Recording actor's performance - Revision history

Andrew: /* Recommended layout of an action video */

2014-02-18T07:16:46Z

Recommended layout of an action video

VMaslov: /* T-pose */

2013-01-28T09:21:51Z

T-pose

Andrew: /* Recommended layout of an action video */

2012-09-11T08:45:08Z

Recommended layout of an action video

Andrew: /* Recommended layout of an action video */

2012-09-10T10:36:18Z

Recommended layout of an action video

Pavel: /* T-pose */

2012-08-14T12:31:31Z

T-pose

Pavel at 12:30, 14 August 2012

2012-08-14T12:30:51Z

Pavel: /* “No actor at the start of the video” rule */

2012-08-14T12:30:22Z

“No actor at the start of the video” rule

Pavel: /* Recommended layout of an action video */

2012-08-14T12:29:50Z

Recommended layout of an action video

Pavel: /* Recommended layout of an action video */

2012-08-14T12:29:18Z

Recommended layout of an action video

Pavel at 11:57, 13 December 2011

2011-12-13T11:57:11Z

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 <table border="0"><tr>
-<td>[[Image:T-pose.png|400px]]</td>
+<td>[[Image:T-pose.png]]</td>
-<td>[[Image:Action.png|400px]]</td>
+<td>[[Image:Action.png]]</td>
 </tr></table>

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:21, 28 January 2013
Line 13:		Line 13:

	It is preferable to have actor strike a “T-pose” before the actual action. The software will need T-pose for building actor appearance model during tracking. If you make several takes of one actor you do not need to re-record T-pose before each take.		It is preferable to have actor strike a “T-pose” before the actual action. The software will need T-pose for building actor appearance model during tracking. If you make several takes of one actor you do not need to re-record T-pose before each take.
		+
		+	When using the depth sensors, it is recommended to face the palms down, as it corresponds to the default orientation of the model's hand bones.
		+	When using color cameras, it is recommended to face the palms forward, as it helps the software in determining the right color for the model's hands.

	=== Takes ===		=== Takes ===

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 * Action
-[[Image:T-pose.png|320px|Click to enlarge]][[Image:Action.png|320px|Click to enlarge]]
+<table border="0"><tr>
 === T-pose ===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 === Recommended layout of an action video ===
 * Enter the actor.
 * Strike a T-pose.
 * Action
-<!-- [[Image:No_actor.png|320px|Click to enlarge]] -->[[Image:T-pose.png|320px|Click to enlarge]][[Image:Action.png|320px|Click to enlarge]]
+[[Image:T-pose.png|320px|Click to enlarge]][[Image:Action.png|320px|Click to enlarge]]
-<!-- === “No actor at the start of the video” rule ===
-−
-Remember to always record a few seconds without actor in view of cameras in the beginning of each video. This is very important. The software will need to see a couple of seconds of background of your scene (no actor) when processing the video. -->
 === T-pose ===

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 === T-pose ===
-It is preferable to have actor strike a “T-pose” before the actual action. The software will need T-pose for building actor appearance model during tracking.
+It is preferable to have actor strike a “T-pose” before the actual action. The software will need T-pose for building actor appearance model during tracking. If you make several takes of one actor you do not need to re-record T-pose before each take.
 === Takes ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:30, 14 August 2012
Line 7:		Line 7:

	<!-- [[Image:No_actor.png\|320px\|Click to enlarge]] -->[[Image:T-pose.png\|320px\|Click to enlarge]][[Image:Action.png\|320px\|Click to enlarge]]		<!-- [[Image:No_actor.png\|320px\|Click to enlarge]] -->[[Image:T-pose.png\|320px\|Click to enlarge]][[Image:Action.png\|320px\|Click to enlarge]]
−
	<!-- === “No actor at the start of the video” rule ===		<!-- === “No actor at the start of the video” rule ===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== Recommended layout of an action video ==
+=== Recommended layout of an action video ===
 * No actor at the start of the video
@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 [[Image:No_actor.png|320px|Click to enlarge]][[Image:T-pose.png|320px|Click to enlarge]][[Image:Action.png|320px|Click to enlarge]]
-== “No actor at the start of the video” rule ==
+=== “No actor at the start of the video” rule ===
 Remember to always record a few seconds without actor in view of cameras in the beginning of each video. This is very important. The software will need to see a couple of seconds of background of your scene (no actor) when processing the video.
-== T-pose ==
+=== T-pose ===
 It is preferable to have actor strike a “T-pose” before the actual action. The software will need T-pose for building actor appearance model during tracking.
-== Takes ==
+=== Takes ===
 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take Take] is a concept originating from cinematography. In a nutshell, take is a single continuous recorded performance.
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 Usually it is a good idea to record multiple takes of the same motion, because a lot of things can go wrong for purely artistic reasons.
-== Iterations ==
+=== Iterations ===
 A common problem with motion capture is “clipping” in resulting 3D character animation. For example, arms entering the body of animated computer-generated character. Many CG characters have various items and attachments like a bullet-proof vest, a fantasy armor or a helmet. It can be easy for an actor to forget about the shape of the CG model.
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 * Schedule another motion capture session if needed
-== Ian Chisholm's hints on motion capture ==
+=== Ian Chisholm's hints on motion capture ===
 Ian Chisholm is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machinima machinima] director and actor and the creator of critically acclaimed [http://www.clearskiesthemovie.com/ Clear Skies] machinima series. Below are some hints from [http://www.ipisoft.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5421 his motion capture guide] based on his experience with motion capture for Clear Skies III.
-=== Three handy hints for acting out mocap: ===
+==== Three handy hints for acting out mocap: ====
 # Don’t weave and bob around like you’re in a normal conversation – it looks terrible when finally onscreen.  You need to be fairly (but not completely) static when acting.
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 If you have a lot of capture to do, you need to strike a balance between short and long recordings.  Aim for 30 seconds to 2 minutes.  Too long is a pain to work on later due to the fiddlyness of setting up takes, and too short means you are forever setting up T-poses.
-=== Takes ===
+==== Takes ====
 Because motion capture is not a perfect art, and neither is acting, it’s best to perform multiple takes.  I found that three was the best amount for most motion capture.  Take less if it’s a basic move, take more if it’s complex and needs to be more accurate.  It will make life easier for you in the processing stage if you signal the break between takes – I did this by reaching out one arm and holding up fingers to show which take it was.
-=== Naming conventions ===
+==== Naming conventions ====
 As it’s the same actor looking exactly the same each and every time, and there is no sound, and the capture is in lowres 320*200, you really need to name the files very clearly so that you later know which act, scene, character, and line(s) the capture is for.
 My naming convention was based on act, scene, character, page number of the scene, line number, and take number.  You end up with something unpleasant to read like A3S1_JR_P2_L41_t3 but it’s essential when you’ve got 1500 actions to record.