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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Add the Transform effect to your clip
Open the Effects panel (Window > Effects), type Transform into the search box and drag the Transform effect from Video Effects > Distort onto your clip in the timeline. Make sure you pick the one in the Distort folder, not the items in the Transform folder underneath it.
Why not just use the Motion settings that every clip already has? The Transform effect adds a Shutter Angle control, and that is what gives you real motion blur at the end.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of Transform and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 2: Scale the clip up to hide black borders
With the clip selected, open Effect Controls and increase the Scale value. The video uses a scale of around 200. Tracking works by moving the whole picture around, so the edges of the frame will slide into view. Scaling up first gives you spare image on every side and stops black borders from showing up later.
Step 3: Turn on rulers and guides in the Program Monitor
You need guides to mark where your object is, but the buttons are hidden by default. Under the Program Monitor, click the + icon to open the Button Editor. Drag the Rulers and Guides buttons down onto the toolbar and click OK.
Now click both new buttons to enable them. Drag a guide out of the top ruler and drop it onto your object, then drag another one out of the side ruler and cross it over the same spot. Zoom in a little and reposition the view so you can see the lines clearly. These two lines are your reference point: your object should sit exactly where they cross.
Step 4: Keyframe the Position and follow the object
Go to the first frame, then click the stopwatch next to Position in the Transform effect to set the first keyframe. Move one frame forward with the Right Arrow key. The object has moved away from the crosshair, so adjust the Position values until the object is back in the centre of the guides. Premiere adds a keyframe automatically each time you change a value.
Repeat this frame by frame for the whole clip: step forward one frame, nudge the position, step forward again. It is a repetitive job, but it is what makes the tracking accurate. When you are done you should have a long row of Position keyframes.
If your object moves slowly or in a straight line, you can keyframe every second or third frame and let Premiere fill in the gaps. Check the result by scrubbing the timeline. If the object drifts off the crosshair, go back to that spot and correct it. For more control over how the movement flows between keyframes, see our guide to easing keyframes in Premiere Pro.
Step 5: Add motion blur with the shutter angle
Scroll down in the Transform effect and uncheck Use Composition's Shutter Angle. Then set Shutter Angle to 360. This adds natural-looking motion blur wherever the footage moves quickly between keyframes, and it hides the small jumps that frame-by-frame tracking can leave behind.
Tips
- Pick a high-contrast target. A ball, a sign or a bright shirt is easier to follow by eye than something that blends into the background.
- Delete the guides when you are done. They only show in the Program Monitor, but turning them off keeps your view clean while you check the result.
- Use a higher scale if the camera shakes a lot. More movement means more of the edges slide into view, so you need more spare image.
FAQ
Does Premiere Pro have automatic motion tracking?
Premiere Pro can track masks on effects such as Lumetri and blur effects, but for moving the whole picture to follow an object the manual method in this tutorial gives you full control and works in every version.
Why does my footage show black edges after tracking?
The clip is being moved around the frame, so empty space appears at the edges. Increase the Scale before you start so there is extra picture to move around with.
Do I have to keyframe every single frame?
No. Frame by frame is the most accurate way, but for slow or steady movement you can keyframe every few frames and check that the object stays close to the guides.
Want that handheld, energetic look on your tracked shots too? Add some grit with the free camera shake grain overlay.
