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tips for tracking camera from helicopter


tayrona
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Hi all.... an important client called me yesterday to make an appointment..... at saturday we will be flying in an helicopter to film the aerial view of his new project........ he wants an animation of the hotel composed over the real ground.... :eek::eek:

 

I have read several forums, articles and webs about camera tracking, boujou, syntheyes and it seems to be VERY EASY.... but there is something I am still not sure.....

 

what is the function that video camera should have to make a video that will be recognized with this softwares?

Is there a coordinates capture, or something like that??? :confused:

any recommended format?

or just simple video and software do the rest????????

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I have read several forums, articles and webs about camera tracking, boujou, syntheyes and it seems to be VERY EASY.... but there is something I am still not sure.....

 

what is the function that video camera should have to make a video that will be recognized with this softwares?

Is there a coordinates capture, or something like that??? :confused:

any recommended format?

or just simple video and software do the rest????????

 

All that these software require is video, The only information you can provide to help the solution is the focal length, (some software will take seed 3d geometry, I think) although if you don't have the focal length the software will try to guess and set it automatically. One thing to know about Boujou is that it won't track a shot if the focal length changes (the shoot "Zooms") this is a feature on the more expensive product.

 

We use Syntheyes and Boujou, I have heard good things about PFtrack there is also Matchmover from RealViz. None except Syntheyes is cheap, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. One thing that is needed once you do the track is aligning the camera and the automatically generated cloud of data to the 3d model. The next big challenge (apart from the normal modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering) is to composite the new building into the aerial footage. Things like trees, power lines, existing buildings, go in front of the new you need to have a good strategy to blend these objects.

 

Good luck,

 

-Nils

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Oh.. this project would be real fun for you,

 

I had tried this once..:rolleyes:..

 

Pls. don't underestimate camera tracking ..Be very careful from starting, there has to be some proper clean markers in your video, so that you can tell software to track those points.

 

I was partly successfully on that, software was loosing the track in between even my markers were clear to track...:confused: I corrected it manually..But I can not say it was 100%.

 

Lets see some experienced person can give more prominent tips on it here...:)

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Thanks guys..... your experience will be a nice start for me, I was wondering if those "clean markers" djoshi is talking about, could be my car and my client´s car, parked in the terrain (is a big isolated terrain with sea in front and some buildings complex around, a little far away), Must I keep them always visible?? two markers point are enough???

 

Thanks a lot!!

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very improtant! study study study the terrain, and the flight plan and visualize in your head what your gonna see. google earth should be able to tell you where the trees and bushes are, so from that make a plan on where you want to place the markers. two markers in the frame at all time should be enough i think, and they must be a clear different colors to the area.

 

have FUN ;)

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Yes they should remain in frame always..& probably take markers as much as you can. place it like some far, some nearer. . the color of terrain & the car should be different..

 

And take care that there should not be a car reflection issue, which would change the pixel color value of markers & can loose track...while tracking...:)

 

Adventure in project..have fun with it...;)

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