How to manually track a person or object in Pimloc Redact
Manual tracking moves a box with your mouse as the video plays, so you can cover someone the automatic detection missed or lost.
How manual tracking works
When you manually track, the box goes wherever your mouse is on each frame. You hold the box with the mouse and follow the person or object as the video moves on.
The boxes you place this way belong to the same track as the box you started with. On frames that already have a box for that track, your new position replaces it. On frames that don't, a new box is added.
If the video moves faster than the editor can show each frame, Pimloc Redact fills in the frames between by moving the box smoothly from one position to the next.
Manually track a box
Manual tracking only works while Preview is off, because you need to see the boxes to hold one.
Pause the video on the first frame you want to track from.
Click the box to select it. If there isn't one, draw a new box by dragging on an empty part of the video.
Press and hold the left mouse button on the box.
Keep holding, and move the video on with the keyboard:
Press Space or K to play the video.
Or press the Right arrow to step forward one frame at a time. Hold it to keep stepping.
As the video moves, move your mouse to keep the box over the person or object.
Let go of the mouse button when you've finished. The video pauses and the boxes are saved to the track.
You have to use the keyboard to play or step the video, because your mouse is busy holding the box.
Tips for an accurate track
Slow the video down first. Before you start, set the playback speed to 0.25x or 0.1x, or press O to slow down. It's much easier to follow someone who moves quickly. See Play back speed.
Step through difficult parts. Where the person turns or is partly hidden, step one frame at a time with the Right arrow instead of playing.
Go over it again. If part of the track isn't right, manually track those frames again. Your new positions replace the old ones.
To let Pimloc Redact follow the person for you instead, use Track on the Timeline Toolbar. See How to use the video timeline.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Space or K = Play or pause, while you hold a box
Right arrow = Step forward one frame. Hold to keep stepping
Left arrow = Step back one frame
O / P = Slower / faster playback
For the rest of the editor's shortcuts, see Keyboard shortcuts.