey I got icecream screenrecorder too

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