I wasn’t too happy with the durability and ease of use of the first build (you can see that here: http://www.galiwango.com/2012/11/05/custom-head-mounted-camera-rig-for-facial-performance-capture/), so I made some adjustments. I went to the Dollar store and purchased 4 lights, each $1 Dollar, I also visited Staples and purchase a $24 dollar Smart Phone Car holder (total expenditure $28 Dollars.)
Below are the steps I took to upgrade the part that holds the Camera that points towards the Face.
This is a collection of Panoramic Photos I took during a field trip with my kids to learn about the history of flight, and to check out the famous Black Bird featured in Transformers 3, as a Decepticon. They totally loved the experience. The Smithsonian Institution did an awesome job of blending the Transformers Movie theme with the real spy plane. I have also added some still photos that I found rather fascinating.
NOTE: To view the Panorama, simply place your mouse over the photo and move the Cursor either left or right to see the rest of the wide angle image. Click on the Image to View a Larger Version
Space Shuttle Discovery ~ Panorama (Please Credit me if you wish to use this photo)
Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States,[4] and was operational from its maiden flight, STS-41-D on August 30, 1984, until its final landing during STS-133 on March 9, 2011. Discovery has flown more than any other spacecraft having completed 39 successful missions in over 27 years of service.
Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” ~ Panorama (Please Credit me if you wish to use this photo)
The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft.[1] It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by Lockheed and its Skunk Works division. Clarence “Kelly” Johnson was responsible for many of the design’s innovative concepts. During reconnaissance missions the SR-71 operated at high speeds and altitudes to allow it to outrace threats.
Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” ~ Still Photo, Non-Panorama (Please Credit me if you wish to use this photo)
Here is a new Concept character I drew during my 3D animation break. I needed a break from staring at the screen, so I grabbed my pencils and sketchbook, and drew away. I will be refining him and coloring him when I get a breather, and hopefully create a 3D model of him.
Detailing. I am using colored pencils for the initial stage.
Here is another Octane test of a BMW I did using 3DS Max. I used Octane’s built in Daylight system for the lighting. The average render for each frame set at 1280×720 at 30fps, was 1:29 minutes (I minute and 29 Seconds) I am using a Geforce GT 640 graphics card for the real-time render ~ the Card has 2GB of graphics Ram.
Here is another Octane test I did using 3DS Max. This scene has no lights, all the lighting information is gathered from the Environment Map, which is set as a Texture Environment in the Octane Render settings. All the maps have also been converted from standard Mental Ray Maps to Octane maps. I used a combination of Specular and Diffuse maps. The reflections are captured nicely, I am so loving these Shaders and the built in Ambient Occlusion mode.
This is the finished Render
Here is the Wireframe of the Scene inside of 3DS Max.
This is a scene I set up in 3DS Max 2013, and rendered with the Octane 1.0 realtime renderer from OTOY. I am amazed at how much real time render engines are improving. I used one single daylight, light, and made some edits to the maps; Octane offers a button to convert all the textures in a scene to Octane compatible shaders, but some slots are not taken into consideration so I had to add the texture maps for the Specular slot and normal map slot. I am impressed by the results.
Here is the real time render from Octane:
This is another shot from a different camera:
Here is the wireframe of the scene in 3DS Max 2013.
A shout to my friends at Faceware Technologies and Image Metrics for their contribution to the Facial Performance capture for the soldier characters in Crysis 3.
Check out this video interview, you can see the head mounted cams being used, which are products made by Faceware Technologies (http://www.facewaretech.com), powered by Image Metrics. Clearly the whole process is a challenge for the Actors to adapt to but seeing the results, the effort is well worth it, just as Avatar proved in terms of facial performance capture.
Film and TV actor David Kennedy who currently plays the character Michael ‘Psycho’ Sykes in Crysis 3 speaks to Matt Cuttle about acting in the ‘volume’ — the space in which the motion capture is recorded.
Unique to acting in a first-person game is that the actor playing the main character Prophet acts as the camera as he interacts with fellow actors. The actors perform around markers and scaffold poles and use storyboards and mock-ups for reference and speak to the director to help them understand the environment.
David quotes Crysis 3 director Steven Bender when he says that actors will still be integral to movies and video games as they raise the bar when performances are captured for animation in films such as Avatar.
This particular session was recorded at Teddington Studios.
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Suit Up: The Crysis 3 Multiplayer Open Beta begins January 29, 2013 for PC, Xbox360 and PS3!
The Crysis 3 Multiplayer Beta will give you just a taste of the full multiplayer experience by offering a preview of the Hunter Mode and Crash Site game modes. Become the Hunter and choose your load-out, tactics, and Nanosuit upgrades carefully — or else you may become the hunted! Crysis 3 Multiplayer supports up to 16 players on PC and 12 on consoles. Crysis 3 is available February 19, 2013 on X360, PlayStation 3, and PC.
This is a collection of Video Game Content and Titles that I have worked on as a Storyboard Artist, an FMV Animator, 3D Artist, Environment and Level Designer, Modeling, Texturing and Matte Painter. The titles cover my stint at these Defense contractors and Gaming Studios: Rival Interactive, Cornerstone, SAIC and Camber.
The list Below Includes the US Army’s “Joint Force Employment,” US Army National Guard’s “Guard Force (2), and Simon & Schuster Commercial Releases “Real War” and “Real War Rogue States.” And the most recent one is “Prism the Game” (http://www.prismthegame.com) which is funded by the US Army National Guard as well. There are a couple of other video games I worked on but are classified so I cannot show any images here.
Real War Rogue States intro
Real War Rogue States FMV/Intro
Real War Rogue States FMV/Intro 2
Real War Game Play screen Grab
Here are some Photos from Prism the Game, which is a Rival Interactive Title.
Here is a Prism the Game Poster (You can Download a Print Version here: http://prismthegame.com/downloads.htm)
I Stand Upon this Tower of Thought and Ponder
The Gales of Sweet Caress
In My Minds Forest do Swoosh and Whoosh
Along Floats a Tune of Faint Affection
Growing Stronger as the String gets Longer
If there be Perfection in a Path wrought of Human Affliction
Then Ours has been a Love Trail worth Reflection
I see a Feather glide, afloat a Gust so strong
Tossed and Turned.. whipped and Flipped
I see a Feather Glide, still as light as before
The Ripples Fan out as it Settles upon a Symbol
Of Uncertainty…. Troubled Waters
Stilled by the Very Breath, that set it Upon
Its writhing framework
What do I see … ? A Portrait of Where we Have Been
An Echo of a Long Haul
That My sweetheart, is what Gives me Reason
Day after Day, From Dawn to Dusk,
To Express my Gratitude to the One True Source
Of all Human Supply
The Oracle of my quests
And the Future to our Journey of Love
Glory to Our Heavenly Father!!
That He has Given us Love
And topped it with affection, wrapped with Passion
And sealed it with Total Provision
Is something I bask in Everyday
And Leads me to My knees to thank Him
Ever So, for his Awesome Care and Grace
Even Though Sorrows Be True
I created this 900 frame concept animation render using 3DS Max 2013. I rendered the different scenes using the VRAY renderer. Average render time per frame was about 1 minute and 30 seconds. I used Global Illumination with a spherical map that I created in Vue xStream, to provide the bulk of the lighting. I also added one single VRAY light for the sun direction.
Here are some wire frame renders of the scene, including one with a convoy.
I hope to render the final animation sequence and see how long VRAY takes to complete the 900 frames.
This is the Spherical sky I created in Vue, that served as the ambient light source and sky dome. If you need to download a copy of the sky texture, do let me know in the comments.
Man, the wait is finally over. We finally get a chance to sink our teeth into this much anticipated FPS. The Crysis 3 Beta is now available to play on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. Power up your Nanosuit and test your hunting skills across the Museum and Airport maps in a lush and eerily familiar New York City. Survive the attack or stalk your enemies in the brand new “Hunter Mode” or battle for dominance in the “Volatile Crash Site mode”
To play the Beta: Visit the Crysis Website (Link) ~ DOWNLOAD BETA
Check out this awesome Trailer: The game play looks amazing.
The graphics from the Crytek Engine which powers Crysis, are simply stunning. So if you have a souped up machine, get ready for some insane special effects.
Specializing in Art and Visual Technology | 3D Modeling, Character & Vehicle Animation, Oil & Acrylic Painting, Concept Art and Illustration
