Make A Head Turn with Motion Capture

This video will show you how to set up a character's head for animating using motion tracking data. Animate a camera instead of the head to greatly simplify turns of the head. When the head seems to turn it makes the animation "pop." A 2D animation can seem more 3D. With some limits you can turn 2D heads and make them look 3D. You can do facial motion capture with one camera. (not the vertual camera in the software but a video camera) To motion capture for face first you animate the expressions with motion track data and then you track head turning movement by using After Effect's 3D capabilities. This video covers mocap for head turning in semi-3D.

Motion Track as Many Points At Once in After Effects

After Effects' motion tracker is a lot more powerful than many people give it credit for. You are not limited to tracking one point. Nor are you limited to the four point track for corner pin tracking. You can track as many points as you like. All at the same time. This is great for motion tracking of mocap.

The videos on this web site will give you the in's and out's of motion capture for the home animator. All the major studios are using motion capture but most independent animators never dream of using it in their creative work. There is affordable motion capture, and it only uses one camera. The difference is, this is motion capture for 2D animation.

Let me know what you think.