How to Track a Background Using Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects is a program which you can use to combine footage with transparent backgrounds, such as video shot on a green screen. If you have moving footage, such as a car, that needs a believable background, here is how to track the background footage to achieve that end.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Footage shot on a Green or Blue screen
• Computer
• Adobe After Effects

1. In your Timeline, make sure the Time Indicator is at 0.00 by dragging it all the way to the left.

2. After you have completed your initial Composite and placed your foreground footage in the frame, the arrow “Selection” tool to select the name of the background footage you wish to animate. Select this footage within the Timeline.

3. Select the Hand Tool from the Tool Box and use it to position the footage directly in the Monitor Window. Move it to where it will start from at frame 0.00.

4. Go back to the Timeline and expand the options related to your clip by clicking on the little arrow to the left of the footage name. Press the “P” key to show the “Position” options. Click the little stopwatch next to “Position.” This adds a “Keyframe” to your footage, essentially saving your footage’s position from frame to frame.

5. Move your Time Indicator to the end of the Timeline by dragging it all the way to the last frame of your footage. Select the Hand Tool from the Tool Box again and use it to position the footage directly in the Monitor Window. Move it to where it should be in the final frame of the shot.

6. In the Time Controls window select the RAM Preview to see how your composite will look. You slow down the footage by going to Layer, Time, and Time Stretch. Under “New Duration” type in the shortened, or lengthened amount of time for the background clip. Select RAM Preview again to view and save your work.