Tracking effects play a key role in many video projects. They help you tell your story by letting you add text, logos, or graphics to your footage, making them move smoothly with objects like cars, people, environmental elements, or even the camera.
Among other video editing software, Adobe After Effects stands out with its Track Matte tool, which makes these effects even more powerful. However, mastering this feature can be challenging, especially for beginners.
But don't worry! In today's article, we'll dive into the Track Matte feature in After Effects and walk you through a step-by-step guide on using it to create precise and impactful tracking effects in your projects.
In this article
Part 1. What is Track Matte in Adobe After Effects
To put it simply, Track Matte is a technique in Adobe After Effects where one layer controls the visibility of another. It can be anything like a picture, video, graphic, text, or shape. For example, if you have a video and want it to appear only where you’ve written some text, you can use the Track Matte in After Effects to make that happen!
By using the text as a Track Matte, the video will only show up inside the letters. The video layer underneath gets its see-through parts (transparency) from the Track Matte layer, based on either how clear the text is or how bright the pixels are.
Types of Track Matte in Adobe After Effects
Track Mattes in After Effects offers four main types: Alpha Matte, Alpha Inverted Matte, Luma Matte, and Luma Inverted Matte. Each type of Track Matte is suited to different scenarios, allowing you to create a wide range of effects depending on the project’s needs.
- Alpha Matte
Uses the transparency of the Track Matte layer to show parts of the layer below. Clear areas of the matte reveal the layer underneath, while solid areas hide it.
- Alpha Inverted Matte
The opposite of Alpha Matte. Solid parts of the matte reveal the layer below, while clear areas hide it.
- Luma Matte
Uses the brightness of the Track Matte layer. Brighter areas let the layer below show through, and darker areas hide it.
- Luma Inverted Matte
The reverse of Luma Matte. Darker parts of the matte reveal the layer below, while brighter areas hide it.
If you were to compare the four, the main difference is each option gives you different ways to control what’s visible in your video, depending on whether you’re working with transparency or brightness.
Alpha Matte and Alpha Inverted Matte are focused on transparency. Alpha Matte reveals where the matte layer is clear, while Alpha Inverted Matte reveals where the matte layer is solid. Meanwhile, Luma Matte and Luma Inverted Matte are based on brightness. Luma Matte reveals based on how bright the matte layer is, while Luma Inverted Matte reveals where the matte layer is darker.
Differences Between Track Mattes and Masks in Adobe After Effects
If you’re new to After Effects, you might confuse Masks with Track Mattes. While both are used to control what parts of a layer are visible, they work in different ways.
As you can see from the previous example, Track Matte in After Effects uses another layer to show or hide parts of the layer below. This lets you create cool, moving effects because the Track Matte layer can change or move separately from the main layer.
Meanwhile, masks are like drawing shapes directly on a layer to hide or show parts of it. They move along with the layer’s size, rotation, and position. This is great for effects that change with the layer's movement. The main difference is that masks are part of the layer they affect, while Track Mattes are a separate layer. So, if you move a layer with a mask, the mask moves with it.
If you want to learn further about the differences between the two, check out this video where the speaker provided direct examples to explain this issue.
Practical Uses of Track Matte in Tracking
Track Mattes is a must-have tool in Adobe After Effects if you want to create impressive moving effects in your videos. They are super helpful when you want text, logos, or pictures to follow something moving in your video. For example:
- Text Reveals
Imagine you have a video of a car driving across the screen. You can use a Track Matte to make text appear only in the spots where the car moves. So, as the car drives by, the text will pop up and follow the car’s path.
- Logo Integration
If you have a video of someone walking, you can use a Track Matte to make your logo follow them. This way, it looks like the logo is part of the scene and moves with the person.
- Graphic Animations
If you have a video of a bouncing ball and you want a trail or effect that follows the ball as it moves, you can use a Track Matte to create that effect. The graphic or shape will move smoothly with the ball, adding a professional touch to your video.
Part 2. Step-by-Step Guide to Using Track Matte for Tracking Effects
Now that you’ve got a basic understanding of Track Mattes in After Effects, it’s time to put that knowledge into practice and learn how to use it for your own projects. So let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the fun part—getting hands-on with Track Mattes!
Here’s a step-by-step guide to using Track Matte for tracking effects:
Step 1. Open After Effects and set up a new project
The first thing you need to do is simply open your After Effects. If you don’t have it yet, you can download it from their official website and follow the installation instructions. After installing, launch the program and start a new project.
Step 2. Create the Track Matte layer
To use a Track Matte, you’ll need two layers; the top layer (the Track Matte) which defines what parts of the layer below will be visible, and the bottom layer which will show through based on the Track Matte layer.
For example, import the video footage you want to work with and add that to the editing timeline. This will be your bottom layer.
After that, add other layers you plan to use, like text. To do this, click on the "Text" tool from the menu and start typing what you want to show behind the footage. This will be your top layer.
Step 3. Apply the Track Matte
Choose the layer you want to apply the Track Matte to (the layer that will be visible only where the Track Matte layer is visible). Next, go to the timeline panel, locate the “TrkMat” column next to the layer, and select the "Alpha Matte 'FIRE'" option.
Step 4. Preview and export
If needed, adjust the position or other properties of your Track Matte layer to align it perfectly with the layer below. You can also animate the Track Matte layer to create dynamic effects, such as having text reveal as it moves or changes over time. Once you’re satisfied with the results, export your video by going to File > Export > Add to Render Queue.
You can watch the full tutorial video by Giant Creative here. If you want to explore Track Matte in After Effects in more detail, check out Mike Murphy’s tutorial for a deeper dive into the topic.
Part 3. What Can You Do When After Effect Track Matte Not Showing
Many users have reported that the Track Matte feature sometimes seems to be missing or not working in After Effects. If you’re having trouble with Track Matte not showing up or not working correctly, here are some common problems and solutions to help you fix it:
- Enable the Track Matte Column
Make sure the Track Matte column is visible in the timeline panel. If either layer is hidden, the Track Matte effect won’t show. To make it visible, right-click the section above your layers, go to the "Columns" menu, and select “Modes” to enable it.
- Check Layer Types
Make sure that the Track Matte layer is correctly set up. It should be a layer with either transparency or brightness variations. Also, make sure that it is positioned above the layer you want to affect.
- Restart After Effects
Sometimes, restarting After Effects can resolve display issues. Save your work and restart the program to see if the Track Matte feature appears correctly.
- Precompose Layers
If you’ve added animations or effects to your Track Matte or fill layer, try precomposing them to keep things organized and working smoothly. To do this, hold Shift and click on all the layers you want to include. Then, right-click and choose "Pre-Compose". If you need extra help, you can watch this easy video tutorial for more guidance.
Part 4. Explore Other Tracking Features with Filmora: A Must-Try Alternative
It might seem tricky at first, but with practice, you'll get the hang of using Track Matte in After Effects. If you’re looking for an easier option, check out Wondershare Filmora. Its motion tracking feature lets you track and attach elements to moving objects in your footage, making it simple to add effects, text, or graphics that move with the action.
Even better, in the new V14 version of Filmora, there will be a cool new feature called planar tracking. This tool helps you track and place things onto flat surfaces in your video such as:
- Content Replacement
You can use planar tracking to change or update things in your video, like switching what's on a screen or changing a billboard.
- Planar Mapping
It also lets you add graphics or ads to flat surfaces like walls or buildings, making them look like they belong there.
The motion tracking and planar tracking tools in Filmora are similar to those in After Effects. What’s great about Filmora is that it costs less. You can start with the free version to see if you like it.
Follow this simple guide on how to use Filmora’s planar tracking:
Step 1. Open Filmora and import your video
First, download and install the latest version of Wondershare Filmora. Follow the steps to set it up, then open the program by double-clicking its icon. Start a new project, import your video, and drag it onto the timeline to begin editing.
Step 2. Access Planar Tracking
After you’ve added your video to the timeline, click on the video clip. Then, go to Video > AI Tools > Planar Tracking in the property panel to turn on planar tracking.
Once it’s on, pick either “Auto” or “Advanced” mode to add a tracking box. For most videos, the Auto mode works well and tracks with just one click. If your video shakes a lot, use Advanced mode to track and adjust it more precisely.
Step 3. Add and modify the tracker points
Place the points of the tracking box so they line up with the corners of the area you want to track.
Make sure the points match the edges of the surface or object you’re focusing on for the most accurate tracking.
Step 4. Track the movement of the planar
If you pick Auto Mode, just click “Click to start tracking” to begin. In Advanced Mode, you can track both forward and backward, or frame by frame.
Moreover, you can also choose how accurate you want the tracking to be—the more accurate it is, the better the tracking, but it might take a bit longer.
Step 5. Improve the tracking results
In “Advanced Mode”, you can pause the tracking at any moment to make changes. You can also manually adjust any spots where the tracking isn’t quite right.
Step 6. Choose and attach the object
Pick the clip that has the planar tracking applied, then choose the binding object in the properties panel. The binding object could be another clip, a mosaic on the timeline, or media from your computer. Once you’ve made your selection, the replacement should be finished.
Conclusion
The Track Matte tool in After Effects is really handy for cool effects like making text appear, adding logos, or animating graphics. Throughout the article, we've covered the different types of track matte tools, how they compare to masks, and provided a guide on using them.
If you want something simpler, check out Wondershare Filmora. The new V14 version will have a neat feature called planar tracking, which helps you add things to flat surfaces in your videos. Both Filmora’s motion tracking and planar tracking tools offer great functionality similar to After Effects but with a more accessible approach.
Don’t hesitate to experiment with these tools—whether it’s Track Matte in After Effects or the new planar tracking in Filmora, exploring these features can elevate your video editing skills and help you achieve professional results.
