This week’s menu…. ( with more links to come ):
– Thinking about movement and composition on-screen
– History of cinematography ( Man With a Movie Camera (video) – Dziga Vertov ) (Other example clips: ??? )
– Development of motion graphics. ( Video : http://motion-plus-design.com/english/ )
– Expanded Cinema : Gene Youngblood See also: the Cantrills in Australia ( and list of film projects).
– Projection mapping / Thinking about movement and composition in physical spaces / environments.
After Effects
– Applying visual effects
– Colour grading / tinting
– Generating motion graphics from scratch
– Creating masked areas / transparency / shapes.
Exercises
1. Import edited video clip from Week 3, apply visual effects. Experiment with changing these over time. ( Use the stopwatch / key frames function, and animation basics ).
2. Explore colour grading on your videoclip. Try to change the tint of a clip over time.
3. Generate some simple motion graphics that change and move over time. ( shape layers, paths + vector graphics )
4. Masking areas / transparency / keying. ( Alpha channels, masks, and mattes + Compositing and transparency overview and resources )
Introduction to Projection Mapping Software
We will briefly look at various approaches to Projection Mapping and survey the available software.
The most important thing at the moment though, is conceptualising what you would like to project onto your models, and experimenting to see what effect different projected shapes / lines / colours / rhythms etc have on your model.
Three General Approaches:
1. Generate a template image that will cover your object / building exactly, then create all animations based on that template.
2. Geometrically distort your images / video (esp with mapping software) – to match what is being projected onto.
3. Use 3D models and camera views to simulate the object / building being projected onto, and the perspective from the projector. This method is the most complex, but enables the possibility of realistic shadows and lighting effects, by moving a virtual light within the 3D animation, recording this view of the object, then playing back that view as a video file.
Example Mapping Software:
Madmapper (mac) ( Edu-price: € 199 ) The most intuitive, easy to use mapping software. (Bonus feature: spatial scanner)
Visution (mac / PC) (€150 ) Strong features, and can import 3D models (.dae).
Millumin – (mac) – (€599 – but Edu-price available) – Does mapping, sequencing of clips, cue points. Good for theatre shows.
Resolume Arena ( mac/PC) – (Edu-price: €350) A VJ tool for playing and manipulating video clips, also capable of mapping clips to shapes.
VDMX (mac) – (Edu-price: US$199) – A VJ tool for playing and manipulating video clips, also capable of mapping clips to shapes.
VPT (mac / PC ) – ‘a free multipurpose realtime projection software tool for Mac and Windows created by HC Gilje’. Steeper learning curve than the above 2.
VVVV (PC) – Free for students, powerful, but very steep learning curve.
Mesh Warp Server (mac/PC) – Free, can utilise 3D models within workflow.
Touch Designer (PC) – Free for non-commercial work, steep learning curve.
MultiWindowMapper – (PC) – full version being released in Sep.
(See also – Automated spatial detection… Mapamok / spatial scanner function of Madmapper / immersive projections for gaming.)
iPad / iPhone Mapping Apps:
PRSPCTV : “A simple tool for projection mapping. You can map image texture or movie texture to quad surface in real scene.” (+ website) ($3.99)
The Light Art iPAD app: “enables anyone with an iPad and a projector to create their own colorful projection mapped installations. Based on the Sku Lights concept developed by Erick Calderon, Light Art uses basic mapping principles that allow the user to project on a variety of individual surfaces. The visual effect is achieved by projecting exclusively on the desired surface, with the remaining portions of the installation remaining dark.”
((Note – only projects colours, not video content, onto mapped areas. $9.99) (See also: Tagtool )
Painting With Light – “an attempt to create a simple but powerful video mapping software application to enable and encourage artists to experiment with the medium of video projection and video mapping.” (free – mac /PC)
The Projection Central Calculator is great for figuring out how much are coverage a given projector can do.
Upcoming Event:
Proximity @ Arts Centre Aug 15-18, 2013 ( Interactive video projection / dance performance )
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Week 3: Compositing with After Effects
Week 2: Editing With Premiere
Week 1: Visualising Sound