Motion Capture Fundamental concept
2290 Collins


1 What is Motion Capture?

Motion capture, motion tracking, or mocap are terms used to describe the process of recording movement and translating that movement onto a digital model. It is used in military, entertainment, sports, and medical applications. In filmmaking it refers to recording actions of human actors, and using that information to animate digital character models in 2D or 3D computer animation. When it includes face, fingers and captures subtle expressions, it is often referred to as performance capture.

2 Why do we use it?

With the developing of new technology, increasingly movements should be used in video games and movie. So the makers are thirsty of finding a new and convenient measure to capture exact and sophisticated movements or performances and use those in video game or movie. For instance, as everybody know, if we want to make a 3D character move, the producer should make and modify the action frame by frame. Evidently, that is exceedingly tough and time-consuming. Nowadays, if using motion captures technique, it would help the makers save time by improving the efficiency. Besides, the effect is quite cool.

3 Why do we use it in which industry (video example required)?


3D game LILA (Football game)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAMAU01Zm80








3D Movie AVATRA (Movie)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU__ULnPB0k








For my part, using motion capture in those domains is an evolution. Though utilizing that, time has been saved, efficiency is heighten and effect is become improved. In my view, if the makers were able to save time, they would pour more attention to the other more vital process. Otherwise, high-efficiency implies the expense would be declined. Besides, this point is a significant one, the effect improved. Distinctly, unbelievable cool effects are to bring extraordinary strong shacked visible-shocked to the audients. It would catch their eyes and give them deep impression. This is the very reason why mocap should be used in those realms.

4 What is the purpose of a zoetrope + Video example?






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3yarT_h2ws
A zoetrope is a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures.
It consists of a cylinder with slits cut vertically in the sides. Beneath the slits on the inner surface of the cylinder is a band which has either individual frames from a video/film or images from a set of sequenced drawings or photographs. As the cylinder spins the user looks through the slits at the pictures on the opposite side of the cylinder's interior. The scanning of the slits keeps the pictures from simply blurring together so that the user sees a rapid succession of images producing the illusion of motion, the equivalent of a motion picture. Cylindrical zoetropes have the property of causing the images to appear thinner than their actual sizes when viewed in motion through the slits.




5 What is rotoscoping + video example?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z32h-b9-8Qw







Rotoscoping is an animation technique in which animators trace over live-action film movement, frame by frame, for use in animated films.[1] Originally, pre-recorded live-action film images were projected onto a frosted glass panel and re-drawn by an animator. This projection equipment is called a rotoscope, although computers have replaced this device in recent years. In the visual effects industry, the term rotoscoping refers to the technique of manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate so it may be composited over another background.


6 Choose one suits, and talk about?

Suit is costume. For the old movie, it used for make actors and actresses are suiting the ear in movie. For modern time, this suit has heaps of new functions.

7 How does the suit work?

Executive Suite is a game of office politics at the computer company Mighty Microcomputer Corporation. Developed and published by Armonk Corporation for the DOS platform in 1982, the game presents the player with situations and problems, which must be solved by choosing from multiple choices. After a series of questions the game evaluates the player's performance resulting in either a career advancement option or getting fired from the company.


3-5 advantages of using this suit?

More rapid, even real time results can be obtained. In entertainment applications this can reduce the costs of key frame-based animation. For example: Hand Over

The amount of work does not vary with the complexity or length of the performance to the same degree as when using traditional techniques. This allows many tests to be done with different styles or deliveries.

Complex movement and realistic physical interactions such as secondary motions, weight and exchange of forces can be easily recreated in a physically accurate manner.

The amount of animation data that can be produced within a given time is extremely large when compared to traditional animation techniques. This contributes to both cost effectiveness and meeting production deadlines.

Potential for free software and third party solutions reducing its costs.


3-5 disadvantages of using this suit?

Specific hardware and special programs are required to obtain and process the data.
The cost of the software, equipment and personnel required can potentially be prohibitive for small productions.
The capture system may have specific requirements for the space it is operated in, depending on camera field of view or magnetic distortion.
When problems occur it is easier to reshoot the scene rather than trying to manipulate the data. Only a few systems allow real time viewing of the data to decide if the take needs to be redone.
The initial results are limited to what can be performed within the capture volume without extra editing of the data.
Movement that does not follow the laws of physics generally cannot be captured.
Traditional animation techniques, such as added emphasis on anticipation and follow through, secondary motion or manipulating the shape of the character, as with squash and stretch animation techniques, must be added later.
If the computer model has different proportions from the capture subject, artifacts may occur. For example, if a cartoon character has large, over-sized hands, these may intersect the character's body if the human performer is not careful with their physical motion.

Video Example?

Advantage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzAEx6d4ow4






Disadvantage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOk9FatlEhI&feature=PlayList&p=26862DC688C841E7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=30