The Art and Technique of Matchmoving : Solutions for the VFX Artist

Matchmoving has become a standard visual effects procedure for almost every situation where live action materials and CG get combined. It allows virtual and real scenes that have been composited together to seamlessly appear as though they are from the same perspective. This authoritative step-by-step guide from one of the best matchmovers in the business allows you to master this technique that has been called the foundation upon which all VFX work stands. Author Erica Hornung (sr. matchmover for Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Matrix: Revolutions, and more) imparts her techniques, tips, and wisdom from the trenches that will have you matchmoving like a true professional in no time. Lessons in the most popular matchmoving software (Maya, Boujou, and others) are included, as well as tips and techniques for surveying on set, dolly moves, and operating nodal cameras. Individual chapters dedicated to object and character matchmoves show you how to matchmove for shadow casting, adding weapons and other objects, focusing on center of gravity, as well as complete CG character support.The companion DVD includes Quicktime examples of techniques shown in the book, as well as project files that allow you to master these techniques yourself by working alongside the lessons featured in the text.\* Master the foundational VFX technique of matchmoving with tips, techniques, tools, and workflow considerations from a seasoned professional \* Companion DVD includes media project files for you to work along with the lessons in the text \* Your guide for when automated tracking solutions fail, the book includes in-depth lessons on methods of set construction w/out set data, as well as rotomation and non-automated techniques Customers please note that files on the DVD/CD that accompany the print version of this book are NOT available when you buy the Kindle or other electronic versions of the book. Cover Page ......Page 1 Outline placeholder......Page 0 Copyright ......Page 3 Dedication......Page 4 Thanks......Page 5 Foreword......Page 7 ``So, Wait a Minute . . . . What Do You Do, Exactly? ́ ́......Page 9 Planning......Page 13 Gathering Data......Page 14 Building Assets......Page 15 Attacking the Shot......Page 16 So What Are the Variables You Feed the Camera?......Page 17 Okay, but How Is That Done?......Page 18 Camera Tracking......Page 20 Surveyed Matchmoves......Page 21 Surveyless Matchmoves......Page 22 Object Matchmove......Page 24 Other Uses......Page 25 Bibliography......Page 26 How Movies Get Made: What You Need to Know About It, and Why......Page 27 Lens......Page 28 Focal Length......Page 29 Depth of Field......Page 32 Rack Focus......Page 33 FX Animation Interaction......Page 34 Motion Blur......Page 37 Information Gathering On Set......Page 38 Greenscreen Markers......Page 40 Where Is It?......Page 41 Notes, Notes, Notes......Page 43 The Graphics Pipeline: An Overview......Page 45 Software......Page 46 Character Animation......Page 47 Models and Modelers......Page 48 Read the Notes from Set......Page 49 Importing Models, Creating Cameras......Page 50 Creating the Camera......Page 51 Publishing......Page 53 Reference......Page 55 You Know More Than You Think You Do......Page 56 Where to Start?......Page 57 The Web is Your Friend......Page 58 Google Maps......Page 59 Walk Cycle......Page 99 Building the Set......Page 63 Creating the Camera......Page 69 Not so Fast. We Need to Create a Camera for Our Scene!......Page 70 Lining Up the Shot......Page 72 It's a Brave New Digital World......Page 80 What Makes Video Plates So Different?......Page 82 Review the Information......Page 172 We're in Luck......Page 83 Method 3......Page 84 Find the Handoff Areas......Page 144 And Now, the Results......Page 85 Refining the Translations......Page 186 Method 2:......Page 86 Method 3:......Page 87 Lockoff Shots......Page 90 Color-Correct Your Plates......Page 130 Whip Pans......Page 98 Steadicam and Handheld Shots......Page 100 Shadows, Reflections, and Other Lighting Interactions......Page 101 But All of this Sounds Crazy Complicated - How Do I Even Start?......Page 102 Determine What Needs to Be Done......Page 104 Review Your Information......Page 105 Color Correcting Your Plates: A How-To Guide......Page 107 Color-Correction Filters......Page 108 Which Comes First?......Page 113 Getting Fancy: Swapping Channels......Page 114 Model Your Set......Page 117 First Frame Lineup......Page 118 2D Track......Page 120 Survey Constraints......Page 121 3D Solve......Page 122 Does It Make Sense?......Page 124 Determine What Needs to Be Done......Page 128 Set Up the Scene......Page 131 2D Track......Page 132 3D Solve......Page 133 Survey Constraints......Page 151 Evaluation......Page 138 Wireframe......Page 139 Where Does My Rig Come From?......Page 199 Turn......Page 140 Determine What Needs to Be Done......Page 142 Review Your Information......Page 143 Set Up the Shot......Page 173 3D Solve......Page 153 Handoff......Page 158 Adding Guestimate Geometry......Page 162 Evaluation......Page 167 Real-Life Shot: Handheld Camera......Page 169 Determine What Needs to Be Done......Page 170 2D Tracking......Page 174 Z Rotation......Page 182 Refining X and Y Rotation......Page 184 X Translation Drift......Page 190 Z Translation Hitch......Page 192 One-Point Solve......Page 193 Character Rotomation Considered......Page 196 Face, Clothing, Body Replacements, or Additions......Page 198 Is It Good for Anything Special?......Page 223 What Should I Do If I Can't Find a Rig?......Page 200 Great, I Got a Rig. And I'm Scared......Page 201 Rotomation First Pass: Animating Large to Small......Page 202 How to Watch Your Shot......Page 203 Don't Break Your Character......Page 207 Do Act It Out......Page 208 Which Channels to Key and When to Key Them......Page 209 Finding the Next Set of Keyframes......Page 211 Set, Delete, Set......Page 212 Animating Constraints On and Off......Page 213 Getting to Know You......Page 214 Let's Meet Our Rig......Page 215 Where Is It?......Page 222 What Can It Mess Up?......Page 224 Tell Me More!......Page 225 Tell Me More!......Page 227 What's It Do?......Page 228 Tell Me More!......Page 229 What's It Do?......Page 233 Tell Me More!......Page 234 Tell Me More!......Page 235 Tell Me More!......Page 239 What Can It Mess Up?......Page 240 Tell Me More!......Page 241 When this Would Be Useful......Page 244 Where Is It?......Page 245 Tell Me More!......Page 246 Where Is It?......Page 248 Tell Me More!......Page 249 Tell Me More!......Page 251 Pivot Control......Page 253 What Can It Mess Up?......Page 255 Tell Me More!......Page 256 Overall Finger Controls......Page 258 You're Almost Ready to Start......Page 266 Next Up......Page 267 Real-Life Shot: Character and Object Rotomation......Page 268 Determine What Needs to Be Done......Page 269 Set Up the Shot......Page 270 Breaking Down the Clip......Page 272 First Foot Plant......Page 273 Pass Through......Page 274 Second Foot Plant......Page 275 Second Pass Through......Page 276 Sitting Down......Page 278 Hip Close Up......Page 280 First-Pass Rotomation: Walking......Page 283 Second Step......Page 284 Incremental Spine Manipulation......Page 285 First-Pass Rotomation: Turning......Page 286 First-Pass Rotomation: Sitting......Page 290 The Wrongest Frame......Page 293 To Track in Software or Animate by Hand?......Page 294 Constraining the Prop Cup......Page 297 Point and Orient Constraints......Page 298 Parent Constraints and Parenting Offsets......Page 299 Animating the Cup Trajectory......Page 302 Keeping Track of Cylindrical Spinning......Page 303 First Pass Over the Pool......Page 304 Finishing Up......Page 309 Index......Page 310 Matchmoving se ha convertido en un estándar de efectos visuales procedimiento para casi todas las situaciones donde la acción en vivo materiales y CG se combinan. Permite virtual y lo real escenas que han sido mezclados juntos a la perfección aparecen como si fueran de la misma perspectiva. este autorizada paso a paso guía de uno de los mejores matchmovers en el negocio le permite dominar este técnica que se ha llamado el fundamento sobre el cual todo el trabajo de efectos visuales en pie. Autor Erica Hornung (Sr. matchmover El Señor de los Anillos: Las Dos Torres, Matrix: Revoluciones, y más) imparte sus técnicas, consejos y la sabiduría de las trincheras que tendrán que matchmoving como un verdadero profesional en muy poco tiempo. Lecciones de los más populares matchmoving software (Maya, boujou, y otros) incluidos, así como consejos y técnicas para realizar levantamientos en establecido, se mueve Dolly, y el manejo de cámaras nodales. individual capítulos dedicados a matchmoves objeto y el carácter de muestra cómo matchmove para la proyección de sombras, añadiendo las armas y otros objetos, centrándose en el centro de gravedad, así como el apoyo completo de personajes por ordenador. El DVD adjunto incluye ejemplos de Quicktime técnicas se muestran en la libro, así como los archivos de los proyectos que le permiten dominar usted mismo estas técnicas de trabajo junto con las lecciones aparece en el texto. * Maestro de la fundacional VFX técnica de matchmoving con consejos, técnicas, herramientas, y consideraciones de flujo de trabajo de un profesional con experiencia * Compañero de DVD incluye los archivos de los medios de comunicación del proyecto para que pueda trabajar junto con las lecciones en el texto * Su guía para saber cuándo soluciones automatizadas de seguimiento no, el libro incluye en lecciones en profundidad sobre los métodos de construcción conjunto w / out conjunto datos, así como técnicas rotomation y no automatizada Matchmoving has become a standard visual effects procedure for almost every situation where live action materials and CG get combined. It allows virtual and real scenes that have been composited together to seamlessly appear as though they are from the same perspective. This authoritative step-by-step guide from one of the best matchmovers in the business allows you to master this technique that has been called the foundation upon which all VFX work stands. Author Erica Hornung (sr. matchmover for Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Matrix: Revolutions, and more) imparts her techniques, tips, and wisdom from the trenches that will have you matchmoving like a true professional in no time. Lessons in the most popular matchmoving software (Maya, Boujou, and others) are included, as well as tips and techniques for surveying on set, dolly moves, and operating nodal cameras. Individual chapters dedicated to object and character matchmoves show you how to matchmove for shadow casting, adding weapons and other objects, focusing on center of gravity, as well as complete CG character support. The companion DVD includes Quicktime examples of techniques shown in the book, as well as project files that allow you to master these techniques yourself by working alongside the lessons featured in the text. * Master the foundational VFX technique of matchmoving with tips, techniques, tools, and workflow considerations from a seasoned professional * Companion DVD includes media project files for you to work along with the lessons in the text * Your guide for when automated tracking solutions fail, the book includes in-depth lessons on methods of set construction w/out set data, as well as rotomation and non-automated techniques Customers please note that files on the DVD/CD that accompany the print version of this book are NOT available when you buy the Kindle or other electronic versions of the book. Matchmoving has become a standard visual effects procedure for almost every situation where live action materials and CG get combined. It allows virtual and real scenes that have been composited together to seamlessly appear as though they are from the same perspective. This authoritative step-by-step guide from one of the best matchmovers in the business allows you to master this technique that has been called the foundation upon which all VFX work stands. Author Erica Hornung (sr. matchmover for Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Matrix: Revolutions, and more) imparts her techniques, tips, and wisdom from the trenches that will have you matchmoving like a true professional in no time. Lessons in the most popular matchmoving software (Maya, Boujou, and others) are included, as well as tips and techniques for surveying on set, dolly moves, and operating nodal cameras. Individual chapters dedicated to object and character matchmoves show you how to matchmove for shadow casting, adding weapons and other objects, focusing on center of gravity, as well as complete CG character support. The companion DVD includes Quicktime examples of techniques shown in the book, as well as project files that allow you to master these techniques yourself by working alongside the lessons featured in the text. * Master the foundational VFX technique of matchmoving with tips, techniques, tools, and workflow considerations from a seasoned professional * Companion DVD includes media project files for you to work along with the lessons in the text * Your guide for when automated tracking solutions fail, the book includes in-depth lessons on methods of set construction w/out set data, as well as rotomation and non-automated techniques-- Source other than Library of Congress Matchmoving has become a standard visual effects procedure for almost every situation where live action materials and CG get combined. It allows virtual and real scenes that have been composited together to seamlessly appear as though they are from the same perspective. This authoritative step-by-step guide from one of the best matchmovers in the business allows you to master this technique that has been called the foundation upon which all VFX work stands. Author Erica Hornung (sr. matchmover for Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Matrix: Revolutions, and more) imparts her techniques, tips, and wisdom from the trenches that will have you matchmoving like a true professional in no time.

Lessons in the most popular matchmoving software (Maya, Boujou, and others) are included, as well as tips and techniques for surveying on set, dolly moves, and operating nodal cameras. Individual chapters dedicated to object and character matchmoves show you how to matchmove for shadow casting, adding weapons and other objects, focusing on center of gravity, as well as complete CG character support.

The companion DVD includes Quicktime examples of techniques shown in the book, as well as project files that allow you to master these techniques yourself by working alongside the lessons featured in the text.
Matchmoving has become a standard visual effects procedure for almost every situation where live action materials and CG get combined. It allows virtual and real scenes that have been composited together to seamlessly appear as though they are from the same perspective. This authoritative step-by-step guide from one of the best matchmovers in the business allows you to master this technique that has been called the foundation upon which all VFX work stands. Author Erica Hornung (sr. matchmover for Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Matrix: Revolutions, and more) imparts her techniques, tips, and wisdom from the trenches that will have you matchmoving like a true professional in no time. Lessons in the most popular matchmoving software (Maya, Boujou, and others) are included, as well as tips and techniques for surveying on set, dolly moves, and operating nodal cameras. Individual chapters dedicated to object and character matchmoves show you how to matchmove for shadow casting, adding weapons and other objects, focusing on center of gravity, as well as complete CG character support.The downloadable resources include Quicktime examples of techniques shown in the book, as well as project files that allow you to master these techniques yourself by working alongside the lessons featured in the text.