In Motion, play the footage several times to locate a reference pattern that:
- Is in focus
- Contains perpendicular edges, such as dots, intersections, and corners (avoid lines and straight boundaries)
- Is a high-contrast pattern
- Contains smooth or even changes in brightness or color (for example, avoid sharp-edged shadows that pass over your reference pattern)
- Appears in every frame of the clip (does not move offscreen or become obscured by other objects)
- Is distinct from other patterns in the same region in the clip

Manually modify track points or tracking keyframes in the canvas

In Point mode tracking, you can drag an individual point on a post-analysis motion path in the canvas to adjust its position. Although Object mode tracking doesn’t create onscreen track points, you can also drag the object tracker in the canvas to adjust its position.

Adjusting a track point or object tracker in the canvas also updates the tracking keyframes in the Keyframe Editor.

In Motion, position the playhead at the frame you want to modify.
Do one of the following:
- Modify a track point in Point mode: Drag the highlighted track point in the canvas to adjust its position.
- Modify a track keyframe in Object mode: Drag the object tracker in the canvas to adjust its position.

You can also adjust a tracking curve in the Keyframe Editor. See Modify keyframes in the Keyframe Editor.

Delete bad keyframes in the Keyframe Editor

When an analysis is complete, you might need to reanalyze a portion of the clip. Rather than recording over bad tracking keyframes (for example, keyframes where the tracker lost its reference pattern), delete bad keyframes before reanalyzing. If bad keyframes are not deleted, the tracking behavior may continue to use the old reference point.

In Motion, position the playhead at the frame where you want to reanalyze the reference pattern.
In the Keyframe Editor, drag a selection rectangle around the keyframes you want to delete.
If the Keyframe Editor is not visible, click the Show/Hide Keyframe Editor button on the right side of the timing toolbar.
Control-click in the Keyframe Editor, then choose Cut from the shortcut menu (or press Delete).
In the canvas, drag the tracker to the reference point, then click Analyze.
New track keyframes are created.

Delete bad track points in the canvas

In Point mode tracking, you can delete bad track points (for example, at points where the tracker lost its reference pattern) during or after analysis.

Note: Track points in the canvas correspond to keyframes in the Keyframe Editor.

In the canvas toolbar in Motion, make sure the Adjust Item tool is selected.
You can zoom into the canvas to better see the active track points. The track point at the current playhead position appears larger than other track points.
Do one of the following:
- Press Delete to delete the track point at the current position of the playhead. (If you press Delete when a track point is not selected, the entire path is deleted.)
- Move the playhead to the frame where you want to begin deleting track points, and press Delete.
  Each press of the Delete key removes one track point. Only active track points are deleted.
  Tip: The direction in which track points are deleted is determined by the Reverse checkbox in the Behaviors Inspector. When Reverse is deselected, each track point you delete moves the playhead toward the beginning of the clip. When Reverse is selected, each track point you delete moves the playhead toward the end of the clip.

Ask Motion for a hint

In Point mode tracking, you can have Motion display suggested tracking points. You need at least one point tracker in the canvas to display suggested tracking reference points.

In Motion, press and hold the Option key, place the pointer over a point tracker in the canvas, then press and hold the mouse button.
The suggested reference points appear in the canvas and in the magnified inset as small red crosshairs.
When you move a point tracker toward a suggested point, the tracker snaps to the point. The suggested points are not necessarily ideal tracking reference points for the feature you want to track in the clip. Motion merely picks locations in the current frame that meet the reference pattern criteria, such as an area of high contrast.

Sharpen a clip’s reference area

A sharp, high-contrast pattern can provide a good tracking reference area. You may be able to sharpen the reference pattern of a clip by applying a filter to a clip before tracking. The tracker analyzes the clip, but not the result of a filter applied to the clip.

In Motion, apply the Sharpen filter to the clip and adjust its parameters in the Filters Inspector.
Export the clip, reimport the clip into your project, then delete or disable the original (exported) clip.
Perform your tracking operation again.

Because the tracker analyzes the clip, not the result of a filter applied to the clip, the clip must be exported and reimported to your project.

Download this guide: PDF

Helpful?

Motion User Guide

Basic tracking strategies in Motion

Find a good reference pattern

Manually modify track points or tracking keyframes in the canvas

Delete bad keyframes in the Keyframe Editor

Delete bad track points in the canvas

Ask Motion for a hint

Sharpen a clip’s reference area