![Final product image](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/final_image/motion_tracking_24.jpg)
![Final product image](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/final_image/motion_tracking_24.jpg)
![Final product image](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/final_image/motion_tracking_24.jpg)
In this lesson you’re going to learn how to do some basic motion tracking to add text to a shot. To follow along with this lesson, make sure to open up the motion tracking.aep file which you can download here.
![example project](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_01.jpg)
![example project](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_01.jpg)
![example project](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_01.jpg)
You’re also going to need the video file below, which you can download from Envato Elements:
![Car with Motorhome Travels on Storseisundet Bridge](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_02.jpg)
![Car with Motorhome Travels on Storseisundet Bridge](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_02.jpg)
![Car with Motorhome Travels on Storseisundet Bridge](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_02.jpg)
How to Use the Footage Viewer
Double-click the footage in the Project panel to open up this footage in the footage viewer. The footage viewer can be a useful tool to be able to set the in and out points for your footage before you use them or before you add them to a composition.
![footage viewer](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_03.jpg)
![footage viewer](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_03.jpg)
![footage viewer](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_03.jpg)
This shot is 26 seconds long, and we don’t really need to motion track the entire thing. So let’s go to about 5 seconds in the footage and click on the Set IN point to current time button.
![set in point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_04.jpg)
![set in point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_04.jpg)
![set in point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_04.jpg)
Then go to around 12 seconds and click on the Set OUT point to current time button.
![set out point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_05.jpg)
![set out point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_05.jpg)
![set out point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_05.jpg)
Then I’m going to take my footage in the Project panel and drag it down onto the Create New Composition button. This will create a new composition with the same name as the footage.
![new composition](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_06.jpg)
![new composition](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_06.jpg)
![new composition](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_06.jpg)
You can then rename it in the Project panel by selecting it and hitting Enter on the keyboard. Let’s rename it “Motion Track”.
![rename the comp](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_07.jpg)
![rename the comp](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_07.jpg)
![rename the comp](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_07.jpg)
Go into the Composition Settings (Control-K) and change the Start Timecode to 0 so that it doesn’t start at the 5-second mark.
![set the start to 0](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_08.jpg)
![set the start to 0](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_08.jpg)
![set the start to 0](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_08.jpg)
How to Motion Track the Footage
Now let’s talk about how to motion track this footage. In particular, I want to attach some text to the camper van.
To do that, I’m going to select my footage, and then I’m going to go to the Tracker panel (Window > Tracker). Click on the Track Motion button.
![track motion](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_09.jpg)
![track motion](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_09.jpg)
![track motion](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_09.jpg)
This will open the Layer Viewer panel.
![layer viewer panel](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_10.jpg)
![layer viewer panel](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_10.jpg)
![layer viewer panel](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_10.jpg)
If it looks pixelated, just go back to the original composition preview panel on the left, and change the resolution to 100% or full. This will change the resolution on the Layer Viewer panel as well.
![change resolution to full](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_11.jpg)
![change resolution to full](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_11.jpg)
![change resolution to full](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_11.jpg)
When I hit that Track Motion button, I get a track point.
![track point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_12.jpg)
![track point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_12.jpg)
![track point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_12.jpg)
There are several different options here in the Tracker panel that we can use. We can track position, rotation, scale, or any combination of the three.
![tracker panel](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_13.jpg)
![tracker panel](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_13.jpg)
![tracker panel](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_13.jpg)
And there are a few different types of track. You can do a stabilize, transform, parallel corner pin, and more.
![track types](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_14.jpg)
![track types](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_14.jpg)
![track types](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_14.jpg)
But for now, we’re just going to do something very simple. We’re going to use one tracker, and we are going to track the position.
Move the track point by clicking and dragging on the inner box, and move it to somewhere that has a really nice feature to track. Now, a good feature is something very distinctive in the layer that does not change over time.
![track position](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_15.jpg)
![track position](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_15.jpg)
![track position](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_15.jpg)
Basically, think of After Effects looking at the footage, and it needs to be able to see whatever this little detail is throughout the entirety of the portion of the clip that you want to track.
![track window](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_16.jpg)
![track window](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_16.jpg)
![track window](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_16.jpg)
Go to the beginning of the composition, where we will start to adjust some things.
This inner box is called the feature region. Whatever is in this box is what After Effects is going to be looking for, and we want this to be a distinctive feature. For this example, we are going to pick this window, which is high contrast and distinctive so that After Effects can recognise it.
![adjust middle box](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_17.jpg)
![adjust middle box](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_17.jpg)
![adjust middle box](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_17.jpg)
This middle point is the attach point, so this is where the track is actually going to be mapped to.
![middle point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_18.jpg)
![middle point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_18.jpg)
![middle point](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_18.jpg)
This outer box is the search region. So After Effects is going to be looking for the element or feature inside this outer box. Depending on how fast your feature moves within your footage, you may need to adjust this search box.
![outer box](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_19.jpg)
![outer box](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_19.jpg)
![outer box](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_19.jpg)
So if you’ve got something that’s moving really fast, you need to make this bigger.
![make box bigger](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_20.jpg)
![make box bigger](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_20.jpg)
![make box bigger](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_20.jpg)
If you have something that’s moving pretty slowly, you can make this smaller.
For this example, we’re going to keep it nice and small as the window isn’t moving too quickly.
![make box smaller](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_21.jpg)
![make box smaller](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_21.jpg)
![make box smaller](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_21.jpg)
Go over to the Tracker panel and hit the Analyze Forward button.
![hit analyze forward button](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_22.jpg)
![hit analyze forward button](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_22.jpg)
![hit analyze forward button](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_22.jpg)
Now zoom out so you can see more of your composition and monitor what’s going on with this track. As After Effects analyzes the footage, I just want to make sure that it looks more or less locked to the object that I’m trying to track.
If it loses the object, just increase the window so that After Effects can find it again, and continue to analyze from there.
![look at footage](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_23.jpg)
![look at footage](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_23.jpg)
![look at footage](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_23.jpg)
Congratulations
![motion tracking](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=850/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_24.jpg)
![motion tracking](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=630/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_24.jpg)
![motion tracking](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360/uploads/users/403/posts/42006/image-upload/motion_tracking_24.jpg)
Congratulations! That’s how you can use After Effects for basic motion tracking. Stay tuned for the next tutorial, where we will learn how to add text. Now that you’ve learned the basics, check out some of the other tutorials we have on Adobe After Effects below.
I hope you’ve found this tutorial useful, and I’ll see you next time on Envato Tuts+!