- Posts: 4
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2024 8:42 am
- Location: Cologne, Germany
- Real Name: Philipp Scheithauer
Wed May 07, 2025 11:26 am
Dear BMD,
there have been countless requests for this, but I was really hoping with the new version of the Magic Mask, this primary issue would have been addressed. It is an awesome tool and works like a charm for auto tracking, but there is really no way for it to be used on a real client project, especially in grading sessions with clients being present.
Why is there still no way to lock in the tracking path once done? I cannot justify to re-track the same mask over and over again, taking up time from the session that client actually payed for.
Here are the two most annoying instances where the mask loses its tracking data and has to be re-tracked:
-Whenever you do a change on the Post-Group-Level and the mask is on a clip level
-Whenever you change the timeline resolution to render out
I can probably work with the second one, but still. Re-tracking 40-50 masks on a longer project is very time consuming, especially with all final FX activated. With plugins and heavy FX, this really takes a LOT of time.
The first one is the real issue though. Whenever the director next to me asks me to try out some different contrast/warmth/tint options or even grain structures, I have to re-track EVERY magic mask that is within that group. Even on a 60 sec commercial where I tried this and heavily relied on that feature, this were 20 masks. I ended up re-tracking them 5-6 times each.
I don't wont to be working against my tools or having to do cumbersome workarounds like rendering masks out with RiP. I just want the once checked mask render to be locked. I don't need it to be content aware after that as I checked it thoroughly one time already. And I can always just re-track if I don't like the result.
Whenever I talk to other colorists, they have the same issues and nobody ends up using this very good tool. If it is technically not possible to lock in the tracking data like every other mask in Davinci can, then this is a flawed design to begin with.
I really hope this can be added in some way or another. Even if I lose the clips after stabilizing, re-framing or cropping, I don't care. I just don't want to lose the tracking when I make changes in the color tab.
Would really like some dev comment to explain this a bit further, as I am sure BMD is aware of this specific issue by now.
Best regards,
Philipp
there have been countless requests for this, but I was really hoping with the new version of the Magic Mask, this primary issue would have been addressed. It is an awesome tool and works like a charm for auto tracking, but there is really no way for it to be used on a real client project, especially in grading sessions with clients being present.
Why is there still no way to lock in the tracking path once done? I cannot justify to re-track the same mask over and over again, taking up time from the session that client actually payed for.
Here are the two most annoying instances where the mask loses its tracking data and has to be re-tracked:
-Whenever you do a change on the Post-Group-Level and the mask is on a clip level
-Whenever you change the timeline resolution to render out
I can probably work with the second one, but still. Re-tracking 40-50 masks on a longer project is very time consuming, especially with all final FX activated. With plugins and heavy FX, this really takes a LOT of time.
The first one is the real issue though. Whenever the director next to me asks me to try out some different contrast/warmth/tint options or even grain structures, I have to re-track EVERY magic mask that is within that group. Even on a 60 sec commercial where I tried this and heavily relied on that feature, this were 20 masks. I ended up re-tracking them 5-6 times each.
I don't wont to be working against my tools or having to do cumbersome workarounds like rendering masks out with RiP. I just want the once checked mask render to be locked. I don't need it to be content aware after that as I checked it thoroughly one time already. And I can always just re-track if I don't like the result.
Whenever I talk to other colorists, they have the same issues and nobody ends up using this very good tool. If it is technically not possible to lock in the tracking data like every other mask in Davinci can, then this is a flawed design to begin with.
I really hope this can be added in some way or another. Even if I lose the clips after stabilizing, re-framing or cropping, I don't care. I just don't want to lose the tracking when I make changes in the color tab.
Would really like some dev comment to explain this a bit further, as I am sure BMD is aware of this specific issue by now.
Best regards,
Philipp
Freelance Colorist
www.philippscheithauer.com
www.philippscheithauer.com