What Is Match Moving?

Match moving is a visual effects technique that combines live-action footage with computer-generated imagery (CGI) seamlessly. Match movers track the movements of a live action camera and try to match a CG camera’s movement to it so that the orientation, scale, position, and motion of computer-generated objects are relative to the real world environment and look like they’re integrated seamlessly. Match moving is different than motion capture in that motion capture often records the motion of objects instead of the camera.

Match move artists, also sometimes known as 3D trackers, start by positioning tracking points on live action shots. The tracking points provide information that can then be translated to coordinates in a 3D program and used to help create a virtual camera that matches the movement of the real camera.

One of the most common examples of match moving can be found in football game coverage. If you have ever watched a football game on television, you will notice that the yellow first-down line is not actually painted on the field; rather, it is computer generated. When a football player crosses the line, the line also doesn’t appear over the player. Instead, it looks as if the player is stepping on top of the line. The line isn’t real, but it looks real no matter how the camera moves. This seamless integration between CGI and live action footage is one example of match moving.

Learn more about the science behind the first-down line:

“The Science Behind Football’s First-Down Line” by SciShow

Another example of match moving is in films like The Avengers where CG characters appear alongside real actors within the same space onscreen.

In the film industry, real-time camera tracking has become a widely used method of providing instant feedback on what the final composite would look like with both CGI and real objects combined. For example, in Transformers, actors who were supposed to be interacting with the CG character Bumblebee were able to visualize where Bumblebee was going to be standing via real-time match moving.

If you are looking for a match move artist or a visual FX artist experienced in motion tracking and 3D tracking for your next production, check out our online Nevada Production Directory to find help with match moving in Nevada or drop by our office and pick up a free printed directory!

If you are an experienced match move artist and are not yet listed in our Nevada Production Directory, you can learn more about how to sign up for the NPD here.

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