Kuper - Dues - importing

[Adam H. Stewart]

Sorry to bother you all with this again, but post shoot I have all this Kuper data that I am trying to import into 3ds and it has imformation that my plug-in ( I am using the one from davidgould DgMotionControl 1.0, it is for 3ds5 the only other one I could find on script spot was for 3ds 3 !!) does not understand. I never thought it would be easy but never expected it to be this difficult.

The DP gave me a group of conversion numbers to use with the lens and the Kuper information i.e. 6mm = 16.158 / 8mm = 29.912 , this is so I can convert the Zoom data for the lens I am using

I put in a hundred tracking markers for just such a scenario, but the producer wants to push ahead with the Kuper stuff, so if anybody knows of an expert or software to get my data into 3ds or Maya I would be most grateful.

Thanks Again

[vance3d]

could you post a data file? I could see if a moco interpreter I have will work with it or if it can be modified to work.

V Miller

[Adam H. Stewart]

Sample files

http://home.ripway.com/2005-9/420715/BOOK1X4.ASC

Please find above a link to an unaltered file. I have managed to get it to partially work with the DgMotionControl Plug-in by altering the following data.

1. I changed the case on the file extension - all lower case
2. I changed the case on Focus heading to all upper case.
3. I deleted the Zoom and Editbits data streams.

The motion on my test looked pretty good but didn't get any footage in until today so couldn't test anything. In addition without the Zoom data working the shot doesn't make a hell of alot of sense.

The lens we used was a HD Fujinon Lens and the DP gave me the following conversion chart:

mm value(Zoom)
4.5 0
6 16.158
8 29.912
10 38.946
15 53.612
20 63.718
30 77.776
40 87.642
50 94.571
59 100.00

Now you know as much as me. Unfortunately I cannot show you any of the footage or talk about the project (Under serious NDA) but if you think you can help we can get the producer involved talk about $$$$, and get you to sign the NDA.

Thanks a million.

[vance3d]

adam,

do you know what the units for the values for vew, vns, and track are?

vance

[Adam H. Stewart]

I will check

I will double check but I was presuming it was inches - pretty dumb of me to make that assumption - I'll be on the phone to the camera guy today and will ask him.

Thanks for helping

[Adam H. Stewart]

Plan B

Thanks a million for all your help Vance but - the producer has decided to go to a Maya guy to get this Kuper thing figured out. He was recommended by Studio G the place we did the motion control shoot. I have been going bleery eyed trying things on my end and I am really grateful for you Vance.

Hopefully this guy as the answer - it is truely a black art.

We are doing parallel tracking tests with Pixel track by Pixel Farm (Still on Demo at $6,000 we won't be rushing into that one) and Synth Eyes.

I'll be glad to get to some 3D for a change this stuff has my head wrecked

[vance3d]

thats too bad that your going to a maya guy. I think I was making some good headway but of course without know what the scene was supposed to look like I can't be sure.

good luck!

Vance Miller

[Adam H. Stewart]

Maya blues

People here seem to think that Maya is the be all and end all. I spent 6 months in a Maya training course and I do as little as possible in the programme I think it's mostly hype.

It wasn't my preference to go the Maya route, but the motion control guys recommended this CG artist and we are hoping to bounce the ball back to them as some of the data streams don't seem to match the shots they gave us in length. If we go to their guy and it doesn't work, we can blame them.

I did find out yesterday that the data is in inches. My brother (works at the same company) has been spearheading pixelfarm tracking and got a pretty damn good track yesterday, I have been working with synthEyes but haven't had too much luck. There is a chance that we won't use the Kuper data at all ( I think it was your advice to plan for this eventuality, I forced them to do a tracking pass of each shot ) there just seem to be too many variables with lenses and camera rotations.

Again I thank you sincerely for your time and will keep you updated of the progress, if there was a way to sneak you footage bypassing the producer I would do it, but I know that if I try to get you officially involved it is going to be a red-tape nightmare (it is such a joke because if you saw the shot you would crack up laughing it is so simple and generic).

Once again thanks a million for your help.