# What is motion tracking?

> Motion tracking follows a point or object across frames so text or an effect sticks to it. See a worked example and the tracking tools in major editors.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-09
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/motion-tracking

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Motion tracking follows an object across a video's frames, so text, a blur or an effect moves with it. You track once and the editor does the rest.

## What ads use it for

- Pin a price tag or label to a product that moves.
- Blur a face or a number plate as it moves.
- Keep a moving subject in the frame when you [reframe](/glossary/reframing) 16:9 to 9:16.

## A worked example

Say a bottle crosses the frame in 3 seconds at 30 frames per second, moving 360 pixels.

- Frames: 3 x 30 = **90 frames**.
- Movement per frame: 360 / 90 = **4 pixels**.

A tracker records the bottle's position in each of the 90 frames. A text label attached to that track moves 4 pixels a frame with it. Without tracking, you would set the position yourself with [keyframes](/glossary/keyframe), one after another.

## Tracking tools

| Tool | Feature |
|---|---|
| Premiere Pro | Object Mask, with AI masking and tracking. Auto Reframe has a Motion Tracking setting: Slower Motion, Default or Faster Motion |
| Final Cut Pro | Object Tracker |
| DaVinci Resolve | DaVinci Neural Engine AI region tracking, in the Studio edition |
| OpusClip | Moving-object tracking for reframing, on its Pro plan |

Premiere Pro is now called Adobe Premiere. Features are from the makers' pages (checked 3 Nov 2026).

## What can go wrong

A tracker can lose an object that leaves the frame, hides behind something or blurs. Scrub through the result and fix the frames where it slips. A [mask](/glossary/video-mask) can follow a track too.

## FAQ

### Is motion tracking the same as keyframing?

Tracking makes the keyframes for you by watching the footage. Keyframing is setting them by hand.

### Can I track a face to blur it?

Yes. Track the face, then attach a blur to the track. Check every frame before you publish.

### Does tracking work on any clip?

It works best on a clear, sharp subject that stays in view. Hard cases need a manual fix.

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- [More Video editing articles](https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/category/video-editing)
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