Apple Updates Object Tracking in Final Cut Pro 10.6.2

With the release of Final Cut Pro 10.6.2, Apple improved object tracking. According to their release notes:

• Attach titles and graphics to existing tracker data in the Tracker Options on-screen-control.
• Choose either pin to tracker or offset from tracker in the Tracker Options on-screen-control.
• Tracking Editor automatically displays in the timeline when performing an object track.
• Items attached to a tracked object can be scaled in X and Y sizes uniformly.
• Improves reliability when using the Object Tracker with clips that don’t match the project’s frame rate.
• Improves reliability when using the Object Tracker in connected storylines.

Here is an example.

• Put the timeline playhead at the start of the clip containing the object to be tracked.

[ Footage courtesy of Hallmark Broadcast Ltd. (www.hallmarkbroadcast.tv). ]

• Drag an object from the Browser (text, generator, clip or Photoshop file) on top of the object you want to track in the Viewer. (In this example, I used a Generator > Element > Circle.)
• In the shape mask that appears, adjust the shape to include the object being track.

NOTE: You don’t need to position the new object. You can, but its position can easily be changed later, which is what I’ll do in this tutorial.

• Click the Analyze button to create a track. (If you can’t start at the beginning of the clip, click the right or left arrows on either side of Analyze to track forward or back from the position of the playhead.)

NOTE: For best results, the tracked object should be in focus, with sharp edges and good contrast from other elements near it in the frame.

• Play the clip and notice how the circle matches the track of the object; the jet in my example. However, the alignment is off, drag the superimposed elements into position.
• Adjust the size, position and rotation of the super-imposed objects. I generally do this with the playhead at the start of the clip.
• Play the clip. Everything still plays in sync and the objects are in position.

Now, and this is a new feature, let’s add a second object – some text – to the same track.

• Position the timeline playhead at the start of the clip.
• Select the source clip in the timeline.
• Drag a text clip on top of the tracked object (jet). Again, the shape mask appears.

• But, this time, instead of creating and tracking a new shape mask, click the chevron icon to the right of the Tracker button at the top of the Viewer.
• Select the first track. This copies the track to this new clip.

Play the clip and notice the two objects now track in sync, all usingthe same track.

Down in the timeline, the Tracking Editor appears automatically. This contains the position keyframes for the track.

You can determine which track is active by clicking the down chevron in the Tracking Editor.

EDIT TRACKING KEYFRAMES

• If not shown, display the Tracking Editor by right-clicking the timeline clip and selecting Show Tracking Editor.

• Using the Range Tool, select the range of keyframes you want to re-track. Verify that the correct track is selected (red arrow), then click Analyze.

NOTE: While this works, I often see a pop at the end of the new track. Worst case, delete and retrack the entire entire clip.

• To delete all tracking keyframes for the active track, click in the Tracking Editor and choose Delete.

EXTRA CREDIT

Feel free to explore the other new options in the Tracker menu attached to the Tracker button.

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