FCPX Auto Tracker

There is an instructions button located at the top of each preset in this pack that will give you an overview, but you will want to start with the Analyzer preset in the Effects library. Here is a general overview to get started!

Step 1: Setting up the timeline

In order to make sure you get good results we need to prep the timeline. First, you will need to make sure you have a clip to track. This clip should have reference points that stay consistent through out the clips. This means that shots with lots of reflections or constantly changing shapes like shots of ocean waves will not track. You will also want to avoid clips with lots of motion blur as any blurry part of the clips will adversely affect the analyzer’s ability to accurately interpret the scene and provide quality 3D data. Using clips that are shot at a higher frame rate with steady camera shots will provide the best results!

Now that you have your clip the next step is to set up a project in Final Cut Pro to match the resolution and frame rate of the clip that you will be 3D Tracking. Create a project with matching settings and then apply your clip to the timeline.

* We do recommend selecting shorter clips as the longer the clip you use the longer the analyzer will take to solve the clip.

Step 2: Solving in 3D

Look in the Effects library in Final Cut Pro and you will find the PFS – FCPX Auto Tracker 3D plugin folder. Locate the effect called Analyzer and drag and drop the effect onto your clip. You will see a few different buttons including an instructions button that will go over general use of the plugin. Below it is the launch editor button. Press this and wait for the window to open and for the green bar to fully load in the editor window timeline. Once the loading bar has finished let’s take a look at some of the options on the right side of the editor.

The first section is the Shape Mask List. Using this option you can create masks around large subjects that are not part of the environment. Masking out large subjects can help you to get better track results.

The second section is your focal length. This area is optional, but recommended if you know the sensor width and focal length of the footage you are using. If you don’t know this information you can leave this alone and FCPX Auto Tracker 3D will create an estimate during the solving step.

Open the Camera Solve Settings and click the Solve Camera button to begin solving the footage. Please note that this step can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour depending on your footage’s length, resolution, frame rate, and complexity. We do recommend using Apple Silicon macs for this process for faster results.

Once this step is done you can review the tracking data with the Render 3D option and view a preview of the points created by the camera’s solve.

If you are happy with the results you can press the Export Data button and close the editor window once prompted.

Step 3: Copying and Pasting the 3D Camera solve data

In your Analyzer effect’s controls you will find a Copy Solve Data button. Press this and then navigate to your Titles library and locate PFS – FCPX Auto Tracker 3D. Apply any one of the over 300 included title presets to your timeline above the clip you have tracked and trim it to match the clip.

Please note when you apply your Title preset to the timeline it may not be visible at first. You will need to go to the controls panel of the Title layer and in the published controls press the Paste Data button.

You can then press the Launch Editor button and then choose any 3 points to triangulate the point where your subject will be placed. Once you are satisfied with the placement press the Export Data button and close the editor window once prompted.

Step 4: Adjustments

Now that you have selected the plane you want your text or object to sit on you can use the Transform controls to alter the position, anchor point, rotation, and scale of the text. We do recommend, however, that if you offset the text you are doing so relative to the same plane that you have selected your 3 points from in the editor.

Finally, you can make further adjustments to the lights, animations, shadows, style and more using the controls provided in each template.

Yes, you can track footage in any resolution project.

• Subject must be well defined.
• Subject must have high contrast in relation to surroundings.
• If there are a lot of brightness or blur changes in the footage, the tracking will not work properly.

This plugin includes the Pixel Film Studios proprietary motion tracking technology that lets you track an object with an image or the video you desire.