CAMERA TRACKING PRODUCTION GUIDE
This guide covers the production materials, technical references and practical considerations involved in camera tracking, matchmove, object tracking and rotomation. Whether you’re preparing a commercial, feature film, episodic production, virtual production or AI hybrid workflow, the following sections outline the information that helps deliver accurate, production-ready results.
It’s often the extra production notes, a behind-the-scenes photo or an unexpected reference that ends up solving a tracking challenge later in the project.
QUICK ANSWERS
– What is included in a standard tracking delivery?
– How quickly can tracking begin?
– Which source material provides the best results?
– What production information should be provided?
– Which production pipelines do you support?
– Do you need lens calibration grids?
– What production references are useful?
– Are camera reports and metadata required?
– Can AI-generated footage be camera tracked?
– Which file formats do you deliver?
STANDARD DELIVERABLES
Our standard deliveries are designed to integrate seamlessly into existing VFX pipelines and can be adapted to your studio’s naming conventions, folder structure and delivery requirements.
Typical deliverables include:
– Camera tracking and matchmove scenes (.ma, .fbx, .abc)
– Alembic exports (.abc)
Cameras
Locators / Nulls
Reference Geometry
Animated Geometry
Character Rig geometry cash
– Undistorted image sequences
– STMaps
– Wireframe preview renders (.mov or image sequence)
– Reference images
– Production notes
– Additional exports when required
FAST PROJECT TURNAROUND
Many productions require tracking support during bidding, pre-production or immediately after principal photography. Whenever possible, we begin work immediately and provide initial tracking deliveries by the next business day, allowing productions to continue without unnecessary delays.
Thanks to our European time zone, North American studios frequently receive tracking data by the start of their next working day.
SOURCE PLATES
For the most accurate tracking and scene reconstruction results we recommend:
– Original camera plates
– Native camera resolution
– Original aspect ratio
– EXR sequences whenever available
– Original camera metadata
– Lens calibration grids captured in the same format and resolution as the production plates
PROJECT INFORMATION
Helpful production information includes:
– Delivery frame rate (FPS)
– Scene scale 1:1 or 1:10
– Coordinate system
– Preferred units
– Required deliverables
– Export formats
PIPELINE COMPATIBILITY
Our deliveries can be prepared for a wide range of VFX, animation, compositing, virtual production and AI production pipelines.
Scenes, exports, naming conventions and folder structures can all be adapted to match existing studio workflows and delivery requirements.
LENS INFORMATION
Lens distortion information is one of the most valuable production references.
Whenever possible, please provide:
– Lens calibration grids
– Lens distortion grids
– Zoom recording
– Focus distance
– Lens metadata (focus value is a plus)
This becomes particularly valuable when working with anamorphic, zoom and vintage lenses.
SURVEY & REFERENCE MATERIAL
Additional production references often reduce tracking time and improve scene reconstruction.
Useful materials include:
– Survey data
– LiDAR scans
– CAD models
– 3D scans
– Production stills
– Behind-the-scenes photography
– GPS coordinates
– Camera reports
– Annotation frames
– Style frames
– Concept frames
The more production context available, the more efficiently tracking, scene reconstruction and final delivery can be completed.
CAMERA REPORTS & METADATA
Camera reports and lens metadata are always helpful, but they are not essential.
Many productions can be completed successfully without complete metadata.
Useful information includes:
– Camera make and model
– Lens information
– Focal length
– Focus distance
– Camera height
– Survey measurements
– Slate reports
– Lens serial numbers
AI HYBRID WORKFLOWS
AI-generated footage can often be camera tracked successfully, although it typically requires a different approach from traditional photography.
Unlike live-action footage, AI-generated sequences may not contain consistent physical camera behaviour, lens characteristics or stable scene geometry. Each shot is therefore evaluated individually to determine the most reliable tracking workflow.
FILE DELIVERY
Deliveries are prepared according to each production’s pipeline and may include:
– Maya scenes
– FBX
– Alembic
– STMaps
– Undistorted image sequences
– Tracking previews
– Reference geometry
– Camera exports
– Custom production formats when required.