DaVinci Resolve Fusion Planar Tracking Hack
The planar tracker in DaVinci Resolve Fusion sometimes fails to track objects with insufficient detail, motion blur, or defocus, leading to inaccurate results. Learn how to use frequency separation to divide out a blurred version of the footage to extract textures and details lying under the surface.
Solution: Frequency Separation
This technique separates detail information from color information in an image.
The planar tracker then uses only the high-frequency detail for more accurate tracking.
It involves two nodes:
Channel Booleans: Set to "divide" operation mode and "do nothing" for alpha.
Blur Node: A standard blur node is used to create a blurred copy of the original footage, representing the color information.
Process:
Connect the blurred copy (color information) to the green foreground input of the Channel Booleans node.
The Channel Booleans node then "divides" the blurred image from the original, resulting in a high-detail, wild-looking image.
This "detail-only" image is then fed into the planar tracker.
Tracking with Frequency Separation:
Draw a shape around the desired object on the reference frame (e.g., frame 338).
Set the reference frame in the planar tracker.
For basic movement, set "motion type" to "translation" (up, down, left, right).
Hit "track forward" to see the improved tracking.
Refining the Track:
If the track gets stuck, use "gradient extrapolation" in the spline editor to smoothly continue the motion path.
To check accuracy, change the planar tracker's operation mode to "steady" and set the "steady time" to the reference frame.
Zoom in on a detail and play the footage; if the detail remains stable, the track is good.
If there's popping, delete keyframes in the spline editor or try a different tracking shape.
Applying the Track:
Once satisfied with the track, create a "planar transform" tool from the planar tracker (under the "track" tab). This bakes the tracking data.
Draw a mask (e.g., B-spline) on the reference frame of your original footage.
Connect the mask's output to the yellow background input of the planar transform tool (not the mask input).
This applies the match-move movement to your mask, allowing for advanced effects like targeted color correction on a moving object.
Tips for B-splines:
Deselect all points by clicking anywhere on the mask.
Hold Option (Mac) or Alt (PC) to select the point closest to your cursor.
Hold W to adjust the "weight" of a point, making the edge harder.
Focus on moving edges rather than individual points during rotoscoping.
Additional Considerations:
For more complex movements, consider adding scale and rotation to your planar tracker.
Apply motion blur and softening tools to your tracked mask as needed.
