Adjusting Tracking Points
If the tracking progresses and follows the designated point for a while and then simply just stops, then the tracking point has moved beyond the tracking point’s range or the background color is too close to the tracking point and the tracking gets confused.
If multiple tracking points are placed in the scene, then the selected tracking point is the one that is highlighted red. Clicking the Delete button will remove the tracking point from the project.
If the tracking gets lost, there are a couple of things you can do to fix the problems. The first is to adjust the tracking point ranges. To adjust the circles, simply click and drag the circles to expand or shrink them. The inner circle defines the size of the object that you are tracking. Figure 28.2 shows a tracking point sized to fit perfectly over the cat’s eye.
The outer circle defines the area within which the movement takes place. For objects that move a lot, you’ll want to increase the diameter of this circle. The inner circle cannot be made larger than the outer circle.
If the tracking point gets confused, you can manually move the tracking point back to its correct location and then click play again so that tracking can continue.
Tip
For shorter animation movies, it is easier to use the Step Forward animation control button and adjust the tracking point as needed.
Setting Last Frame
If the object you are following leaves the working area, then you can eliminate the tracking point at the frame where the object leaves by clicking the Last Frame button in the Options bar.
Smoothing the Tracking
Some tracking will be jerky as the tracking points are manually moved between the different frames. This can result in motion that is harsh. If you click the Smooth Motion button on the Options bar, then the motion between successive frames is smoothed, creating a more gradual transition. This also reduces the total number of keys.