Matched alignment points method

The Matched alignment point method is a process of placing markers on similar features in the background of both video clips. The alignment point window is illustrated below:

Selecting background alignment points.

In this method, at least two points are set on objects in the background of the first image and then set on the same objects on the second background. This is repeated for all three pairs of images listed on the left hand side of the SimulCam module. It is best to use obvious points of high contrast as illustrated in the following pictures:
Also it is essential that these background points are fixed objects: People or the top of the slalom gate in the above clip would not be good choices because they move!


To define alignment points.

1.	Click on the first clip's title above the video display. A frame of the first clip is displayed in the main screen. (Ski 1 in the illustration below)

2.	Click the left mouse button on a static background feature. The feature is marked as shown below.

3.	Now click a second and perhaps a third object. They will be labeled similarly; you must set a minimum of two alignment points but defining more may improve the background alignment.

4.	Click on the second clip's title above the video display. A frame of the second clip is displayed.

5.	On the second clip, click the same background objects that you selected on the first clip in the same order so that the numbers match; the thumbnail on the left displays the previous selections and can act as a guide.

6.	Click on Visual Check on the process bar. A combined image of both frames is displayed. The backgrounds should appear aligned.

If you need to delete a numbered mark because the elements are not in the second image or are not positioned correctly, right-click on the mark you wish to delete. Then left-click in the correct position and a marker with the same number appears again.

If the backgrounds do not match in the Visual Check, make sure that the alignment points are placed correctly and that point 1 matches point 1 in each image etc. If backgrounds still do not match then adding further points will improve accuracy.

7.	Select the second pair of images from the thumbnails on the left of the SimulCam module. These images compare camera movement form one frame to the next in the same video clip.

8.	This time feature points are already set but you need to check they are positioned correctly. Use the techniques described in step 6 to remove and reposition feature points as required.

9.	Repeat for the third pair of images.

10.	When complete proceed to the next step by clicking on the Next button.