Track a 3D object into live footage with After Effects and Cinema 4D

Integrating computer graphics into live action video footage used to be a dark art known only to top-level 3D artists using hugely expensive software. But nowadays the tools that come with Adobe's After Effects can be used very successfully for a huge range of shots, from simple 2D sign replacement to inserting a correctly lit CG object into your source video footage.

After Effects works especially well with the 3D package Cinema 4D - a free version, Cinema 4D Lite, comes with After Effects CC - and the plugin Cineware, which allows the swapping of camera and 3D data between the two programmes.

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