"Is there motion tracking in Shotcut?" Sure! As a free and open-source video editor that is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. The Shotcut video editor is also a good option for users who require motion-tracking capabilities.
Let's explore motion tracking filters in Shotcut and edit movements enhancing your creativity like a professional today!
In this article
Motion Tracking Filters in Shotcut
Introduced in Shotcut version 23.05.14, Motion tracking in Shotcut is an incredible tool that allows you to automatically attach effects or elements to moving objects in your videos. First, you need to analyze the motion without directly applying the effects, then you can drive other filters without directly adding effects.
This Shotcut feature drives other filters, such as Corner Pin, Crop, Rectangle, GPS Text, Size, Position & Rotate, Timer, and many more.
If you want a professional-looking video with dynamic elements without spending much time, this tool can help you with that in just a few simple steps.
Shotcut Video Editor Motion Tracking Workflow
The motion tracking filter in Shotcut is easy to use, just follow these easy steps and attach effects or elements to moving objects in your video:
- Start by adding your video clip to the timeline. Click Open File and add a video you want to edit from your computer. Then, in the timeline menu, choose Track Operations and Add Video Track. Pull the video to the timeline, and you can start editing.
- Now you can right-click on the clip and select Filters. Click + to add a new filter and choose Motion Tracker.
- Define a tracking region by drawing a rectangle around the object or area you want to track in the video. Then click Analyze and wait until it's finished. This can take some time, depending on the complexity of the movement.
- After the analysis and tracking are done, you can apply effects or adjustments to the tracked area. You can, for example, add moving text to the object or timer. After you have added and adjusted the effect you wanted, go to the filter setting and click the button Load Keyframes from Motion Tracker to adjust the size and position of the effect.
- Preview the tracked motion to ensure accuracy and make adjustments. Don't forget to render your video with the applied effects. Also, disable the Motion Tracker filter after all adjustments to avoid unnecessary processing.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Shotcut Motion Tracking
Every coin has two sides, and so does Motion tracking in Shotcut. Although it has a user-friendly interface and is quite easy for beginners. You may also find some limitations. Here is the table of the most common advantages and disadvantages of using Shotcut motion tracking:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| User-friendly interface, easy for beginners | Limited guidance available on motion tracking |
| Free to use | Tracking can be long, especially for longer videos |
| Good looking, professional results after the application of effects | Depending on hardware configuration, there can be performance issues with resource-intensive features like motion tracking |
| Precision in tracking objects | Lack of stability when you use different software at the same time. Shotcut can pop up a new window saying to close other apps to continue editing. |
Shotcut Video Editor Alternative for Motion Tracking - Filmora
If you are looking for an alternative to your Shotcut video editor with a motion-tracking feature and don't want to encounter any stability and performance issues for long videos, Filmora is a great solution. First came in Filmora X (In 2020), with several years going by, Filmora's motion tracking also has improved a lot. And it only requires several single steps to track moving objects.
With Filmora's motion tracking feature, you can attach text to follow the motion of your moving object, or you can blur faces without adding the effect frame by frame. Images, emojis, and visual effects like angel wings or neon lights that will follow the movement are now easy to add, so creating magic in videos has never been easier.
How to Use Filmora for Motion Tracking?
If you are ready to create magic in your video, let's go through a few easy steps to add effects with the Filmora motion-tracking tool:
- First, launch Filmora and start a new project. Then, import the video and add it to the timeline. Make sure that the playhead is at the beginning of the clip before you start motion tracking.
- Select the video, and choose the Motion tracking option on the icon on the timeline toolbar or by double-clicking your clip and finding Motion tracking in the editing menu.
- In the motion tracking interface, you can see a preview of your video and tracking points. Move and adjust the tracker box on the moving object and click Start Tracking to analyze.
- After the analysis, if you are satisfied with the tracking results, you can add elements or effects that will follow your moving object from the video. Choose the elements, drag them to the track above the video, and position them to align with the moving object.
- In the timeline, double-click the motion tracking video, click the dropdown menu under Motion tracking, and choose the object to follow the tracked movement.
- In the end, preview your video and make adjustments if needed.
Conclusion
The Shotcut motion tracking filter is an accessible, user-friendly tool that can help you create professional-looking videos with moving objects. Even with some performance issues, this magical tool is accessible for all skill levels.
If you are seeking a more user-friendly alternative, Filmora is the right choice for motion tracking. This intuitive and easy-to-navigate feature can track motion in your video with the help of AI tracking capabilities, making the whole process of attaching elements and filters on moving objects effortless.
Whether you choose Shotcut or Filmora, you can rest assured that your video with motion effects will look professional and visually compelling.
