VFX Techniques: Tracking Objects onto a Face

Shows how to build complex composites with After Effects and mocha, where motion graphics are mapped to live-action footage of an actor's face.VFX Techniques introduces common yet critical visual effects techniques that are used in film and television shows on a regular basis. This installment shows how to build complex composites with Adobe After Effects and mocha, where motion graphics are mapped to live-action footage of an actor. Author Lee Lanier starts by combining rotoscoping and effects to digitally apply makeup to an actor to disguise motion tracking marks. Then discover how to transfer footage into mocha and generate planar tracking data that you can use to motion track graphics to the moving face of the actor. Plus, learn how to build and adjust motion graphics to create the look of a virtual tattoo and a pair of holographic heads-up glasses. Topics include: Disguising tracking marks with rotoscoping and effects Preparing footage for motion tracking Planar motion tracking a face in mocha Applying tracking data to artwork in After Effects Fine-tuning motion tracking curves in After Effects Animating text and graphic elements Applying color and light effects Batch rendering the final comp