The Technical Terms in Motion Capture

(Pre - Production, Production, Post Production, Motionprogram is done. When affordable, this is done in a
Capture, Newprofessional edit suite with high quality equipment. If
_A) Pre - ProductionScene: A scene or script is aoff-line editing had been done, the edit decision list
numbered part of a film script, which may be brokenfrom that phase guides the on-line edit process,
down into parts in longshot, medium-shot, close-up,typically minimizing the time and cost in the
etc by the director when shooting. A master scene isprofessional edit suite.Post Production : The phases
a fairly long length of the script, all under one number,of production that occur after the recording, filming,
which the director will certainly break down later. Heor taping. This includes editing, mixing, effects,
or she may, however, take the whole of a masterdubbing, compression, mastering, etc.Render Farm : A
scene first, then shoot closeups of the variousgroup of computers which work together to perform
characters to cut in with this later. In animation thethe computation-intensive tasks of 3-D
basic unit of continuous action, usually shot on one================================D)
background, from which a film is built up.Script: TheMotion CaptureMocap : The process of recording the
detailed scene-by-scene instructions for a film ordata from human movement so that it can be used
television production, including description of settingfor 3D characters created on a computer. Mocap can
and action with dialogue and camera directions. Whenbe used for 3D animations for film, TV and games,
the script also has full details of visuals it is termed aand for special effects work. There are wireless,
'storyboard'.Storyboard: A form of shooting scriptmagnetic motion capture systems, and optical
common for animated films for many years and nowsystems, which track markers attached to the
usually used for commercials, even live-action ones. Itanimator.Performance Capture : The recording of a
consists of a series of sketches showing keyperformance, either human or animal, using a Motion
positions for every scene, with dialogue andCapture system (or similar technology) - difference
descriptive notes below. Still used inbeing that you can motion capture a table, but it is
================================B)cannot give a performance. Special Effects Blue (or
Production2D Animation: The creation of movingGreen)Screen : A system that replaces a specified
pictures in a two-dimensional environment, such ascolour (blue in this case) with images from another
through "traditional" cel animation or in computerizedsource. This can either be done optically (eg. using
animation software. This is done by sequencingfilm) or electronically (eg. in video, also known as
consecutive images, or "frames", that simulate motionChroma-Key in video). Some computer systems look
by each image showing the next in a gradualat pixel in the scene and determine whether to
progression of steps. The eye can be "fooled" intoreplace that pixel with the other video source. Better
perceiving motion when these consecutive imagescomputer systems allow 'some' of the colour of the
are shown at a rate of 24 frames per second orpixel from 1 image and 'some' from another image.
faster. 3DAnimation:The better systems could be take transparent
The creation of moving pictures in aobjects (eg. bottles) or smoke and combine these
three-dimensional digital environment. This is done bywith the images from another source.Chroma-Key :
sequencing consecutive images, or "frames", thatKeying out parts of an image which contain a
simulate motion by each image showing the next in aparticular colour (or colours). Eg. replacing a blue or
gradual progression of steps, filmed by a virtualgreen background with images from another
"camera" and then output to video by a renderingsource.Composite : To combine two or more
engine. The eye can be "fooled" into perceivingindividual images onto one piece of film by
motion when these consecutive images are shown atphotographic or digital means. Early compositing was
a rate of 24 frames per second or faster.Characteraccomplished in the camera by masking part of the
animation: The art of making an animated figurescene when filming, rewinding the film and removing
move like a unique individual; sometimes described asthe matte and shooting again to expose the
acting through drawings. The animator mustpreviously masked portion. Digital compositing is
"understand how the character's personality and bodycommonplace, in which multiple film images are
structure will be reflected in its movements.Characterscanned into the computer, combined digitally, and
model: A sheet of drawings defining the proportions,output to a single piece of film.Motion Control :
shape, clothing etc. of a character for the guidanceControling the motion of a camera or special effects
of animators.Computer animation: The technique ofobject (eg. model space ship etc), using commands
using computers to generate moving pictures. Somefrom a computer, so that the exact moves can be
systems can achieve this in real-time (25 frames perrepeated as many times. This makes it easy to
second-or in the USA 30fps), but the majority ofcomposite it (ie.combine it with another
animation is created one frame at a time and thenshot).Rotoscoping : Drawing around something in the
edited into a continuous sequence. Very sophisticatedframe so that an effect can be applied to that part
programs are required to perform the tasks ofof the film. If an animated creature has to go behind
movement, fairing, perspective, hidden-surfacesomething in the live action piece of film, that object
removal, colouring, shading and illumination, and as thecan be drawn around so a matte can be created, so
trend increases towards more realistic images, fasterthat the createure will not show over the top of that
computers are needed to process the millions ofobject. If the camera is moving, then each frame of
computations required for each frame. The termfilm would have to be rotoscoped. If the camera is
"computer animation" covers a broad range ofstill, then the same matte can probably be used for
subjects, but overall can be defined as the creationall frames in that shot. Rotoscoping was first used by
of moving images through the use of computers.the Fleischers for making cartoons. The Fleischers
These images can be created in either ainvented the Rotoscope, which is a device for
two-dimensional or three-dimensional space, and canprojecting live-action film on to paper frame by
be applied to web design, user interface design,frame, so that the outline could be traced and used
application development, video games, movies, specialas a guide for the animation. The Rotoscope consists
effects, cartooning, and many others.Computerof an animation camera and a light source (usually
graphics: Charts, diagrams, drawings and otherusing a prism behind the movement and the lamp
pictorial representations that are computerhouse attached to the camera's open door) that
generated.Effects animation: The animation ofprojects a print through the camera's lense and the
non-character movements such as rain, smoke,projected image is then traced to create a matte.
lightning, water, etc.Go-Motion: Similar to 'Stop-Motion',The lamp house is then removed and the raw stock
but the animation is produced by rods attached toplaced in the camera and the drawings are filmed
the pupet/creature, which can be programmed by athrough the same lense that projected the image.
computer to perform the required movement. TheThe resulting image will then fit the original image if
advantage over stop-motion is that a lot morethe two strips of film are run bi-packed in the same
realistic movement can be created, because theprojector movment (using an optical printer). In digital
puppet/creature blurs slightly between each frame.film effects work, rotoscoping refers to any drawn
The disadvantage is that the rods attached to thematte, as both images can be seen compisited while
creature need to be hidden from view (e.g. using thethe matte is being drawn, so good results can be
blue-screen process)In Between: The paper drawingachieved.Virtual Sets : Sets which are generated (at
of a figure that lies in sequence between two keyleast partially) from data within a computer. Mostly
positions drawn by an animator.Key frame animation:used for TV work, these systems replace the real
The animator 'draws' directly onto the CRT displayset (eg. an empty studio) with a computer generated
and produces a basic picture or cell. A number ofset, allowing the actor/presenter to move in the
these drawings can then be superimposed on oneforeground. eg. the background is 'keyed out' and
another to form a composite cell or key frame. Manyreplaced with the set which has been created in a 3D
of these key frames can be made up and stored inpackage (eg. Softimage or 3D Studio Max), and any
the computer to be called up and used as required.camera movements will be duplicated by the 'virtual
The action of the film can be created by stringingcamera'. This will require a powerful computer,
together the series of key frames, and introducingespecially if it is to be done in real-time, for example
the desired movements between one frame and thea Silicon Graphics machine. The method of keeping
next. Each key frame can be used over and overtrack of the camera movement (so that it can be
again by simply calling it repeatedly from theduplicated in the 3D computer set) is different for
computer score.Stop-Motion Animation: Moving athe various sytems. Some systems use a blue grid
special effects puppet or model/creature a smallpainted on the back wall of a studio of a known size.
amount and recording a single frame (or small numberA red LED is projected onto the cameras and the
of frames) so that when the film is played back at aactor/presenter so that they too can be tracked
normal speed it appears to move. The disadvantagethroughout the set.Visual effects (also called optical
with this form of animation is that it can sometimesor photographic effects) : Special effects achieved
appear to 'strobe', partly due to the lack of blurwith the aid of photographic or digital technology,
between the frames.Three-dimensional modeling:occurring after the principal photography, or main
Geometrical descriptions of an object using polygonsshooting, of a film. Includes miniatures, optical and
or solids in three dimensions (x,y,z coordinates) fordigital effects, matte paintings, stop-motion animation,
the purpose of creating the illusion of height, widthand computer-generated imagery (CGI).Wire Removal
and depth.: Removal of unwanted wires, rods, etc. from a piece
C) Post ProductionEdit : The process of assemblingof film by replacing them with what would have been
video clips, audio tracks, graphics and other sourceseen if they weren't there (eg. the background). This
marerial into a presentable package.Off-Line Edit : Acan be done by replacing them with the same area
"draft" edit, usually prepared in an off-line edit suitefrom another frame in which the wires/rods were
(at a lower cost), then taken to an on-line facility tonot visible, or by averaging the colours on either side
make the final cut.On-Line Edit : The final version ofof the wire and replacing it with the
an edit, prepared in a professional edit================================E) New
facility.Non-linear editing : An approach to video editingMediaA generic term for the many different forms of
made possible by digital video recordings. As in wordelectronic communication that are made possible
processing, video segments can be inserted betweenthrough the use of computer technology. The term is
two existing segments without erasing either. Unlikein relation to "old" media forms, such as print
the approach required when editing analog video ,newspapers and magazines, that are static
segments do not need to "laid down" in therepresentations of text and graphics. New media
sequence in which they will later be shown.Off-lineincludes:* Web sites* streaming audio and video*
editing : The steps during the edit process when achat rooms* e-mail* online communities* Web
preliminary selection of usable shots and scenes isadvertising* DVD and CD-ROM media* virtual reality
made, and the tentative sequence of these elementsenvironments* integration of digital data with the
is decided. This process is typically done with lowertelephone, such as Internet telephony* digital
cost, simpler editing equipment than is found in acameras* mobile computingUse of the term new
professional edit suite (where on-line editing is done).media implies that the data communication is
Using off-line editing can significantly reduce the totalhappening between desktop and laptop computers
cost of a producation.On-line editing : The stepsand handhelds , such as PDAs , and the media they
during the edit process when the compilation of finaltake data from, such as compact discs.