Camera tracking Background and Shadows?

[Capprim]

Hi Dr.Sassi! Thanks for your reply. I never compose the footage with 3D in C4D, that has to be made in Davinci, Motion, AE, Nuke, etc But I like to have a rough quick view in C4D I'm sorry to make you write. The problem with text is that the interface of C4D, and ways to do things, change a lot, so it's difficult to find the tool in the right menu. And C4D has infinite menus. It will be good if you point me to a tutorial. There are too many and with different opinions, so at the end you waste a lot of time in youtube until you find the right one. And may be outdated! Regards

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi Capprim,

Yes, things change, hence why I recreate as much as possible when I get a question. Answering from memory has shown over the past two decades that it doesn't work.

I have searched for a video that fits your scope of questions, but nothing for Cinema 4D that I found is clearer than the documentation.
https://help.maxon.net/c4d/2025/en-us/Default.htm#html/ORSCAMERA-RSCAMERAOBJECT_GROUP_BACKGROUND.html#RSCAMERAOBJECT_BACKGROUND_TYPE

I can't find a question about the background object in any "Ask The Trainer", nor is there an entry here:
https://cineversity.forums.maxon.net/category/3/tutorial-suggestions
Please feel free to express your needs.

My best wishes.

[Capprim]

Hi Dr.Sassi! What do you think of this tutorial? That's what I plan to do with a footage very similar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0uD1BpwVHE Is there something missing?

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi Capprim,

Thanks for asking. if that works for you… You asked: "Is there something missing?" Is he at all using a lens distortion, or is he addressing this point? That would be the answer.

If the lens distortion is ignored, typically, objects that need to be on the floor will swim at one point, i.e., lose contact with the floor or objects.

Besides, lens distortion of any kind (Barrel, Pillow, Mustache, etc.) will change the speed of details in relation to other parts in the "image", with that fooling the tracking algorithm. So, at any time you need to have contact with the elements in the footage, this is a must-have workflow. A different case is an airplane flying through the scene that can get away with lends distortion, but the tracking itself might be difficult.

How to get a lens distortion file (.lns)?
https://cineversity.maxon.net/en/tutorials/new_in_release_17_quickstart_lens_distortion_tool
Please note there are often complex distortions that need a few more lines to be evaluated. Anything below five lines that cover the edges, sides, and middle areas is not useful; also, assuming that anything is symmetrical from a lens is not advised.

If you want to know about tracking inside Cinema 4D, use this series.
https://cineversity.maxon.net/en/series/motion_tracking_object_tracking_inside_cinema_4d?tutorial=motion_tracking_object_tracking_inside_cinema_4d_introduction

If you would like to know about compositing basic qualities those shots need to have, which partly can't be done with the quick preview, use this series here:
https://cineversity.maxon.net/en/series/integration1?tutorial=1_integration_introduction_01

If you want to know what is in a typical workflow, here is another series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7za0ozspxIg&list=PLOLI4wu7NPsjGPK3BGKJpmAg9WqFodFHh

All of these share much more than you ask for–Just have the cube on the end of the street. I have not seen the footage nor the lens grid, so you ask me about something I can't just answer. I don't provide shortcuts that might let you end up with wasted time and no result.
I have been doing Motion Tracking since the late '90s, and I have gotten a lot of questions about it, hence my reluctance to get sloppy here and upset anyone. This is not my MO. Thanks for understanding.

All the best

[Capprim]

Thanks Dr.Sassi! I'm going to make several tests. Also will use a Fx3

[Dr. Sassi]

You're very welcome, Capprim,

If you use your Sony Fx3, the lensgrid that you shoot should have (as far as possible) the same focus distance set. If you have a Zoom lens, the exact Focal length is critical for the lens grid and footage taken to match. Keep the camera straight (perpendicular) to the grid.

When you use it with the iPhone, take the video format you like for that, not a photo.

I have used this one here for over a decade or so, and if you have it print out large (Long side 36"), tell the one doing it to charge you as a text file, then it might be much cheaper. Think of a larger poster size.
https://cdn.borisfx.com/borisfx/syntheyes/lensAutoGrid.pdf

As usual, I tested it with the current version of Cinema 4D (2025.2), and all works fine.

All the best

[Capprim]

I'll try Thanks!

[Dr. Sassi]

You're very welcome, Capprim.

Let me know how it goes.

( I wrote this post a day ago, and I found it this morning: Not send; sorry about it. Looks like I need a vacation

Cheers

[Capprim]

By the way, I managed to get tracked an Iphone 16 pro Prores footage. Working on the scene. I'll let you know

[Capprim]

Dear Sassi, Everything works fine but the Shadowcatcher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXFYZhfI5yc Where is this in Redshift? It worked so easy before Thanks

[Capprim]

Solved with Redshift object applied to a plane on the floor! However the settings are tricky! You have to spend a while clicking around. Have a nice day!

[Dr. Sassi]

Good Morning, Capprim,

Thanks for updating your own questions. Very nice of you!

My best wishes for your project