Motion Tracking using Brick Wall .png as Background

Sam-Stalos wrote on 12/10/2025, 7:42 PM

Using Vegas 20 in Win 11. Dell Precision 3630, 32 Gig RAM.

I’m requesting a review of my attempt to accomplish the superimpositions of 30 .png family photos (different sizes and resolutions, alpha backgrounds, on separate tracks) over a single photo of a zooming brick wall in the background (on the bottom track). Each family photo is placed in its correct size/positions at the start of their first frame using the pan/crop feature. (Photos attached.)

The scene lasts for approximately 1 minute. The family photos fade on and off at different intervals, sometimes in groups, sometimes alone against the brick wall background. Each individual in the photos is standing on the sidewalk that runs adjacent to the brick wall, and since the brick wall is zooming in, the perspective of the individual photos must match the coordinates of the zooming wall. Since the family photos are of different sizes and resolutions, I assumed it would be easier to use the pan/zoom coordinates of the background brick wall and apply those coordinates to the family photos, which should keep individuals standing on the sidewalk and in the correct perspective with the zooming wall.

The first problem I encountered was an inability to apply the Motion Tracking plug-in to the zooming background wall. In Vegas 20, the bezier curve feature is no longer used for Motion Tracking. By highlighting the clip and invoking the Options>Video>Motion Tracking, the plug- in should record the variations in the 4 screen coordinates of the brick wall clip. Is that not true? One would then transfer the data to the individual .png photos using PiP. Correct?

I’ve tried all the options in the Motion Tracking drop-down including Perspective, Location, Rotation and Location, Scale and Rotation, Shape and Location. Nothing worked. Assuming Motion Tracking uses color differences to detect an object’s edge, I placed the “gray tracking window” at various points on the brick wall background, and it will not track…not even for a short time, even though the plug-in will indicate a “Successful Scan” (shown in a couple of accompanying pics) and the little green bar is completely filled in. I can see it lose the tracking by just playing back the brick background after the tracking feature was completed. I’ve tried using the “one-frame-at-a-time” feature, but the plug-in still doesn’t track. I’ve tried adjusting the gray tracking window so that it covers one edge of the windows and a piece of the telephone pole. I’ve tried positioning the gray tracking window where it’s tracking the edge of the curb/sidewalk/telephone pole. Nothing seems to work as far as acquiring the coordinates of the zooming background wall.

I then constructed an Excel Spreadsheet which holds the 4 coordinates of the pan/crop zooming background wall taken at small intervals during its playback. Since pan/crop is measuring minute differences in the screen coordinates, I assumed those differences could be applied to the superimposed family photos manually. That turned into a rather mammoth project. Before I pursue this option, I’m hoping there’s some way to use the Motion Tracking plug-in…or there’s something I’m missing.

Has anyone produced a Script for Vegas 20 to automate this process?

I noticed in the various tutorials covering Tracking Motion, it is used on .mp4 and .mov files. Is that the key? Should I render the background wall to .mov and then apply the Motion Tracking plug-in?

Comments

3POINT wrote on 12/10/2025, 8:16 PM

I noticed in the various tutorials covering Tracking Motion, it is used on .mp4 and .mov files. Is that the key? Should I render the background wall to .mov and then apply the Motion Tracking plug-in?

I think that's the solution.

DMT3 wrote on 12/10/2025, 9:38 PM

Are you creating the zoom on the brick wall in Vegas, or is it a zoom created while shooting the Wall?

Sam-Stalos wrote on 12/10/2025, 10:18 PM

The zoom on the brick wall is created in Vegas using pan/crop function.

DMT3 wrote on 12/10/2025, 10:26 PM

Several ways to do it. First of all, don't use motion tracking. Use linear moves (no ramp up or down).

The way I would do it is to create several still images at High resolution, each containing the different groups of the photos (family 1, family 2, etc). Insert each pick on different timelines. Set up a Zoom in pan/crop and duplicate to each timeline starting and ending at the same point, but use Track Tansparency to fade in and out each photo as desired. Basically dissolving between matching zooms of each composited photo. If it doesn't make sense, I can make a demo video.

Sam-Stalos wrote on 12/10/2025, 10:53 PM

I understand what your saying, and thanks for your response. As you suggest, each .png family pick is on a separate track. I'll investigate your Track Transparency suggestion.

That process sounds equally complicated because you have to match the background's relative coordinates at each introduction of a family photo, plus match the coordinates of the already-visible-family waiting to fade out.

I think you're agreeing with the stipulation that Motion Tracking only works for an .mp4 or .mov file. Correct?

If you first place the family .png image ( which could be 300 x 500, or 750 x 900) on an alpha background that matches the resolution of the brick wall background (which is 2749 x 1548} , and then size and place that new, larger .png family alpha image in the correct place on top of the background...using something like Gimp or Photoshop...then it seems the 4 screen coordinates programmed for the background coordinates would match the new coordinates on the famiy photos, as you copy/pasted the 4 cordinates (one-at-a-time) from the keyframe numbers from the background onto each family .png.

Does that sound right?

3POINT wrote on 12/11/2025, 12:45 AM

Is it just a zoom on the wall with the family.png's. I would set the project to the resolution of the wall, bring the family.png's with crossfades on a track above and size those family.png's events with PIP.fx for correct size/position relative to the wall. Make the wall track child of the family.png's track, which becomes the parent track, and create a zoom or whatever movement with parent track motion of the parent track.

DMT3 wrote on 12/11/2025, 7:58 AM

"That process sounds equally complicated because you have to match the background's relative coordinates at each introduction of a family photo, plus match the coordinates of the already-visible-family waiting to fade out."

If you make each track equal length and do the exact zoom on each track, then they will automatically match. I will do a quick video to show what I am explaining. Give me a couple of hours.

3POINT wrote on 12/11/2025, 8:15 AM

@DMT3 Not at all I did it within a minute, the trick is to use parent track motion to zoom equally/exact on both tracks. No trouble with matching coordinates.

If @Sam-Stalos could provide the family.png's and the brickwall picture, I will provide him the veggie.

DMT3 wrote on 12/11/2025, 8:17 AM

@3POINT I was quoting Sam-Stalos. I don't think it it too complicated either, but I have not worked much with parent track effects. I will post my video shortly.

DMT3 wrote on 12/11/2025, 8:42 AM

As I stated, there are multiple ways to do it. Here is a video of the way I suggested. I made 3 images with a common brick wall and different shapes, since I didn't have any people to use. (also note, my timeline stutters a bit during preview, but it is a smooth transition.

3POINT wrote on 12/11/2025, 8:48 AM

@DMT3 parent motion is the feature to apply a motion, or in this case zooming, equally to all child tracks.

3POINT wrote on 12/11/2025, 9:00 AM

@DMT3 much too complicated, take a look at parent motion to equally zoom background AND foreground, no need to copy/paste pan/crop settings to different events. Also with parent track motion you have the possibility to go in 3D where you can give a more realistic experience when zooming in on the persons and background.

DMT3 wrote on 12/11/2025, 9:02 AM

@3POINT I will try it, as I said, I have not used Parent much. But it is also good to see multiple ways of achieving an end to better understand using the software.

3POINT wrote on 12/11/2025, 9:30 AM

@DMT3 and @Sam-Stalos my solution with parent track motion: