Drift correction methods (Pro only)

You can correct drift by moving the feature region or modifying the tracking settings.

To correct drifting by moving the feature region:

1. Drag the current-time indicator to the last well-tracked frame.
2. Do one of the following actions:
• To correct a single frame, drag the feature and search regions to new locations. Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the feature region to move it without moving the attach point. Monitor the feature region position in the Timeline window. After Effects automatically updates the previous tracking data to this new feature region/attach point position.
• To correct several contiguous frames, drag the feature and search regions to new locations, resize if necessary, and click Analyze. Watch the tracking to make sure it is accurate. If not, click the button again to stop tracking, adjust the feature region, and begin again.
3. To preview tracking, press the Spacebar.
4. When you are satisfied with the track, click Apply to copy keyframes to the selected layer, or effect.

To correct drifting by modifying tracking settings:

1. Drag the current-time indicator to the last well-tracked frame.
2. In the Tracker Controls palette, click Options.
3. In the Motion Tracker Options dialog box, select Enable Feature Adaptiveness if colors change in the feature region or its shape evolves, and then click Options. After Effects displays the Tracker Plug-in Options dialog box.
4. Change the following settings as needed:
• If the feature has high contrast, select Luminance.
• If the feature has a high concentration of color, select Saturation.
• If the footage is noisy or grainy, select Process Before Match, and click Blur. Type a value of 2 to 3 pixels.
• If the edges of the feature are fuzzy, select Process Before Match, and click Enhance.
• If the area is partially obscured during tracking, set a tolerance value for Extrapolate Motion if Confidence Is Below_%. You can determine the proper value by creating a trial track and then examining the confidence value displayed in the Timeline window for any frames with an obscured feature region. Type a value that is slightly larger than the largest confidence value for the problem frames.
5. Click OK in the Tracker Plug-in Options dialog box, and then click OK again in the Track Options dialog box.
6. In the Tracker Controls palette, click the Analyze Forward or the Analyze Backward button.
7. Watch the tracking to make sure it is accurate. If not, click the button again to stop tracking, adjust the settings, and begin again.
8. To preview tracking, press the Spacebar.
9. When you are satisfied with the track, click Apply to copy keyframes to the selected layer or effect.