Stabilizing a Surface Using Motion Vectors

Motion Vector-based stabilization is available when a Motion Vectors map is parented to the surface. It allows you to stabilize a surface where subtle motion exists. Be wary of the edges of the surface: this is where most warping appears (if any) when using Motion Vector stabilization.

To use motion vectors to stabilize a surface.:

1. Select the surface to stabilize.
2. Right-click the node and select Add Map > Motion Vectors Map.
3. If the media assigned to the Motion Vectors map is not the one of the surface to analyse, you need to change it. Right-click the Motion Vectors map, and Assign Media > Media to use.
4. Double-click the surface and open the Tracking tab.
5. Enable the Stabilization option.
6. Using the timebar, go to a frame to use for reference.
7. Click Add.

   This creates a snapshot of the surface, snapping it to the underlying UV of the Motion Vector map. As you go forward and backward on the timebar, the surface warps to conform to the movement of the UV.

8. Optional: If the projection drifts, usually because of occlusion, add more reference frames; Action interpolates between different reference frames.

Tip: The tracking data is stored as keyframes in the frames channel of the Channel Editor, in the Surface's motion_warp group.