Introduction to Camera Tracking
In case you didn't hear, Blender recently came bundled with an awesome new feature called Blender Camera Tracking. This tutorial will give you a complete beginners introduction to what it is and how to start using it right now.
Finished Result
Did I fool you? This post was posted on Youtube, Twitter and Facebook 24 hours ago. Many of you rightly called it fake, but a few thought it was real. So if that's you, no hard feelings! Welcome to the wonderful world of camera tracking ;)
What is Camera Tracking?
Camera Tracking is a process which involves taking a post that has been filmed with a real live camera and tracking it's motion so that 3d elements can be added to it.
This process is used countless times throughout movies and tv shows to add special effects, backdrops, robots, you name it. A perfect example is the Transformers 3 trailer. Anytime there's a moving camera shot, and there's a cg element, camera tracking has been used.
Traditionally this process is done using a dedicated camera tracker like Syntheyes. But third party software is expensive, and also quite awkward to work with as you have to deal with the whole export/import issue.
But now, Blender has it's own camera tracker... and it's built right into the program.
Now you can track a post, add 3d elements and render it, all without ever leaving Blender.
Further Inspiration
Not sure where to go with this tutorial? Check out these posts for more camera tracking ideas:
- Track, Match, Blend! - Upcoming Blender training DVD teaching you in-depth camera tracking
- Boardwalk Empire VFX Breakdown - Brilliant example of how camera tracking and VFX are used in TV shows.
- Train Crash - Excellent example of CG and post combined together.
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial! Create something cool? Post it in the comments below.