MoCap testing - quick update
by Mike Large · 09/05/2010 (12:55 pm) · 10 comments
Our MoCap experiments with the markerless offering from ipisoft continued yesterday with mixed results - our fault, not ipisofts.
A quick recap...
The system requires that you calibrate it with a bright omnidirectional light source in your hands before you attempt to capture anything.
When we first tried a couple of weeks back our handheld light wasn't bright enough and it wasn't omnidirectional enough, plus the light in the room we chose to experiment in was too bright and there were too many reflections coming from a too cluttered background.
The software was confused and we got some odd (but promising) results.
The latest then... yesterday the planets and peoples personal schedules magically aligned and we switched rooms and tried again with a better hand held lightsource and an environment with more controllable lighting.
Calibration was a breeze. The software picked up and tracked the torch no problem whatsoever.
However (there's always a however isn't there) in this new locale we couldn't get a wide enough arc on the camera placements around the area we were going to MoCap in and couldn't adequately get cameras round the side of the performance area, so once again no dice.
There was one slight "comedy" moment... when reviewing the first batch of footage it became rapidly apparent that I was wearing a green T-Shirt and we had a big blank green wall behind me ...so about 50% of my body just kind of disappeared on the playback footage *cough*.
Honestly, I've not seen anything from the software to make me believe that it isn't going to work in an ideal setting.
In fact, even with our half baked time and space restricted attempts, there's been a couple of genuine "omg" moments when we've been reviewing capture data and seen just what this system could be capable of, if only for a brief flash.
So... I've taken the plunge and booked out the local village hall for the 10th of October (that's when the next planetary alignment occurs, an eerie stillness falls about the creatures of the wood and all of EiKON can be in the same place, at the same time ...and the hall has no wedding receptions, rotary club banquets or horticultural society bring and buy sales.
We've got the place for the whole day, its a huge hall and we're going to setup the rig with a nice wide arc with controllable lighting and, bringing with us the omni-directional Maglight torch of ages, We. Will. MoCap!!.
More soon....
A quick recap...
The system requires that you calibrate it with a bright omnidirectional light source in your hands before you attempt to capture anything.
When we first tried a couple of weeks back our handheld light wasn't bright enough and it wasn't omnidirectional enough, plus the light in the room we chose to experiment in was too bright and there were too many reflections coming from a too cluttered background.
The software was confused and we got some odd (but promising) results.
The latest then... yesterday the planets and peoples personal schedules magically aligned and we switched rooms and tried again with a better hand held lightsource and an environment with more controllable lighting.
Calibration was a breeze. The software picked up and tracked the torch no problem whatsoever.
However (there's always a however isn't there) in this new locale we couldn't get a wide enough arc on the camera placements around the area we were going to MoCap in and couldn't adequately get cameras round the side of the performance area, so once again no dice.
There was one slight "comedy" moment... when reviewing the first batch of footage it became rapidly apparent that I was wearing a green T-Shirt and we had a big blank green wall behind me ...so about 50% of my body just kind of disappeared on the playback footage *cough*.
Honestly, I've not seen anything from the software to make me believe that it isn't going to work in an ideal setting.
In fact, even with our half baked time and space restricted attempts, there's been a couple of genuine "omg" moments when we've been reviewing capture data and seen just what this system could be capable of, if only for a brief flash.
So... I've taken the plunge and booked out the local village hall for the 10th of October (that's when the next planetary alignment occurs, an eerie stillness falls about the creatures of the wood and all of EiKON can be in the same place, at the same time ...and the hall has no wedding receptions, rotary club banquets or horticultural society bring and buy sales.
We've got the place for the whole day, its a huge hall and we're going to setup the rig with a nice wide arc with controllable lighting and, bringing with us the omni-directional Maglight torch of ages, We. Will. MoCap!!.
More soon....
About the author
Formed in 2005, EiKON Games is an indie games development project based in the UK working on the tactical first person shooter "Epoch: Incursion". See the Join Us or Contact Us pages at http://www.eikon-games.com/
#2
And yeah ... there's a reason people don't wear green on green screens :P
09/05/2010 (3:35 pm)
Nice fireplace. I love dark marble. :)And yeah ... there's a reason people don't wear green on green screens :P
#3
09/06/2010 (11:40 am)
Really enjoying this blog Mike..... 8) 
#4
Awesome update and very cool stuff looking forward to more!
09/06/2010 (5:35 pm)
@Mike I do believe I was promised and I quote "vids of overweight devs trying to do special ops type moves and "dancing" "Awesome update and very cool stuff looking forward to more!
#5
October 10th ...a certain individual is scheduled to humiliate himself in front of 5 video cameras, at least 1 stills camera, his wife and his peers.
Armed only with a toy gun and a check sheet of required moves.
I'm under no illusions whatsoever that Andy@Eikon is going to let me get away with not having something soul shatteringly embarrassing posted into these hallowed pages.
09/06/2010 (5:50 pm)
LOL ...damn your memory, Sir. October 10th ...a certain individual is scheduled to humiliate himself in front of 5 video cameras, at least 1 stills camera, his wife and his peers.
Armed only with a toy gun and a check sheet of required moves.
I'm under no illusions whatsoever that Andy@Eikon is going to let me get away with not having something soul shatteringly embarrassing posted into these hallowed pages.
#6
09/09/2010 (2:43 pm)
Ahh happiness through others pain :) Good times and keep up the great work! 
#7
Congrats on the Ipisoft, looking forward to checking out your progress!
09/14/2010 (2:47 pm)
Ha! I challenge you, Mike, to do your most soul shatteringly embarrassing moves on camera... and then go put on a suit of black spandex and do them again! At least you're markerless. :-) Congrats on the Ipisoft, looking forward to checking out your progress!
#8
09/14/2010 (4:26 pm)
Ha! ...I wouldn't hold your breath ;)
#9
09/14/2010 (6:13 pm)
nah, holding your breath makes you look fat. :-)
#10
09/14/2010 (6:44 pm)
...its shoving pies in my face that has done that :) 
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