Real Fireworks Exported Badly

Footage from Hogmany in Edinburgh 2009 which I am hoping to use for the final shot, really like the idea of using the last section and fading to black, seems like a good end to the film. The only downside is it was taken on a not so great camera so rather grainy and I have spent far too much time already trying to convert it using various free encoding programs... getting there and hopefully with all the black this can be tweaked and re-grained in NUKE. It will be a challenge anyway..

Maya Explosions

I have been having some fun reworking the fireworks for use as reflections on the glass. After several experiments and re-watching the live-action footage I've decided to cut back the number of colours used in the particle simulation and render them out on several layers so that I can colour corrrect, layer and blur the reflections to a ridiculous degree in post. Initially the new fireworks tests were not working (settings on Fireworks sparks spread and max tail size were inappropriately large):

After tweaking the settings I created some tests with three different Firework emitters, each one set to a different number of rockets, starting point, co-ordinates and colours. Although I like the distribution and angle in this front view test I want to use less colours. There is also a strange glitch near the end which I will have to go back and fix. I've added one video from the front and another from the side:

 

The next step is to test the reflections of the fireworks so I had to create some geometry and instance the particles onto it, otherwise there wouldn't be any reflections and therefore no point in the Maya fireworks at all.

Production Bible

I've been meaning to start this for a while. Although not an essential requirement for the course I think it will help to explain my development in a more tactile way than the blog, will act as a good supplement to my portfolio and will help me to collect my thoughts. It will take a bit of time to complete but is something I can do a bit of each night/ while things are rendering and should be useful/ worth it.

Playblasts

So for the two full CG shots I have been trying to set up the camera moves. I need them to match the pace of some of the real footage (ie rather slow and a bit static) but being in 3D I also wanted to take advantage of the cameras dynamic ability. Initially I experimented with wide angle lenses however when played alongside the actual footage it looked distinctly odd. The two shots below (taken as play-blasts straight from Maya) are the current compromise...

Render Layers 01

I've set up the render layers in the two scene files which will allow me to get some test renders on before Dylan's tutorials on Thursday. The aim is to have at least a basic composition worked out before then and use the workshops as a way of fine tuning what I have. After discussions with animators in the studio I decided on using a shadow and not a shadow raw pass as it can be tricker to composite and apparently may not render out as successfully as one would like. I hope this will be enough passes though I am still swithering about putting the glass onto a separate layer altogether for enhanced adjustment to reflections and refraction but hope to use this week to test this. Also by setting up the base scenes when I save the separate shot files the layers will already be set up potentially saving me some time in the future. 

Colour Correction First Attempt

This is my first ever attempt to use NUKE for correcting the colour on a piece of footage so bear with it. After watching several tutorials on digital tutors below is a video documenting how I have layered up the first attempt. I chose the bridge shot because the footage was incredibly dark and one of the trickiest shots I have to correct and if I can correct this one then the others will be easier. When the CG elements are added, edgeblur, lightwrap and grain will be added to the composition but this is an attempt to create a base upon which to work. I have included a screenshot of the node tree so far and would appreciate feedback if anyone thinks something is missing. In any case its a great relief to be back in NUKE and away from Maya. 

Updates, Schedules and Charts...Oh My

On Thursday I had a really productive chat with Dylan. It was well timed as with only 4 weeks to go I can feel the stress setting in which is not enjoyable. Still in a month it’ll be over. I decided to create a new schedule/ plan of action based on the time left which will enable me to hopefully have more peace of mind and work in some much needed time off. Its a bit of a beast but a lot of the tasks can be done quickly. 

In other news it was also decided that the external lighting is working well and it is only the external looking in shot which requires the most modification. Dylan has arranged a full day of workshops next Thursday which will also hopefully help with the final compositing stages etc and overall I’m feeling a bit more confident in knowing what I have to do. 

Fireworks Tests

So with 4.5 weeks to go there will soon be many things to celebrate, in the short term I know at least one thing which makes me happy and will be spending time with him soon, also its the 4th of July so for my American friends its an appropriate post! 


This test is an attempt to supplement the footage of fireworks I have and to act as 3D reflections which I can adjust on the building in Maya. These are some basic tests from maya using the particles firework effects which I have then doctored in After Effects. Not quite there yet but more tests soon will follow but as a basic starting point its been fun so far.


The basic:

The tweaked with blur and glow then a scatterize and directional blur (not always 100% successful):

and the bizzare (I created this by mistake and kinda like it but have absolutely no use for it) : 

Lights, Renders, Setbacks

So while I was waiting for files to transfer over from my laptop to the university network, I cracked on with trying to develop the lighting. So mixture of old and new textures coupled with some slight lighting changes. Im pretty happy with how the external is looking however the external shot looking in will be tricky to set to up and so far I have no idea really what I am doing with the lighting. More online tutorials it is. This in not really helped by the fact that testing is limited to university hours/ computers as my laptop is painfully slow at rendering tests. Still there is enough rotoscoping to get on with in the meantime! 

Story telling

Fellow course-mate Ines asked me if I would be willing to record a vocal reading of her script as her masters project is exploring the role of animation in traditional storytelling. It was a fun thing to do and a welcome break from all the 3D and rotoscoping issues I've been having, was so nice to be back involved in a more traditional arty animation for children. Sadly no images but a scary recording of her script is below. Also please check out and comment on her blog and work here. 

 

                                          

Roto Problems

Having watched back Felix's excellent roto work I realised that some of the work had been done using footage which had been exported at 30 frames a second rather than 25 or by using the individual frames themselves so the whole sequence is 20 frames out. After trying all night to fix some of the issues in nuke its looking like a huge job due to the fact that the people have to be rotoscoped frame by frame. Although the footage is going too fast, it is really only one man in the foreground who is walking quickly. A quick chat with Lucy and Felix ensued and the current decision is to ask around but if a solution cannot be found then to leave it as it is and come back to it time allowing. Its frustrating but sometimes these things happen and its probably best to move on to something which has not been worked on yet. Any solutions you guys can think of however would be appreciated. 


The roto-scoped file:

The actual video speed:

One lump or two...

Morning drama is happening far too often these days for my liking. The solution is apparently a well made cup of coffee * (and keeping a phone off before 11am).

* Pixies mug optional

Rotoscoping Assistance From Felix

Excellent work from Felix who has completed the rotoscoping on the bridge shot. Its been a great help having him involved in this shot and I am very grateful to him. Please also look at his blog here. 

Close Up Textures Revised

Much better.

External Variations

For some of the larger areas such as the train tracks and the side towers, it was clear that some of the textures had been repeated. To avoid such obvious repetition, I updated the maps with several variations. Subtle but makes the difference I feel. 


Side Towers Update:

Train tracks with fixed stretching, extra textures and updated variations: