text tracking

[dvpixl]

I did a search and wasn't really sure of the answer, so here goes my question.

how do i bring text into the track motion environment? everytime I try to TRACK MOTION on text clip, it opens up another composition over black. im not sure how to put tracking and text in the same working area... help.


thank you.

[Steve_Arm]

You are trying to track a text layer or text from a video clip?
Or apply tracking data to a text layer?

[graymachine]

I'm not really following either. Why would one want to track a text layer?

In AE, text has no source footage, so there is no way to bring a text layer into a motion tracking environment, as that requires the layer view, which views the footage of a single layer.

[dvpixl]

I am trying to accomplish the effect you see in movie credits where the text seem to be attached to a wall or shaped in perspective to the environment. how do I utilize motion track with Text?
I'm sorry i was not clear, as you can see, i am really confused. but hope you get what im trying to say.

[oneinfiniteloop]

There are different text parameters you can animate under the twirl down for the layer that can help you achieve different looks, check that out, might help.

[graymachine]

Ahh.. You want to open the video layer into the layer view (just double-click it) and bring up your tracker controls. Then select Perspective Corner Pin and track your four-points. THEN, select "Edit Target..." and select your text layer. Then apply the tracking data. This will apply the Corner Pin effect to your text using the tracking data from your tracker.

[dvpixl]

I will try that. thanks alot.

[dvpixl]

Why do I not see the text anymore after i apply tracking?

[oneinfiniteloop]

Why do I not see the text anymore after i apply tracking?

I think that might be because of your layer size, I'm not sure, but I think text layers are only as big as the text, whereas your source footage is probably 720x480, so when you apply the track it offsets the text off screen because 720 to the text layer is not hte same 720 as your source layer.

I guess you could fix it via an offset expression or changing your text layer size, but I'm not sure about that, maybe someone else has some tips.

[Steve_Arm]

If the environment is static, you might as well turn the text layer into a 3D layer and adjust visually.

[dvpixl]

it's a moving shot. but it moves fairly fast and i just realized that its not an easy job so there i wont attempt anymore of it, but i still dont get what I'm supposed to do properly in order to have text in a 720x480 tracking environment.

it seems to open two comp windows, one for the tracking, and another for viewing the result, which i saw but can't touch the text for editing-
maybe if someone could clarify what i shouldn't be doing in the first place....

[dvpixl]

also is it correct that I press FEATURE CENTER keyframe button in order to designate track markers for each corners?