it's a really basic process with hitfilm - this is their YT link

@Former user … thanks for the link

While motion tracking in VP16 will no doubt properly track the eyes as per the example in the HF tutorial, it will then get a bit more complicated in VP. From my understanding and experience with VP16 motion tracking, the tracking process tracks another event such as titling. That seems to mean that you would need to create 2 other events - 1 for each eye - containing the bulged eyes using the VP pinch/punch FX localised to each eye - then masking would be needed to limit the overlayed events to the bulged eyes only so that the motion tracking only overlays the 2 bulged eye events over the original event. Somebody else on the forum may have a far more elegant solution.

Using the free HitFilm Express (no additional paid package needed) seems to me to be the easiest approach to achieving this effect, the reason being is that HitFilm easily allows for motion tracking an FX, whereas VP16 does not as far as I am aware.

Thanks, I haven't used VP16, I knew the tracking was reasonably simplistic, but thought there may be some sort of hack to track both eyes and match to a vegas video effect. I believe also there's the various boris fx 2019 filter packs that come with mocha tracking (but only for that filter pack), just very expensive. Not a real alternative as instead of spending the money just for this project you'd use the free HitFilm as you say.

Main purpose of the Vegas Pro tracker is to track and mask effects, so there is an FX option in the Bézier Mask FX. No need for a second duplicated event/track.

And yes, you can track both eyes. One Bézier Mask FX contains 5 independents masks with 5 independent trackers.

I see two difficulties. If you want to apply the Bulge effect of Hitfilm, the Bulge effect needs to know the tracking coordinates. I am not aware of any way to copy keyframes from one FX to another. But that could be done via a script. It would be better to have a link to keep the values up to date with changes. This could make motion tracking more versatile. Now only a mask can be passed on to the following FX.

Vegas Sphere FX could be used instead of the Bulge effect. As it currently happens, the effect is not in center, it is ahead of changing the center. I think that's a bug. But even here, a script could fix the supposed error.

@matthias-krutz

If you want to apply the Bulge effect of Hitfilm, the Bulge effect needs to know the tracking coordinates. I am not aware of any way to copy keyframes from one FX to another.

The HitFilm tutorial addressed that … it ran 2 tracks, one for each eye.

The run two separate tracks is not the problem. This can be done within one Bézier Masking FX, as Marco has already mentioned. But these tracking coordinates would have to be copied into two Bulge FX. That could all be done in one event. There is no duplicate required. But it is not enough to just move the mask. There is really only one script missing, or it already exists.

@matthias-krutz

Sorry, but I am a bit confused. Are you saying that the 2 eyes bulge effect can't actually be achieved in HitFilm as per HitFilm's tutorial without some undefined/unnamed script? - it seems so sublimely simple in the tutorial. Or maybe you are referring to achieving the affect within VP16 (i.e. no HitFilm involvement)? But then VP16 doesn't have an effect called Bulge - it has Pinch/Punch. But then VP can use HitFilm Bulge via the Ignite OFX plugin.

BTW, Marco's reference was to motion tracking in VP16. My post just immediately prior to your post referred to the process outlined in the HitFiim tutorial.

I've written about the implementation with VP16 tools. Additional it could be taken the free Hitfilm Bulge FX. This requires tracking coordinates which can be created in Vegas. These coordinates are in the Bézier Masking FX, but they are needed in the Bulge FX, therefore the script. It makes no difference whether Bulge FX, Pitch / Punch or Sphere is used. But maybe someone has a better idea.

maybe , with Vegas Suite . Vegas Suite comes with Ignite . Ignite allows Vegas and Movie Studio to do Most , of what Hitfilm can do . Hitfilm does recommend , to take full advantage of Hitfilm FX , to use HItfilm . Vegas and Ignite can be purchased as separate items . Many times , certain projects can be "Cut Over" , and implemented in different editors .