3D Volume in a scene

[AskandLearn]

Hi

I am trying to add a 3D Text on a video scene

I used track camera and then add text and camera but the result is not very convincing, when i start to moove in the video the text also mooves and do not really sticks in place.

is it a problem of tracking points ?

Should i use a dedicated 3d softaware to do this or i still can do it in after effect?

Is it possible to add a 3D text/object in this scene  and make it absolutly static ?

Here a video of the result i get

3D text - YouTube

And here a screen shot of tracking points

https://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2018/29/6/1532195133-help.jpg

Thank you very much for the help

[Kyle Hamrick · Accepted solution]

It looks like it's mostly staying in place, aside from that bit at the end. Proper lighting & compositing is going to be a big part of making it look like it belongs in the scene.

Regarding those couple bumps in the track, you have a few options:
1. Try some different track points.
2. Manually fix those bumps.
3. Since this shot is relatively stable aside from the handheld camera, you could try using the Warp Stabilizer instead for reversible stabilization. You'll end up making sort of a "sandwich" with your text in the middle, manually positioned into the shot.
Here's a good example of how to approach it: https://www.provideocoalition.com/using-reversible-stabilization-in-warp-stabilizer-vfx-for-screen-r...

Sometimes the key to this kind of stuff is that you may have to try a few different methods to see which works best in your situation - or sometimes you just have to do it the old fashioned way!

[AskandLearn]

Hey Kyle Hamrick ! thank you for your answer ! With warp stabiliser effect applied the video is not shaky anymore i did make everything again but it still mooves and doenst looks as i would like it to be, static in the grass

I am new to after effect and i have no clue how i should proceed now !

[Kyle Hamrick]

In short, learning how to make convincing composites is a learned skill, not a magic button. After Effects can do a lot of the work for you, but it's just a tool.

I gave you a few suggestions to follow above. If you aren't familiar enough with the software to make use of those suggestions, I would educate yourself about some of the basics of After Effects, and perhaps watch a few tutorials about the technique you're trying to pull off.

Good luck!

[AskandLearn]

Thank you guys again for your replies ! i have watch a lot of videos you linked me to learn more about the process.

Although the resuslt is "satisfying" i would really like to make it perfect if it is possible.

I think adding grass at the bottom of the letters would make them more realistic and static when the camera moovement happens. What do you  think?

I Tried to add masks and use the clone tool stamp tool to do that but my lack of knowledge make it failed.

[EDIT] that is the kind of "integration'" i wish i could do https://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2018/29/7/1532278440-track2.png

Would you recommand me to use an external 3D softaware to add grass texture to the text or its doable in After effect ?

[Kyle Hamrick]

One idea that might work on the grass is to simply create a solid or shape layer, lined up along the bottom and just barely covering the lower edge of your text. Put this directly above your text layer, and set the text layer's Track Matte dropdown to "Alpha Inverted."
Apply the Roughen Edges effect to this solid/shape, and fiddle with the settings a bit. It should give a nice organic edge that trims away the very bottom of your text.

[AskandLearn]

@Kyle Hamrick

As you can see here https://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2018/30/2/1532462694-22.jpg  i do not have the possibility to choose "alpha inverted' for the text layer "zaragoza 2" even when the solid is above it.

On the other hand, if i put the text layer above the solid, this option appears.

What have i done wrong ?

Thanks !

[Rick Gerard]

First, it's a lot less work to just drag your screenshots to the reply field on this forum. Second, check the warnings when you enable Ray-traced warnings. You give up things like effects and blend modes on 3D layers.

I think there is enough lens distortion in the shot that the edges of the frame are always going to have problems sticking to the surface. You need to remove the lens distortion.

If you want to warp stabilize the shot then the best practice would be to:

1. Remove the lens distortion
2. Pre-compose the corrected shot
3. Camera track the pre-comp (nested comp) establishing an origin and ground plane, adding a reference solid with a grid applied (I would use the road)
4. Figure out where the text needs to be in relation to the reference grid
5. Finalize your composite and turn off the reference grid
6. Pre-compose the entire composite
7. Run Warp Stabilizer on the composited comp
8. Render the deliverable.

Here's why I would use that workflow. AE's camera is perfect, real lenses are not. The wider the shot the more likely you will have lens distortion so any element added to a tracking point will drift as it moves towards or away from the edge of the frame. Therefore, in most cases, it is a very good idea to remove lens distortion before you start. Your text doesn't look vertical partially because of the lens distortion:

You would run Warp Stabilizer on the entire composite because Warp Stabilizer warps the footage to smooth it out. This will add to the drift problems, but if you run the process on the entire composite then the text layer will be warped in exactly the same way the rest of the shot is warped and it will look better and stick better. The first attempt at a composite is not working as well as it should because the lighting doesn't match very well, there is no texture on the extruded text and it does not have the same grain (noise) structure as the footage. Even if the track was perfect you would still have to add a little blur to the text layer to match the look you have in the film.                                                                            

[AskandLearn]

Hey Rick Gerard and everyone !

After a break i am back to work on my project.

I just tried to apply all the advices you gave me.

1- I Removed the lens distortion using the effect optics compensation ( FOV 75.8)

2- Then after pre composing i did track the comp, i added a 3D solid with a grid effect linked to it. Then after aligning the grid to the road i aligned the text to the grid and mooved the depth of the text ( Z angle).

After that i pre composed again, and added a warp stabilise effect.

Here the new video result -> Another try - YouTube

What do you think?

it seems to stick better and better perspective but it stills mooves a bit !

I think thatKyle Hamrick​'s solution is a good option to make it more integrated to the field don't you think ?

One idea that might work on the grass is to simply create a solid or shape layer, lined up along the bottom and just barely covering the lower edge of your text. Put this directly above your text layer, and set the text layer's Track Matte dropdown to "Alpha Inverted."

Apply the Roughen Edges effect to this solid/shape, and fiddle with the settings a bit. It should give a nice organic edge that trims away the very bottom of your text."

But as i said before , i do not have the possibility to choose "alpha inverted' for the text layer "zaragoza 2" even when the solid is above it.

On the other hand, if i put the text layer above the solid, this option appears. Rick Gerard​ told me that Ray-traced 3D gives up things like effects and blend modes on 3D layers, so i have no idea how i should proceed

Thank you in advance for your help!

ps: Should i color grade after or before the 3D text layer is added ?

[Kyle Hamrick]

The slight slip at the end makes me think your text isn't placed QUITE right in the scene. It's close, but it might be too close/too far in Z, or something to that effect. Maybe try extending that grid (or making another) that goes over the grass surface, so you can confirm that you have that perspective correct.

Regarding the Ray-Traced renderer: You may also try the C4D renderer (same place), as it's the more current solution. You will still have most of the same limitations, though. If you need to use matting capabilities in conjunction with that, pre-composing is usually the best solution.

[michelr59529068]

Thank you again @Kyle Hamrick for the help !

I did stabilise 2 times + remove the fisheye again to get a smoother result without bumps.

Now i think it's the smoothest result i can get.

After that i have choosen 3 tracking points on the grass and align the text at the same place.

Here the new result Almost done - YouTube

It is much more static now even if i would like it to be more in depth in the shot, but i am scared to moove the Z and loose the "staticness"

Regarding the grass integration at the bottom of the text i tried to use Cinema 4D but i am still abosulutly lost . What "matting capabilities" means ?

I really would like to add grass at the bottom of the text + shadows to make it more realistic but may be it is too complicated ?

I give you here RAW for help - YouTube  the video footage without the text but stabilised if you want to show me how i can proceed.

Thanks !

[Kyle Hamrick]

I'll give you a longer answer when I have a chance, but re: matte/matting - Use alpha channels, masks, and mattes in After Effects
This is unavailable when using the artisan 3d renderers (Ray Tracing or C4D), but you can get around that by precomposing that element.

[michelr59529068]

Oh okay i see ! So after pre composing i should be able to do this ? -> "

create a solid or shape layer, lined up along the bottom and just barely covering the lower edge of your text. Put this directly above your text layer, and set the text layer's Track Matte dropdown to "Alpha Inverted."

Apply the Roughen Edges effect to this solid/shape, and fiddle with the settings a bit. It should give a nice organic edge that trims away the very bottom of your text."

The text layer is not existing anymore if i pre compose, is that a problem ?

[Kyle Hamrick]

You'll probably need to be precomping a copy of your camera/lights/any other 3d-ish stuff as well. Depends a little on exactly how you've built this.

It might be easier to copy your footage plate, turn it off, then drop your current comp into a new one. Paste the footage (at the bottom).
You're looking to create a precomp with the text tracked into the right spot, but put it into a comp that doesn't rely on that c4d renderer.

[michelr59529068]

You'll probably need to be precomping a copy of your camera/lights/any other 3d-ish stuff as well. Depends a little on exactly how you've built this.

Okay !!! i did not even know it was possible !

It might be easier to copy your footage plate, turn it off, then drop your current comp into a new one. Paste the footage (at the bottom).

You're looking to create a precomp with the text tracked into the right spot, but put it into a comp that doesn't rely on that c4d renderer.

I will try that ! thank you !

[P.M.B]

I agree with Kyle.  The track looks pretty good. there might be a tiny bit of movement near the end but it's not really noticeable unless you're looking for it and by the time i thought I might have seen something the shot ends (assuming it cuts to another shot the viewer won;t have time to wonder)

[michelr59529068]

Anyone to help me? I would like to make the bottom of the grass more integrated, like that it might look more static.

Thank you !