DVXuser Visual Effects Fest/Challenge

Matt,

What's the specific upload deadline? Given these are going to all be very short clips we shouldn't have the upload problems some of the fests have had. If you've posted the deadline I missed it. We should probably put it at the top of the thread too.

Ok, now let's get with the snow!
 
Am I too late to get in on this? I really have no clue how I'm going to do it but I'd like to mess around with anyway.
 
Wait...

Can we have this as an animation or is it an altercation of the photo? I am slightly confused.

I might be able to get something out. I really have no idea since I have three other projects on the block right now. I really don't know if I can do a full render in a week and change. I will see though. Either way I am interested in seeing the entries.
 
Mattykins said:
Wait...

Can we have this as an animation or is it an altercation of the photo? I am slightly confused.
Click to expand...

As Matt points out (see below) you are to create a 2 to 5 second animation if possible. If you don't have time or ability to animate you can alter the photo BUT the idea of the fest is to either do the animation or team up with someone who has the chops you don't.

Matt Grunau said:
[Winterize the photo] Since it is only a picture, technically you could submit simply an altered one of this picture. Don't. Submit a 2-5 second of Animation please. Blowing snow, drifting snow, volumetics to simulate an overcast atphoshpere, things like that. Since it is an off frame size, just submit the animation in the frame size it is now. I'de like you to add sound effects for realism as well.
Click to expand...
 
traviscool said:
Am I too late to get in on this? I really have no clue how I'm going to do it but I'd like to mess around with anyway.
Click to expand...

Not only are you not too late to get in on this, you are right on time. The challenge was just announced hours before you posted! So get to work Traviscool! Its all for the fun and joy of learning new techniques and sharing ideas.
 
Mark Johnson said:
As Matt points out (see below) you are to create a 2 to 5 second animation if possible. If you don't have time or ability to animate you can alter the photo BUT the idea of the fest is to either do the animation or team up with someone who has the chops you don't.
Click to expand...

What I missed was the period after the don't. I read it as Don't do this...thus my confusion.

I'm not saying I don't have the chops Mark. I think we can all agree we are all very busy doing other things. I am personally working on three visual effects projects right now. All of which paid, all of which for independent projects. One compositing in which I am a visual effects supervisor. One fluid and dynamics. And one motion graphic project. As I was saying, I don't think I will have time - but I will try.
 
Mattykins said:
What I missed was the period after the don't. I read it as Don't do this...thus my confusion.

I'm not saying I don't have the chops Mark. I think we can all agree we are all very busy doing other things. I am personally working on three visual effects projects right now. All of which paid, all of which for independent projects. One compositing in which I am a visual effects supervisor. One fluid and dynamics. And one motion graphic project. As I was saying, I don't think I will have time - but I will try.
Click to expand...

Ha ha! Mattykins, I seriously wasn't writing that for you when I said "if you don't have the time or ability you can alter the photo etc." I'm aware you are a big dog dude, and you'll probably blow us all out of the water if you get the time to put into this. I was writing to the readers in general when I referred to the possibility of teaming up with someone else.

Will be great to have you in this and any other challenges, man. I hope you can get the time to do something.

Dude
 
Mark Johnson said:
Matt,

What's the specific upload deadline? Given these are going to all be very short clips we shouldn't have the upload problems some of the fests have had. If you've posted the deadline I missed it. We should probably put it at the top of the thread too.

Ok, now let's get with the snow!
Click to expand...

Uploads are due by 6:00 one week from today. Since we are still working on where to upload them, I'll keep you guys posted.


Another HUGE announcement:

Though this Idea may have been mainly mine, I found out very, very quickly I don't have enough experience running something like this to keep it going. After doing a little more talking I am pleased to tell you all that Mark Johnson will be acting as Festival Admin and general maker of rules. I am still here and will help where I can, but maybe more are a tecnical consultant, answering effects questions and passing on issues to Mark for him to decide on.

I really think things will run more smoothly under him, so I have problem passing of the reigns in that part to him. He will do a better job than I will, which will keep this thing going.

End of line. Have fun people.
 
Last edited:
Great idea, Matt. :)

As for general guidelines on how the contest might work, take a look at vfxtalk.com. They have ongoing contests over there and they've been doing it a while.
 
Matt, I have another question for you.

Do you have a higher rez image? I was taking a look at this and It's really hard to get into the picture and start editing it. Since we are talking 2.397 inches by 1.197 inches. That bugger is pretty small and it makes changes pretty difficult.
 
Domt look at the print size, look st the pixels per inch. we are not talking photo quality here, but video quality. you will get the diffrence soon enough.
 
I mean to say when you bring it in to photoshop or what-have-you, you are still working with a very small image and it is hard, if not impossible to make minute adjustments especially with the finer details especially when there is the amount of noise and distortion that exists in this specific image.

Typically when working with an image within visual effects you work with the highest resolution possible. Which makes it easier to work in the finer areas of the print without gross pixilation. Also allowing the addition of CG elements easier and more refined. Not to mention motion tracking and everything that goes in Pandora's box.

There is also excessive noise around all of the edges even without magnification. I was only asking if we were to get a higher rez image in order to allow easier and more refined editing.

I however have begun to notice asking questions with this fest is not in my best interest.

So I will leave it at that. I take it we will not be getting a better image. Take a look at it yourself at 100% image. Especially where the sky meets the mountains and the tree meets the sky. Pixels don't lie.
 
Last edited:
At 719 x 359 it's pretty close to a lot of the 720 x 480 dvx100 video I've been handed to work with. Granted, they were for the fest and not for commercial considerations. So that's how I'm looking at it.

Maybe the next challenge will have higher res. (?)
 
Mattykins said:
I mean to say when you bring it in to photoshop or what-have-you, you are still working with a very small image and it is hard, if not impossible to make minute adjustments especially with the finer details especially when there is the amount of noise and distortion that exists in this specific image.

Typically when working with an image within visual effects you work with the highest resolution possible. Which makes it easier to work in the finer areas of the print without gross pixilation. Also allowing the addition of CG elements easier and more refined. Not to mention motion tracking and everything that goes in Pandora's box.

There is also excessive noise around all of the edges even without magnification. I was only asking if we were to get a higher rez image in order to allow easier and more refined editing.

I however have begun to notice asking questions with this fest is not in my best interest.

So I will leave it at that. I take it we will not be getting a better image. Take a look at it yourself at 100% image. Especially where the sky meets the mountains and the tree meets the sky. Pixels don't lie.
Click to expand...

Please don't stop asking questions, Mattykins. Your comments are most definitely appreciated and taken seriously. This challenge series is in its embryonic stage and every bit of input is most definitely appreciated. Moreover, as a professional in the biz, you are especially valuable to the membership.

We will most definitely have a wide range of source material to work with in challenges to come just as most people have to deal with in the real world. The simple fact is that a lot of people get stuck trying to pull keys from miniDV footage or have to try and track crappy sequences with so much motion blur as to make it almost impossible. Thus, we will have some examples that are, in fact, less than optimum as a means to help share tools and techniques.

In this case it may help if people upsample this image in PhotoShop and do some cleanup before working on the plate (assuming you have the time). It can be the only effective way to deal with the jpeg artifacting you see around hard edges.

In any event, everybody is on an even plane and it will be interesting to see how people tackle this. Everyone should feel free to PM me with any questions or concerns if you don't want to post them here.

Again, thanks everyone for being patient with us as we get this off the ground.
 
Raptor365 said:
At 719 x 359 it's pretty close to a lot of the 720 x 480 dvx100 video I've been handed to work with. Granted, they were for the fest and not for commercial considerations. So that's how I'm looking at it.

Maybe the next challenge will have higher res. (?)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree. This is better than a lot of crap I get stuck with in our forensic projects. Lawyers, paralegals, investigators and cops seem to have the most abysmal camcorders and often it is the only footage we have to work from when we do our forensic work.

We'll have some high res footage in future challenges for sure. As a static, we don't have to worry about tracking or stabilizing so the artifacting is not as much an issue here.
 
I'de like to add the length of this does not have to be tied to 3 second. From own tests so far, mine is going to be probably around 8 seconds. Try and keep it from getting boring if you go long.


And if you want your animation to only be 3 seconds that's fine.


Lastly, the next time I read bickering about frame sizes those who have a problem with what we have are gone. Find your own fest to start, It's as simple as that. Mark maybe running the show and helping in all the ways he can with questions and whatnot, but this is still my Fest. And in the end, I call the shots. And I won't put up with it.

That pic was the one I chose, because it looked like it had potential. People worried about frame sizes might want to consider another line of work if they are in the graphics business. I have prayed more times than I can count for that quality to work with.
 
Matt,

I will not offer any apologies for simply asking a question. If you want to disallow me from the competition for simply remarking about the image quality, then this board is not at all what it was when I joined. Yes, I understand this is your fest. I am not saying that I want to take it over - I don't know why I would want to do that anyways. I post here because I like answering questions and helping people out and learning from the people on this board.

By the way, Mark was kind enough to PM me about the concern I had. I responded with this:

Mark,

It was simply tonality that came across. Generally a bad day to deal with stuff. I was only surprised at the way it seemed my comments were brushed aside.

I have captures from SD that were better than that. My concern wasn't tracking, but the artifacts on the mountains and the trees. Not to make my job easier. Since I don't think I will end up entering this go around due to my schedule being over loaded. But for the ease of others on the board. I was just thinking a better capture might be in order.

Again, apologies for any misunderstandings that occurred. After-all, one can't tell emotion online. For that I take full responsibility.

Best,

Matt
Click to expand...

I simply asked a question Matt, you did not have to attack my ability and comprehension as a visual effects artist and an overall film maker for doing so. After-all, isn't this what this board is all about? Learning and asking questions?

If we can't have respect here, then fine.

I will not take time out of my day to engage in a fight online. We are both adults here. I never attacked your fest or your understanding. I only remarked on the image that we were given.

-Matt
 
Mattykins said:
Matt,

I will not offer any apologies for simply asking a question. If you want to disallow me from the competition for simply remarking about the image quality, then this board is not at all what it was when I joined. Yes, I understand this is your fest. I am not saying that I want to take it over - I don't know why I would want to do that anyways. I post here because I like answering questions and helping people out and learning from the people on this board.

By the way, Mark was kind enough to PM me about the concern I had. I responded with this:



I simply asked a question Matt, you did not have to attack my ability and comprehension as a visual effects artist and an overall film maker for doing so. After-all, isn't this what this board is all about? Learning and asking questions?

If we can't have respect here, then fine.

I will not take time out of my day to engage in a fight online. We are both adults here. I never attacked your fest or your understanding. I only remarked on the image that we were given.

-Matt
Click to expand...

You dpn't need to appologize, I wasn't singling you out as a person, and I certainly abilities. If you are in the biz, you KNOW what a pain it can be to work with crappy footage. I looked and looked, and that was the only one I could find that fit what I had in my head. The dimensins were a little small, but I figured we could work around that.

Learning and asking questions is exactly what that was about, but your question was not a creative or creatively technical one, it was a comment about the size of the chosen pic. So that "Learning and asking questions" really doesn't enter into it.

We have respect, the fact that no one has broken out into a heated argument or lowered themselves to name calling shows that. I can have all the respect for someone in the world, and still feel like I need to say what needs to be said.

And I refuse to fight either. There's nothing to fight about, and it's counter productive.

If you felt singled out and attacked, sorry. Had that been my true intent, espcially going on the attack, you would have known it. And then this whole thing may have been closed and we would have lost what is going to be a great resorce.

Also, it's important that we nip these kinds of things in the bud. It's arguents that turn into flame wars that get things shut down. I'm not going to let that happen.

In the future, if you have an issue llike this one, please direct it to me or Mark as a PM, we can avoid thread space that way.

And to answer you real initial question, no, I don't have anything bigger, and believe me I looked. But think of it this way, we aren't sending these out for broacast, it is still plenty bit to put into a web page as a before and after, and while we all like to have more pixels at our disposal (Me especially) in this case we just couldn't. Maybe we could also think of this as a bit of a learning experience, of "oh crap, that's the best youv'e got to give me"? I can certainly imagine needing a pic for a short film or video and being given something undersized and having to work with it. So it's kind of a real world possible issue.

And we are still in our infancy. I still think people should start a list of evertyhing they can do software wise and the software they use AND a list of their preferrend medium. That would help streamline a lot.

So as far as I am concerned this issue is done. I have no hard feelings, I don't want you to, I just wanna see your work. Please don't let something as silly as debating frame size (and no I don't mean you are silly for bringing it up) keep someone away. That would be a shame and may rob us of a valued rescorce.


Jesus my spelling sucks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top