camera match move in 3ds max - DVXuser.com -- The online community for filmmaking

plainman007 · 08-13-2006, 02:22 PM

Hi, Can someone tell me how to do camera match movement within 3ds max. Where we use the camera match utitlity to match the movement of a real world camera by recognising the white crosses or marks on the green screen. I know the principle on which it works. That is max uses certain points as trackers and uses the movement of that point in the video to judge in which way the camera is moving. Can someone tell me how to pick the points on the greenscreen. Despite what i try the order in which this is to be done is confusing me. Thanks in adv.

Anhar Miah · 08-13-2006, 04:32 PM

dude I didn'y even know had such a feature, (which release?)

anyway the match moving I've done has always been external programs.

I'm sure the built in one in max probably would not be that great, I'm guessing using a dedicated external program would be better because they always allow you to export the track to all the usual 3d apps.

Anhar

plainman007 · 08-14-2006, 01:59 PM

Hi chief. Yes there is a cam tracker utility. Its a plug in which comes as part of the max package since version 6 or earlier. I think its under helpers. Even the help files that ship with max teach you to do a camera match. They advise you to take real world measurements etc so that getting the initial angle can be easy. Then after marking points and defining the distances between each, max will start moving the 3d cam to match the real world one just using the info of how the points are moving. I cant comment on the quality since i myself am looking forward to using it sometime.

Gord.T · 10-22-2006, 01:23 PM

Max (7?) 8 has built in tracking and tuts that I've tried once (Rhino tut). I think Anhar is right in using external programs as they are much more powerfull. Mark Johnson used boujou 4 for JDS's Rekindling short. If you want the 3ds Rhino tuts PM me. --Gord.

...Okay, I think your talking about your background being 3ds and not your foreground, as in real person panned to be put over fake, thus the green screen. yeah, 3ds has built in tuts for that I think. Let me know.

plainman007 · 10-22-2006, 01:55 PM

But Rhino is an independent 3d animation software right ? I cant reinvent the wheel just for this one feature. By the way camera matching was there within max right from version 6. Its in helpers panel. Ull have to click on the helper options and youll see camera match headind there. I have added cam points etc but dont know how to go from there ??? LOL.

Anhar Miah · 10-23-2006, 05:00 AM

I've had a look at max's tracking, errr as far as I can see, its only 2d tracking not 3d. I may be wrong but I do not think you can get a full 3d track from max's track utility.

However for simple 2d motion I guess it could work.

Anhar

Gord.T · 10-23-2006, 06:43 AM

In 3dsmax 8 you can find two tutorials that may help you.
from the menu:
Help->Tutorials->Projects->Advanced->Camera Matching & Camera Map
(and select one of two tutorials...)
->Using Camera Match, uses a pool table and pool ball
->Using Camera Tracker, which follows an animated Rhino on a table.
These may help.
If you do not have max 8, try downloading the 30 trial version, I think the tutorials are included.
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...112&id=5972446

Gord

Edit: Well, the above link is for 3dsmax 9. Hopefully the tuts will still be there.

Also stumbled across this, A free camera tracking utility plugin for 3ds. Haven't tried it...
(*********deleted*******)

plainman007 · 10-23-2006, 02:51 PM

It doesnt say its free anywhere on that site ? Am i missing something Raptor ?

Gord.T · 10-23-2006, 02:53 PM

**********previous post deleted********

I guess that tracking utility I mentioned was just a one day license. Kind of feel like they suckered me on that one.
They didn't mention that until after I registered and actually went to use it. Live and learn.

Gord.

Gord.T · 11-06-2006, 09:44 AM

Here's a !!!FREE!!! camera tracker. Quality with no catches.
http://www.digilab.uni-hannover.de/d....html#overview

I am redeemed. -Gord.

...also in the same link:
http://www.imagemagick.org/script/index.php

is software called ImageMagick. For anyone who wants free source code for handling about 100 types of graphics images (bmp, mpg,giff,tiff,ect) in various source code formats (c++,Java...) check this out. (I just checked out the c++ source after download and this feels like christmas.)

08-13-2006, 02:22 PM	#1
plainman007 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 896	camera match move in 3ds max Hi, Can someone tell me how to do camera match movement within 3ds max. Where we use the camera match utitlity to match the movement of a real world camera by recognising the white crosses or marks on the green screen. I know the principle on which it works. That is max uses certain points as trackers and uses the movement of that point in the video to judge in which way the camera is moving. Can someone tell me how to pick the points on the greenscreen. Despite what i try the order in which this is to be done is confusing me. Thanks in adv.

08-13-2006, 04:32 PM	#2
Anhar Miah 4xy(x-3)(x^2+3x+9) Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,791 Blog Entries: 6	dude I didn'y even know had such a feature, (which release?) anyway the match moving I've done has always been external programs. I'm sure the built in one in max probably would not be that great, I'm guessing using a dedicated external program would be better because they always allow you to export the track to all the usual 3d apps. Anhar __________________ Rabbi Zidni 'Ilma {20:114} Blog: my website (beta version)

10-22-2006, 01:23 PM	#4
Gord.T Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belleville ON Posts: 3,030	Max (7?) 8 has built in tracking and tuts that I've tried once (Rhino tut). I think Anhar is right in using external programs as they are much more powerfull. Mark Johnson used boujou 4 for JDS's Rekindling short. If you want the 3ds Rhino tuts PM me. --Gord. ...Okay, I think your talking about your background being 3ds and not your foreground, as in real person panned to be put over fake, thus the green screen. yeah, 3ds has built in tuts for that I think. Let me know. Last edited by Gord.T; 10-22-2006 at 01:34 PM.

10-23-2006, 05:00 AM	#6
Anhar Miah 4xy(x-3)(x^2+3x+9) Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,791 Blog Entries: 6	I've had a look at max's tracking, errr as far as I can see, its only 2d tracking not 3d. I may be wrong but I do not think you can get a full 3d track from max's track utility. However for simple 2d motion I guess it could work. Anhar __________________ Rabbi Zidni 'Ilma {20:114} Blog: my website (beta version)

10-23-2006, 06:43 AM	#7
Gord.T Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belleville ON Posts: 3,030	In 3dsmax 8 you can find two tutorials that may help you. from the menu: Help->Tutorials->Projects->Advanced->Camera Matching & Camera Map (and select one of two tutorials...) ->Using Camera Match, uses a pool table and pool ball ->Using Camera Tracker, which follows an animated Rhino on a table. These may help. If you do not have max 8, try downloading the 30 trial version, I think the tutorials are included. http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...112&id=5972446 Gord Edit: Well, the above link is for 3dsmax 9. Hopefully the tuts will still be there. Also stumbled across this, A free camera tracking utility plugin for 3ds. Haven't tried it... (*******deleted****) Last edited by Gord.T; 10-24-2006 at 07:50 PM.*

08-14-2006, 01:59 PM	#3
plainman007 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 896	Hi chief. Yes there is a cam tracker utility. Its a plug in which comes as part of the max package since version 6 or earlier. I think its under helpers. Even the help files that ship with max teach you to do a camera match. They advise you to take real world measurements etc so that getting the initial angle can be easy. Then after marking points and defining the distances between each, max will start moving the 3d cam to match the real world one just using the info of how the points are moving. I cant comment on the quality since i myself am looking forward to using it sometime.

10-22-2006, 01:55 PM	#5
plainman007 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 896	But Rhino is an independent 3d animation software right ? I cant reinvent the wheel just for this one feature. By the way camera matching was there within max right from version 6. Its in helpers panel. Ull have to click on the helper options and youll see camera match headind there. I have added cam points etc but dont know how to go from there ??? LOL.

10-23-2006, 02:51 PM	#8
plainman007 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 896	It doesnt say its free anywhere on that site ? Am i missing something Raptor ?

10-23-2006, 02:53 PM	#9
Gord.T Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belleville ON Posts: 3,030	********previous post deleted****** I guess that tracking utility I mentioned was just a one day license. Kind of feel like they suckered me on that one. They didn't mention that until after I registered and actually went to use it. Live and learn. Gord. Last edited by Gord.T; 10-24-2006 at 07:49 PM.

11-06-2006, 09:44 AM	#10
Gord.T Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belleville ON Posts: 3,030	Here's a !!!FREE!!! camera tracker. Quality with no catches. http://www.digilab.uni-hannover.de/d....html#overview I am redeemed. -Gord. ...also in the same link: http://www.imagemagick.org/script/index.php is software called ImageMagick. For anyone who wants free source code for handling about 100 types of graphics images (bmp, mpg,giff,tiff,ect) in various source code formats (c++,Java...) check this out. (I just checked out the c++ source after download and this feels like christmas.) Last edited by Gord.T; 11-06-2006 at 10:13 AM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode