How to PROPERLY track Video Copilots Optical flares in After Effects CS5/6

[@mediaglitch]

Let me just take a second and say thank you for making this. I knew in two seconds that what the other tutorials were showing me wasn't right and luckily i found this one and I thought "finally some one who actually understands that the light is going to change if the camera moves". Thanks again.

[@Toebex]

Thanks so much! This really means a lot. I tried my best to show how wrong the first way of doing it is. You cant be lazy if you want it to look good! :)

[@PopCross]

I love you right now, been looking all day for a tut on how to track optical flares properly

[@daniellombardi3670]

finally a guy that treats the public professionally, great video man

[@Toebex]

That means a lot to me man, thank you :)

[@ronineditor9920]

Dude - THANK YOU. I've literally looked at about 20-30 of these videos and not one, not even Video Co-Pilot shows you how to get the flare to react and move... they all get hung up in building it, but they don't show you how to move it around naturally. All of theirs just sits there. You are the ONLY one who showed how to track it... you saved my ass. Thank you.

[@hironyx]

yes thank you sir for this tutorial, i am tired of seeing little kids who just learned how to use after effects creating tutorials online with horribly done effects. finally, someone who knows how to do a proper tutorial.

[@garcia19r_]

I watched this tutorial a few months ago, and I loved it. Today I needed it again and I couldn't find it... now that i finally found you, I need to say it. THIS TUTORIAL SAVED MY LIFE.

[@AlexTuduran]

In order to position the light faster and avoid the 3D problem, go to light position and reset Z to 0.0. By doing this, you bring the light in "screen space" and get rid of the parallax effect. From now on, your light will behave as in 2D and follow the NULL object correctly right from the first frame.

[@Toebex]

Nice man! I'll be sure to do that from now on :p

[@Toebex]

***** Its quite a pain, but you going to have to make another tracker somewhere in the frame of the video so that you can change the track data from one to another.

[@Cameronpov]

Love it. Finally, someone who knows what they are talking about! Thanks man

[@mitchell2820]

Finnaly a proper tutorial

[@SmilerSheldon]

One of the best simple tutorials Thanks !

[@ModernHingeSociety]

Thanks for this tutorial, surprisingly few good tutorials on tracking.

[@JEBAGRAFFITI]

Fucking finally found a good tutorial!

[@KayaYasar]

I was gonna say the same thing

[@TDLovejoy]

This is great. Thanks for the help. I knew it was possible, but am fairly new to 3d space. Always learning new things.

[@justforgoofs2971]

Thanks mate - couldnt even find this on Video Copilot!!

[@GriffinOlis]

Great tutorial! Really helpful. One question though. How do i get the timeline to be in seconds?

[@ThomasDickens]

Thank you for this awesome tutorial. It is working really great in my scene! You rock!

[@TRUTHF0RCE]

finally the PROPER tutorial! :D tks alot!

[@tracysmith1697]

Thanks so much for this. It shaved hours off of my current project. If I can add one suggestion.. in order to avoid the 3D light tracking problem, go into your light options and change it to a "point" light. Instant 2D light with perfect tracking. Hope this helps and thanks again!

[@Toebex]

I'll try that asap man, thank you!

[@ak_rocks]

Thanks for makes this tutorial.. I've been tried several ways, but I couldn't found it well. This one Very useful. I've been looking for this, I'm just gonna apply it into sun.. Same theory. Proper!!!

[@MidnightBurnMedia]

dude killer tute. exactly what i needed. subbed! keep that good stuff coming

[@Toebex]

Thanks man! I dont usually make AE tutorials (let alone any videos :p) but thanks for the sub!

[@glitched_studios]

thanks, great tutorial, clear and easy to follow

[@DeltaCorseFiction]

Thanks for the tutorial, but damn, I can't figure out why my "Light layer" does not track accuratly the Null object. It's not like in your video, my Light goes far away from the original tracked point. Do you know how can I fix that ?

[@KayaYasar]

You saved my day good sir.

[@digitalinfinityvfx9142]

awesome tutorial. would this method work with tracking 3d models in element 3d? (example, space craft flying into scene and optical flare cast off the thrusters)

[@Toebex]

Yeah for sure!

[@digitalinfinityvfx9142]

Toebex great stuff 👍🤘

[@zkgkilla1]

hey. I will be making a film opening later this year and would like to know how you did the gun shot effect on your music video media project. I have little knowledge on after effects so could you please make a video showing how to do it for noobs.

[@BoomerBrown]

Is this the fastest way to track motion? What if you have over 20 clips of the same scene. Do I have to go through this progress for each clip?

[@gomxproductions]

awesome tutorial. it helped me a lot! thxxx

[@cinematic_rc]

great stuff I held down shift while using the pick whip and that put my light automatically into position.

[@phillyt74]

awesome tutorial!!!!!! it worked!! thanks soo much!!

[@50cent3656]

Did you stop using final Cut

[@kinkest3248]

Thank you!!よくわかりました！

[@edoardoboncompagni]

THANk YOU! this video was really, really, useful for me

[@LegitSnowboarder18]

Will u review a broken knuckle finger board?

[@z8editing]

sick. now i can make more powerfull lights in my scene. love ya bruh

[@RudeCub]

very helpful, im making a demo video with it, ill post a link when im done

[@FingerSkaterFilms]

What software you using To edit

[@FrancisXLord]

I tried this and I can't get the damned flare to stay where it is. When you set it to track lights it moves in 3D space all of a sudden and, when your camera moves, the flare moves in relation to it. What you've demonstrated may work when your light is miles away but what if it's supposed to be like a foot from the camera? Then it doesn't work unless you can give me some formula to counter the 3D movement on my 2D image.

[@johnfber9075]

this is random but you should do another tour of your room/house i love those videos

[@DeSeanRay]

you're f-in dope bro. Good looking out.

[@varadlad4175]

Exactly what i wanted !

[@sk8erbec]

Thank you so much for this!

[@PetrosofSparta]

AGGHHHHHH!!!! WHY HAVE I NOT BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS!? Wait, I have been. I use this exact way of tracking lights for a specific effect as part of the composite but my stupid brain never thought "Maybe, try using a light object for flares too!?" Also a point light means you can do any intensity too.

[@kraly261]

Excelente video muchas gracias!!

[@hakan1215]

budyy thank you very much i made it !!

[@joeynoodles]

Great stuff, thank you.

[@achagaSANTIAGO]

why when i try to send the track to the null don t let me????!!!! pleaseeee i need it for a work and i cant find it

[@faerrrrr]

I do not get to do so as 5:25 I have the light moves away from everything else to do, help.!

[@texasgoldfilmandsportfestival]

simple and good

[@KaneBlust]

You rock, thank you!

[@chickenwarrior9991]

Noob issue: lights are affecting my 2D layers (ie., they make the whole scene black unless I toggle them off, even though all layers are 2D). Any ideas?

[@Toebex]

Yes! So in the material options of the layer (in the drop down menu) you can make the layer not affected by the lights, shadows or anything related to the lights. Make sure to turn all of these to whatever settings make it not affected by the lights.

[@chickenwarrior9991]

+Toebex Thanks! my issue was actually much simpler/dumb...the monitor was set to Front camera, not Active camera

[@robertomondello2447]

Toebex It's possible use this effect for after effects 7.0?

[@Nitro4225]

what about the cats on the flip side???

[@MusicChan]

Make a tutorial on how to track optical flares with a camera generated with .aec files, preferably for 3D intros

[@opiumtitte]

Great Tut. Thanx

[@noelross2173]

I start the new light layer but nothing on the screen. No cone to adjust.

[@digitalinfinityvfx9142]

Noel Ross which light have you got selected? try having it set to something like spotlight. (if I remember correctly the default light is 'ambient' and you don't get the same type of positioning). hope that helps. 👍

[@roughedup]

thanks a lot mate

[@Directedbybc222]

thank you soo much bro

[@ardo111]

Thanks @Toebex!

[@Toebex]

No worries man!

[@sirMPtv]

your fauk'n amazing bro!!!! thanks

[@selectionediting3828]

Great tutorial, just the fact that the Light object is a REAL massive pain in the ass...

[@vitvits]

No doubt :D

[@jonny_s0288]

thank you guy

[@TheMacUser701]

God bless you.

[@Xr0XL]

I hear that alot :)

[@rupertblomfield1331]

Superman..

[@AwesomeEvan9]

instead of making a 3d light-- why not just track the image, parent the the position xy of the lens flare to the positon of the null object (ala alt click on the position xy) much less pain in the arse.

[@ScooterMADDY]

I know right

[@Xr0XL]

Error 404, sence of Humor not found.

[@007badar]

thanks mean

[@Director414]

fucking great!!! :) thanks! love u! (no homo)

[@ScooterMADDY]

Toebex uploaded a video 44 seconds ago LOL

[@zarae786]

iys

[@zkgkilla1]

i thought it was paint? :)

[@vitvits]

Ur funny dude :)

[@danbarnettmedia]

THAT IS SO FUNNY

[@Xr0XL]

Windows Live Movie Maker, Duh >.

[@MrSalama19]

3 weeks of ur last vid

[@Tonecas95]

more like not understanding sarcasm ahah

[@ElementBouncer]

Error 404, sense*