The last days I have been experimenting with new techniques for making FMV inspired game graphics with fictional content. That means avoiding true video scenes. As I get new ideas for games I always try to make the best graphics first and then realize my limitations to a big sigh. I then downgrade my graphic approach until it fits.
I wanted to make fictional scenes with life like characters and thought of rotoscoping all characters and placing 3d heads instead. So I had to find a way to track the head movements and rotoscope the body.
In blender it is needed AT LEAST 8 successfull markers to track an object. In my mind one would only need 3. This was awful and cluncky, so I came up with another approach. Say hello to the SquareCrown.
The apparatus has only 4 points placed in a near perfect square, and if I then make a 3d plane or box and match it up in Blender I could actually track it manually keyframe by keyframe. This was easy and well within my requirements. After that I parented a 3d head to the box and it was success!
(Actually when I think of it, I am sure the next crown will be a triangle as I stated that only 3 points would be enough for tracking. And also the points have to have a good color contrasted to the background :P )
This is a very rough test to blend a fictional background with rotoscoped clothing and a 3d head. It is still a bit tedious but I work on finding faster solutions.
I know it looks scary as if I wear a mask, but it is just a quick 3d overlay and it will look much better with lighting and facial animation etc etc...
So, yeah, I can say that tracking heads are done, but the body rotoscoping still needs much work before I am ready to make that "beauty pass".
