#Camera utilities??
13 messages in this thread
Does anyone know if there is any way to match a real camera movement in 3ds4?
I would like to find a utility, IPAS etc. that will allow me to film characters
in a studio and then somehow import the camera movement information into 3ds4
as a camera path.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Nathan
Hi!
Check out Ultimate R Memory Head.
It' extremely expensive though.
Regards,
Alex, Video International
Hi Alex,
Do you know where I can get more information about the Ultimatte Memory Head?
Please advise, as I am REALLY interested…
Alex K.
Hi, Alex!
For details on Ultimate R Memory Head call (818) 993-8007.
Memory Head is hardware – software combination used to record
in digital form (on 3.5" diskette) all camera movements and other parameters.
This information can be imported to 3D animation packages (including 3DS)
or used to repeat exact camera motion for another take. You can even work
in different direction: first animate camera in 3DS, then create ASCII output,
then make real camera move the same way as animated one.
It used to cost 50,000 for camera weights up to 35lb and 100,000 for heavier
cameras.
We used it for our "Dendy-new reality" animation, which won us Autodesk
Animation Contest.
Regards,
Alex, Video International
Hi Alex,
>>We used it for our "Dendy-new reality" animation, which won us Autodesk
>>Animation Contest.
I would love to see that animation, is it possible that you can send me a copy
of the tape or your demo if it's included there? Ship it with my FedEx account
number, if you want.
I'd really appreciate it, and thank you for the prompt reply.
Alex Karamanoglou
Network Graphics & Animations
Hi!
Bad news: I have only one copy of "Dendy" clip available now and it is
PAL, not NTSC…
Good news: But you can easily get it, if you call AutoDesk and ask for
Free 3D Studio SIGGRAPH'94 Demo Reel…
More Good news: AutoDesk Multimedia dept promised to make tape
with winning animations available soon…
Regards,
Alex, Video International
Hi Alek,
I happen to have the tape.. Which one is it?
Please let me know…..
Alex K.
Hi!
First, the screenplay for the clip, then location on the tape.
1. There is nice, strange planet in the space. And some spaceship flies there.
There is a pilot inside the spaceship, he wears terrible helmet and outside
world cats strange shadows on his face. He arrives on the planet and enters
local Blockbaster store, approaches Sega-like game machine and takes out the
cartridge. Suddenly his close became normal and store changes to conventional
rental outlet. The guy wants to repeat his fabuluos experience and picks
another cartridge, inserts it into the the machine and outside world changes
again…
2. If I remember correctly, the shots of the planet, spaceship and the guy in
the helmet are located in the begining of "Video International" (subtitle
indicates "Video International") block inside entertainment chapter.
Shots in the store, where guy changes his appearance (the main thing we were
awarded for) are somewhere, but I don't remember where – I'll look on the tape
again.
Enjoy,
Alex, Video International
Hi Alek,
I'll look closely this time, because I don't remember that scene at all in the
tape… I'm sure it's there….
Thanks again…
Alex K.
Once you get ahold of an Ultimatte head (as Alek recommended), you'll still
need an IPAS routine to convert the motion data over to camera data. You can
write one yourself, if you're familiar with the math, or you can talk to Gus
Grubba (he frequents the forum) about what he's already got.
– G
Not only that. The Memory Head is only for rotation, pitch yaw etc. But you
still need the linear tracking information (dolly shots) and angular
information of every joint in the case of a crane shot. The solution so far
seems to be a full motion control system such as Kuper Control. The problem is
not so much camera movement but camera location, and it is trickier than it
sounds. If you are not using a motion control setup the establishing the
location of the optical center of the lens (whis is what you need) on a frame
per frame basis is almost impossible with current positioning systems, The
magnetic ones get thrown off by the metal body of the camera gear, optical
systems are quite imprecise etc. We are working on a complex system which
involves gravimetric accelerators and precison gyroscopes to triangulate the
position of the nodal poin. So far quite frustrating but getting closer. This
is to use in case the camera is placed in a non-motion controlled gear.
Arturo
You're doing very useful work! Please let us know how it turns out.
– G
Hi Nathan, this is Arturo (yeah, that one) I just happen to be working on the
same problem, I am capturing motion control data from a camera track and will
be applying a specially built routine to drive the 3DS camera. There are quite
a few steps in between. You can talk to me at 415 750 0294 if you want more
details. How is Salt Lake City?
Talk to you soon