CapCut: The Essential Guide to Adding Tracking Effects on iOS
CapCut has emerged as one of the most popular video editing apps for iOS, offering an array of powerful features that make it easy for both beginners and professionals to create stunning videos. Among its many capabilities, one of the standout features is the ability to add tracking effects to your videos. Tracking effects can help you seamlessly integrate text, stickers, or other elements into a video, making them appear to follow a specific object or person as they move. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to master adding tracking effects using CapCut on iOS, covering everything from the basics to troubleshooting common issues.
What is CapCut and Why Should You Use It?
CapCut is a free video editing app developed by ByteDance, the same company behind TikTok. With CapCut, users can easily edit videos with a variety of tools, including cutting, trimming, applying filters, adding music, and creating advanced visual effects. Whether you’re a content creator, social media enthusiast, or simply someone looking to make personal videos, CapCut is a versatile tool that offers an intuitive interface and powerful features—especially on iOS devices.
One of the standout features that set CapCut apart from other video editing apps is its tracking effects. Tracking allows users to attach visual elements to moving objects in the video, creating a more dynamic and professional look. Adding tracking effects is particularly useful for anyone looking to make their videos stand out on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Getting Started with CapCut on iOS
Before diving into the specifics of tracking effects, let’s make sure you have CapCut installed and are familiar with the basic interface. If you haven’t downloaded the app yet, head over to the App Store and install it on your iPhone or iPad. Once installed, follow these steps to start editing your video:
- Open the CapCut app on your iOS device.
- Tap the “New Project” button to create a fresh video edit.
- Import the video clips you want to edit from your gallery.
- Once the video is loaded, you’ll enter the main editing interface where you can begin adding effects, text, music, and more.
Now that you’ve set up your project, let’s move on to adding tracking effects.
Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Tracking Effects in CapCut on iOS
Adding tracking effects in CapCut is a straightforward process. Follow these simple steps to get started:
Step 1: Select the Clip You Want to Add Tracking to
The first step is to choose the video clip you want to apply the tracking effect to. In the main timeline of CapCut, tap on the video track you want to edit. Make sure the video clip is selected, and use the timeline to position the clip where you want to start adding effects.
Step 2: Activate the Tracking Tool
Once you have the clip selected, navigate to the “Effects” tab at the bottom of the screen. In this section, scroll through the available effects options and look for the “Tracking” tool. Tap on it to activate the tracking feature, which will allow you to choose what part of the video you want to track.
Step 3: Choose the Object or Person to Track
CapCut will allow you to manually select the object or person that you want to track. To do this, simply tap on the object in the preview window that you want to follow throughout the clip. You can also use the manual selection tool to draw a box around the object. CapCut will then analyze the movement of this object and create a motion path that follows its trajectory.
Step 4: Add Your Desired Effect
Once you have selected the object to track, you can now add an effect that will follow this object throughout the video. You can add text, stickers, animations, or even additional video clips to the tracked path. To do this:
- Tap on “Add Text” to create a text layer that will follow the tracked object.
- Tap on “Stickers” to add dynamic stickers that will move along with the object.
- Tap on “Animation” to apply pre-built animation effects that can follow the motion path.
After selecting your desired effect, CapCut will automatically attach it to the object and ensure it moves with the tracked item as the video plays.
Step 5: Fine-Tune the Tracking Path
If the tracking effect doesn’t perfectly follow the object, you can manually adjust the tracking path. Tap on the tracking path on the timeline, and CapCut will display keyframes that you can move or adjust. Fine-tune the path until you’re happy with how the effect tracks the object in the video.
Step 6: Preview and Export Your Video
After applying the tracking effect and adjusting the path, it’s time to preview your video. Tap on the play button to view the final result. If everything looks good, tap on the export button at the top-right corner of the screen to save the video to your device or share it directly to social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube.
Troubleshooting Common Tracking Issues in CapCut
While CapCut makes tracking effects easy to apply, sometimes issues can arise during the process. Here are some common problems you may encounter and how to fix them:
1. The Tracking Path is Inaccurate
If the tracking path is not following the object correctly, it could be because the object is moving too fast, or there are too many distractions in the background. Try slowing down the video speed or enhancing the contrast between the object and its background to make tracking more accurate.
2. The Effect Isn’t Staying With the Object
If the effect is not properly attached to the tracked object, ensure that the object’s movement is clear and consistent throughout the video. In cases where the object moves in unpredictable ways, you may need to manually adjust the tracking path frame-by-frame to get a more precise result.
3. The App Crashes or Freezes
If CapCut crashes or freezes while applying tracking effects, make sure you’re running the latest version of the app. Check the App Store for updates, and if the problem persists, try restarting your iPhone or iPad and clearing any background apps that might be causing performance issues.
Advanced Tips for Using Tracking Effects in CapCut
If you’re already comfortable with the basic tracking effects, here are some advanced tips to take your video editing to the next level:
- Combine Multiple Effects: Instead of just tracking text or stickers, you can combine multiple tracking effects for a more dynamic video. For example, track a moving person and apply both text and animated stickers to different areas of the frame.
- Layering Effects: Use the layering feature in CapCut to stack multiple effects on top of each other. This will give you greater flexibility in positioning and adjusting each element.
- Use Keyframe Animation: For more intricate movements, use keyframe animation to manually adjust the position and scale of effects throughout the video.
With these tips, you’ll be able to create professional-looking tracking effects that captivate your audience.
Conclusion
Adding tracking effects in CapCut is a powerful way to enhance your videos and create engaging, dynamic content. Whether you’re tracking text, stickers, or other elements, CapCut provides an intuitive interface and advanced tools that make this process accessible to all users, from beginners to seasoned video editors. By following the steps outlined in this guide and troubleshooting common issues, you can master tracking effects on iOS and take your video editing skills to the next level.
For more tutorials and tips on CapCut, visit our video editing blog for expert advice and creative ideas!
This article is in the category Tips & Tricks and created by EditStudioPro Team