3D Tracking Tests
July 30th, 2008

I was a bit reluctant to post these shots but I wanted to bring you in the loop. These extensions are completely created in 3D and have been tracked to actual footage. I created these test shots to find the most practical way to demonstrate the uses of 3D tracking without getting overly complicated. These might not even be the actual lessons in the upcoming training but I'm exploring the most useful techniques and these were 2 very doable concepts. I'll probably add more destruction :)

See Sample Pics

What to expect:
The matchmoving training will be demonstrated using Boujou 4, one of the most popular packages on the market. The fine folks over at 2D3 were nice enough to loan me a license for this upcoming series, and although the software may seem expensive to individual artists you will find the techniques and principals universal. Now if you get a job working at a big studio, don't be surprised to see it being used.

Additionally I'll be using 3D Max only... but hey these tutorials will be FREE. I will show you how easy it is to prepare the tracking data for any 3D program even After Effects.

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
17 years ago
122 Comments
Gah, looks amazing, as usual.
Payton
17 years ago
I wish he would use blender too... i'm twelve so i can barely afford a new video game

I have more important things to save up for, ok
i cant be buying 10,000$programs when i'm not even 1/3 of the way to 500$ for a PS3+Games/Accessories
sang pil lee
17 years ago
wow~^o^
17 years ago
When to see your work?
Gus
17 years ago
Wish you'd use Blender instead of 3d Max (loved the Blender tutorials from The Bullet) but oh well Looking forward to this!
[...] referred to as: Matte Shadow, which will be a subject in the future as it also pertains to 3D animation [...]
Damian Mckenzie
17 years ago
Mr. Kramer you have out done yourself can't wit for the release
17 years ago
Wow... Finally some 3D tracking tutorial to use on my next projects... Regards from Central America!
Junaid Khatri
17 years ago
WWWWOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW DUDe hurryyy we are waiting for this tutorial........
Speedbreaker
17 years ago
@Craig

Right click on every object except the matteobject (deactivate the button renderable or visible to camera or something like that but leave receive shadows checked) render it out with an alpha channel and it should work!

Fabian
17 years ago
I remember a while back you were gonna teach us how to create matte shadows in max. Did you ever get around to creating such a tutorial? I think it would be useful to know how to export just the shadows to be composited into live action.
Carlos
17 years ago
THANKS SO MUCH MAN! YOUR AWESOME!!
SWEEEEt i can't wait! haha!
Nate
17 years ago
Im excited for this one!
Billy
17 years ago
Does anyone know if the Boujou 4 trial will work with these upcoming tutorials? Also, are these 3D things that are going to be added into the footage going to be animated?
17 years ago
@ Speedbreaker

>>Mocha is a great tracker, but itâ??????s a 2D Tracker
>>Instead of Pointtracking (After Effects) it does planar tracking.

Thanks for the clarification... now I got it.

>>Greetings from germany to the caribbean (man I wish I could be there right now

You can be there-- virtually.

http://www.gotopuertorico.com/

Saludos!
luka
17 years ago
Hi i've a question, are you going to do boujou 3dsmax and AE tutorial or only boujou ? ARE YOU GOING TOO EXPLAIN TO US how to do this hole in the road for free ?????

IF YES : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=LnZU_1zqoZc&feature=related

THX THX U R AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!

â?????â?????â??????â???â??????â??? â?????
ã??????â??????â??????â?????? /â??????/
ã??????â??????â??????â??????/â??????/
ã??????â??????â??????/â?????? / â??????â???¬â??????â???
ã??????â??????â??????â??????â??????|â??????â??????â??????â?????? â??????
â?????â???´â??????â???´â??????â???-â?????â????? â???â??? respect â???â???
â??????â??????â?????â??????â??????â?????â??????â??????â??????â??????â???« â???« â???« â???« â???« â???« â???« â???«
â??????â???â??????â??????â??????â??????â??????â??????â?????â?????
ã??????â??????â???â??????â??????â??????â??????â?????â?????
Bobb
17 years ago
VCP rules! Kramer, you made me whom i am today am am proud of your work and efforts.
You make visual effect seem so easy for an aspiring artist. Cant imagine in 3 year where we will all (as the VCP online community) be.

Amazing! Cant wait for that day..........................!!!

Big up to the Kramers!!
Kachy.
17 years ago
Yea, VCP is the king website, for Visual Effects!
rotundus
17 years ago
cant wait... ive had alot of trouble transferring the data from boujou into AFX.
Sk3ptix
17 years ago
This will be more of an exhibition than a tutorial. Boujou is extremely expensive and put that with 3d studio max. Probably like 10 out of thousands will be able to follow along. The results will be awesome so I don't mind watching, but it seems everyone is getting hyped up without realising that this is probably not going to be relevant to them at the moment.
Nathan DuMoulin
17 years ago
James, motion graphics is like programming. The syntax changes from language to language, but the same principles apply. If you're ambitious towards motion graphics, then such a small setback shouldn't hold you back. These tutorials are valuable because of the information they contain. People need to learn to ingest it and apply it to their own projects, not recycle it in a click-per-click method.
abe
17 years ago
This is going to be extremley useful information, I cant seem to grasp the 3d matchmoving technique. I tried Icarus, which is the old version of pftrack. But Its to complex to try to teach yourself this stuff. Thanks for all your help Andrew. Here is a little eye replacement with a twist, I couldnt have done without ya.
http://cinematiceffects.com/blog/
17 years ago
Are expressions the future of Video Copilot? Not exactly, but certainly a subject we will cover, like this one and many others.
James Wicks
17 years ago
$10,000 for Boujou?
Quoting Kramer from a Seinfeld episode: "I'm out!"

I'm sure it's a great program.
But not for those on a limited budget.

Is that where future Video CoPilot tutorials are going?
J
Nathan DuMoulin
17 years ago
Andrew, I just wanted to comment on your response to Kasper. I was beginning to find the newer tutorials to be a little redundant (and as a result, they also seemed to be increasingly basic). However your recent implementation of expressions and 3D integration has really caught my attention. I appreciate these new additions immensely, as they are now what keeps me coming back here. Its one thing to be good at AE, but it requires a much broader skill set to become a professional motion graphics artist. These newer tutorials are sending us in the right direction and I thank you and the VC team for that.
17 years ago
Wow, cool stuff! Can't wait to see these ones.
Noel
17 years ago
Andrew Kramer could be teaching Microsoft Excel and I'd watch it.

First time posting, love the site. I've even bought all the products and they are excellent.

The scope and ambition is amazing. I can see why some people might be a little worried that they're going to be priced out of following along, but as a lot of people have already said there are cheaper alternatives out there and like the brilliant Bullet DVD shows you a lot of stuff like 3D is universal to a lot of applications, you just have to work it out.

At the end of the day you're going to want to create effects that no one has ever seen or done before, so there will be some departure between what Andrew is doing and what you want to do.

Can I get a "well said"?
17 years ago
great stuff as usual . Be great to see it all when it's ready, take your time on the good work .
17 years ago
There Andrew: more yays than Neys
17 years ago
If you only have basic 3D object placement needs, the guys over at The Pixel Farm also offer a very cost effective $200 solution called PFHoe Pro (http://www.pfhoe.com/support.htm) that can handle exports to the following programs:
AutoDesk FBX
Maya
XSI
3DS Max
After Effects
Lightwave
Cinema 4D
Combustion
Animation Master
Blender
Pixel Farm XML
AutoDesk FFI
Shake 4.1 Multi-plane
Houdini
Nuke
Kuper Control
Flair MRMC
kris
17 years ago
wow andrew kramer keep feeding us some awesome information. I like it, this is why I am so inspired. I cant wait these upcoming training. Thanks andrew.
joell
17 years ago
this one is really exciting!!!

Thanks andrew!!!

just wondering, when will be the t-shirt available and will the shirt available worldwide?


Thanks again!
Kael
17 years ago
Andrew, you rock! I just started at a production company (today's my third day), and they're having me learn matchmoving for possible use in the future (aka very likely). I've been looking at Boujou and have not been able to wrap my head around it yet, so your tutorial should be right on time to help!
Many thanks for all the hard work you do, whether it's in AE, 3DS Max, or whatever you may decide to use for your future tutorials!
Ori Lahav
17 years ago
Hmmm... Andrew...?

THANKS!
noone
17 years ago
hmmm seems pretty cool. While I don't use any of those programs, hopefully I'll be able to pull some stuff from the tutorials and use it over in some other programs.
Icemak
17 years ago
Make Sam fall into the hole at the end!!
Speedbreaker
17 years ago
@Eduardo Torres

Mocha is a great tracker, but it's a 2D Tracker like the one in After Effects. Instead of Pointtracking (After Effects) it does planar tracking. You can replace something on a screen with it and stuff like that but it's not for 3D tracking.

Greetings from germany to the caribbean (man I wish I could be there right now )
ömer tatlisoz
17 years ago
??± want we 3D tracking test tutorial
17 years ago
just amaizing
17 years ago
@ Rafael Guerra

3d Studio Max is from Autodesk also is Maya(formely from Alias)... Maxon does Cinema 4D.. altough they may seems similar, they aren't from the same company!!

Unfortunately; when autodesk bought Maya from Alias (i think they bought alias...) they didn't tought of doing 3D Max on Mac... i think only Softimage and 3D Max is only PC... Anyone tested 3D Max on Booth Camp??
17 years ago
Andrew,
Being boujour and expensive program, have you considered Mocha? I saw a tut made by Aaroon and It seems to be a very good integration with AE.

Greetings from the Caribbean!
Lawrence
17 years ago
Wow! I've been intro motion tracking for ages but that's because I'm forced to wear an ankle tag, this is going to be far cooler. I'm just trying to work out how many smokes and phone cards I need for a copy of boujou. I can't wait for this, I'm looking forward to the new site more than getting out. Keep it real kramer!
17 years ago
And you have a job, too? Amazing. Keep it coming, we'll keep drinking it in. Can't wait to see the new site next week!
17 years ago
Andrew, I think you are doing an amazing job for the community and I think it??´s a great idea to expand to other tools other than AE. I love following this blow, and watching the tutorials. If VCP ever need an investor, let me know. You guys rock.
darren
17 years ago
At $10,000 for a boujou 4 licence and $2000 a year for support its way out of all our budgets well mine at least. though i look forward to the tutorial as i do all of them here. But the tutorial will seem ponitless without access to boujou 4 to practice on (unless u can get it from torrents sites) TUT TUT.

i do agree with u with you, not to focus solely on After Effects, as Visual Effects and Motion Graphics encompasses many programs. i apreciate your hard work and look forward to this and many tutorials
17 years ago
I'm already ready for big pill of expressions and a glass of 3D tracking!
17 years ago
Ahh 3DMax... good stuff, this is my prefered prgram of all 3d software.

Hey, check out my new skate vid http://www.craigstephen.co.uk/blackwhite.html
richard
17 years ago
He guys! you know digilab voodoo tracker... it a 3d free tracker! it not bad! free!
who
17 years ago
wtf? Andrew do you know how much a licence for Boujou cost? You didnt even have your own licence. Its sad to see this website slipped away to the "only available for highcost production" companies. I thought your targetgroup were not professionals, more homemake und fun producer. Now you creating a tut for the most expensive tracking software on earth?
Vic
17 years ago
Thanks Andrew for the time you put into these tutorials. I know how hard it is sometimes to get these done and still have time for family and your own projects on the side that you DO get paid for! Much appreciation!
Vic
Noddy
17 years ago
As mentioned, WE LOVE SAM LOYA!


...btw, my niece loves her autographed Sam postcard!
17 years ago
really great point Andrew, I trust in your judgement concerneing the development of this remarkable site... I picked up on VFX when this site was launched and I was starting a new job. It was truly spooky the way my jobs kept adapting to the tutorials you were posting... I know work for a company that needs 3-d work and I swear if it wasn't for you I would get the fear....

Ma man when you are in London next i seriously need to get you a few rounds in Ye Auld Tavern. Would love to hear your views on startin up a production studio.

Have a good day and Take care.

Sean
Rafael Guerra
17 years ago
that is really cool...but i guess i will make the 3d part in cinema 4d. Anyway, cinema 4d and 3ds max are both from Maxon, so they are similar.
17 years ago
Can't wait to see that!! i'm learning 3d on my own right now and this tut can't be anything but usefull!! You guys rock!!! Thanks... wish they could make 3d Studio Max on Mac..
Derrick van Niekerk
17 years ago
Awesome work Andrew, when this is released it's gonna be awesome (what ever way you choose to teach matchmoving).

- Derrick
17 years ago
I'm already planning on providing information on SynthEyes and Icarus....Icarus is free for those who are unaware.
Dance with wolf
17 years ago
I'm waiting for your this exciting tutorial! you're the best Andrew Kramer.
Ben Wotton
17 years ago
I'm loving the 3d stuff andrew. Did you know that your site has taught me to use AE all on my own, and I have used it extensively in a short film I'm making. It is because of you that I am now into visual effects and it now doesn't seem like the 'big scary professional monster' anymore.

just want to say thanks and encourage you.
17 years ago
I have a feeling when the tutorials are online there will be a multitude of information flowing regarding software and integration...
TT
17 years ago
more one questio! Do you know if exist any plugin or script for blender to import the camera of boujou?
THX for all AK this blog is one of the best source os information of VFX.
Sorry for my english!
17 years ago
Kasper... thanks for your perspective. This site is progressively focusing on sharing techniques and information about Visual Effects and Motion Graphics. You are correct the core tool here is After Effects but if we limit ourselves we would be ignoring the interests of a large part of the community...

It's like, some people here aren't ready for Expressions, but one day, they're going to start asking questions and we will have several tutorials available. Likewise, those interested in 3D & AE integration will be able to find a valuable resource now and in the future.

Besides, of the 80+ plus tutorials (including the basic training) there are only 4 3D tutorials... let's be realistic, this site could use a few more
Ben Wotton
17 years ago
) <--End bracket (my school teacher would be very disappointed with me right now)
Ben Wotton
17 years ago
Sorry about the hole Andrew...(For those of you who don't know I made that when I attempted to blow my way to the Video Copilot set in a desperate attempt to see Sam Loya in the flesh.
TT
17 years ago
i've been tried the integratio with after effects, i don't know what happend, in boujou the track apparently is perfect but when i export the camera (.ma) and import in after, the track is very bad.
17 years ago
Holy S..T, this is really great. 3d tracking is so cool, watched a lot on youtube , cant wait to do it by myself.

thanx,thanx,thanx,X1000

did i allready say thanx?
Kasper
17 years ago
I think it sucks, that you seem to be going away from making *just* AE tutorials.. Those tuts are why your site rocks.. Not all the sidekick 2dsm stuff..
Arnar
17 years ago
3Ds Max isn't free...
17 years ago
Great Andrew...
G Man
17 years ago
all we need now is for something to come out of that hole...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY7_8Q15ChQ
luka
17 years ago
WWWWoOOOoOooOoOwwwwWW !!!! looks great !!!!

PLEASE UPLOAD A VIDEO !!!!

and take a look at my bullet time test : http://www.wideo.fr/video/iLyROoafYbuq.html
highdefw
17 years ago
I knew he would use Boujou... 3D integration and motion tracking is a must need to know topic for anyone getting into VFX.
Darren Doyle
17 years ago
looks stunning...I can't believe Hollywood hadn't noticed you yet?....your slogan should be "Anything this good...you know it has to be from Video co-pilot.net" â???¢

all the best
17 years ago
Nice one, Andrew.
But, what about using Icarus as a free option?

Love From Spain
Rob T
17 years ago
WOW! Really looking forward to this! Great teasers Andrew!!
17 years ago
WE LOVE SAM LOYA
Speedbreaker
17 years ago
Wow I guess you should get a new server before you release this!
This is going to be the most watched tutorial on the planet
Awesome I can't wait!

I'm familiar with 3D Tracking and with destroying stuff, but I guess you will take it to the next level like always.

Did you use Cameramapping to blend the 3D Elements with the original footage?
Bo
17 years ago
NICE dude....lookin' good
17 years ago
is it possible to use Voodoo Camera Tracker ( http://www.digilab.uni-hannover.de/docs/manual.html ) as a free alternative?
Moca MX
17 years ago
WOOOOOOOOOOOOWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GREAAAAAATTTTTTTT!
MARTY
17 years ago
Now were talking......................fantastic Andrew. Can't wait to see it.
17 years ago
Wow!! im SO EXCITED for this one! :]
and i gotta say, u Blew me away, Andrew, with these pictures!
i was kinda expecting just a placement of a simple 3D text on a footage road or something...but this is, like, deeper than that!
i bet the extra Grain in the first picture, is to try to implent the 3D part in the scence better, right?
...seems like its the most complicated thing of all...make it all believeable...adding shadows..using the right materials on 3D Max ..etc. bet its kinda tricky with the whole workflow of it.. :\
but youll show us, heh..right? :]

Thank u Very much for this upcoming series!! :]
elad.
p.s-hope u filmed all that footage-"handheld" style...=more believeable, tougher to track :]
17 years ago
Hi
That was nice
but the first shot [ on the street ] was a little unreal !
Good luck

http://After-Effects.Blogfa.Com
mechis
17 years ago
By the way, you mentioned 2 screenshots.... but only one is showing in your post.

See ya!
mechis
17 years ago
Just want to say thanks, Andrew. I've always wanted you to go in this direction with your tutorials! Thank you so much for doing this!

Oh, and in the future, if you are looking for a 3d tracker that is a little more affordable... Syntheyes (http://www.ssontech.com) is much cheaper than Boujou. That's the program I have and use

THANKS!!!
17 years ago
CooooooL Andrew
17 years ago
WooooW :d Andrew
Babatunde Tunslike
17 years ago
Back to Community, Love to all Videocopilots

This is what am talking about, here we are, in the world of VFX.... Guys! have u imagined or had wished to break ur house apart, destroy ur bridges, make a hole in the middle of your living room, wake up ur wife/mum/dad early in d morning tell them there is a dragon hole in the car park????? here your dream has finally come true.

I have always waited for these time/training/period...VFX Matchmoving and Camera Tracking/3D Compositing and Integration.... with these Teriffic Skills you can Simulate the Reality!!!

Thanks Andrew for taking the Community to another next level, showing the people how to build their own world.

I had loved 3D Matchmoving and Integration, cuss it gives you power to simulate your world... you know films like, Gurrassic Park, Matrix, SpiderMan...... virtually all contemporary VFX Films out there made great use of this Skills.

So Andrew we can wait, we crossed our fingers, and ready to move to the Big Boys Level... let's ditch Motion Graphics for a while nowwwwwww?

Dont mind me! am just a fan of it! maybe after these awesome skills we can build our Videocopilt Community Zion, replicate of Zion in the Matrix.

Thanks Andrew, God bless.
Earlack
17 years ago
...Hey, just wanna point out that you can actually download a demo version of Boujou 4.1 on 2d3's website, if you register on support section. Don't know if you can export the results tough, but it can still be handy to follow the upcoming tutorial.
17 years ago
No set date for this projects release yet...
17 years ago
Wow, that shot has a LOT of grain
Joey
17 years ago
That looks awesome

Best after effects website ever!!
Mastermadman
17 years ago
wow , one hell of of a thing i'm going to be waiting for.
I've already tried that kind of stuff using the same programs .
but i quickly let go of the thing ^^
realy hope this tutorial will come out soon
The Real Smithy
17 years ago
i use boujou and take into maya. not sure how max works, but i found a really easy way linking 3d objects to your tracked scene. in maya is an outliner which conatins everything for that scene e.g. polygons etc. when i import the tracking data, i make a 3d objct and place it in the tracking group, so its part of that group and it works spot on. if all that make sense.

be interesting to see how its done in max.
17 years ago
I am so excited - my ears are steaming!!
Dawg
17 years ago
Cool Looking forward ......going to be great.
Noddy
17 years ago
sweeeeet! thanks Drew'n'Team!
michi
17 years ago
one question: when?
Titso
17 years ago
I love boujou, made a couple of short films my self using it
yasstyle
17 years ago
thank's Andrew can't waite
17 years ago
Oh my god! this looks so amazing
i think there would be cheaper alternatives than boujou ; )
however...can't wait
Julz
17 years ago
Excellent!

Thank youu soo much!
17 years ago
I've been using PFTrack for the past year. If you have never checked it out it's really amazing. While BouJou is great PFTrack can handle face tracking and organic tracking much better. Check it out when you can.
Ram
17 years ago
Awesomee!!!
Nicolas
17 years ago
That sounds amazing !
I always thought how did they get these holes in the street in Godzilla
You guys are great !
17 years ago
Looks cool
looking forward to it
17 years ago
The Boujou stuff will be invaluable. Looking forward to it!
cyco
17 years ago
can't wait... Thx!
Infaas
17 years ago
Dud this is cool, lots of expectations on this ONE!...
Daryl Booth
17 years ago
Nice...... Cannot wait to see how this is achieved..
Josh Johnson
17 years ago
Kyle I'm sure you will be just fine with boujou 3.
Steven_LS5
17 years ago
Thanks Andrew for posting this information. I'm really interested in 3d tracking, but when I see the price for that tool, I think this is too expensive for hobby usw only

cheers


Steven
17 years ago
Finally, we're getting into the most awaited topic ever! Can't wait for this much-anticipated series!
Best of luck from Moscow, Russia!
Alex
Kyle
17 years ago
oh btw will boujou 3 work??
Earlack
17 years ago
Holy Carp ! Right when I found how to export correctly boujou data to AE...
Josh Johnson
17 years ago
Can't wait! figured you were going to use Boujou but that is ok. I have syntheyes because it is $9,600 cheaper and it is used a lot on major films/tv. The good thing is like you said the training will translate to other match moving packages and 3d programs and its free so amazing thanks Andrew!!!

By the way the example looks very cool!
17 years ago
holy carp!
Kyle
17 years ago
wow thats amazing!
17 years ago
Everything's coming up Milhouse!
Shmueli
17 years ago
Your d man
S. Gilbert
17 years ago
WOW!!! That really looks incredible! I can't wait. More 3d Max Thank you so much Andrew
Flubber
17 years ago
Looks cool and good news that are getting better

keep up the good work as always
Chris
17 years ago
So much love...