All posts by Yingyi Cao

Houdini-week 3

Houdini, Term 2

For this session, we are foucuse on exolodedview.

Making an explosion in Houdini is quite simple. There are two nodes that are important. Pointsfromvolume helps us split the object into points. Explodedview helps us how the final result.

Here is the result of testing on a cube.

Testing on the cabin.

Now we have a simple wooden house. The first step is to use Rdbmaterialfracture nodes to increase the details of the cracks on the cabin.

In general, Pointsfromvolume, Explodedview and Rdbmaterialfracture nodes are the focus of this lesson. But we need more exercises to familiarize ourselves with parameter adjustmen and application of these nodes.

3D Compositing-week5

Maya 2, Maya&Nuke, Nuke 2, Term 2

Last week we roughly completed the creation of the model. The main task this week is 3D Compositing.

Firstly, we got video footage of an abandoned fatory. We need to track this video in Nuke. Then we got a 3D camera trajectory .

From the image, we can saw that the point cloud helped us roughly map out the space of the two rooms. I added a few planes and some cones to this space to help me verify the accuracy of the camera’s trajectory. It also helps me place the model in Maya.

When we import the camera trajectory into Maya, we can place the model we created earlier. Then turn to the camera’s perspective to get the following picture. Be careful not to move the position of the model when placing the model. It will be easier to change the position of the camera.

It is best to use the reference editor when importing the model during the compositing process, which can help us save time and not easily crash the software. When you want to make changes to the model, you only need to change it in another file and then update the reference again. It should be noted that after we reference the model, we cannot make changes to the model in the reference folder.

Maya-week 3 modeling

Maya 2, Maya&Nuke, Term 2

This week is mainly looking for reference pictures of steam engines and establishing a basic model structure.

At first, I went to the sketchfab website to find my reference model. I prefer this model. Because it looks nice and vintage. For a junior modeler this model is relatively simple to built. There is no complicated structure and movement.

So I start to build my model with the picture above as a reference.

This step of building a model is still a bit difficult for me. I encountered many problems in the process. For example, how to use modeling tools. In the beginning, I was not very familiar with the modeling tools in Maya, and I needed to learning and work at the same time. I found that modeling is a step that requires thinking. Before starting to create a model, we need to think about what steps can make us achieve our goals faster. Whether a cube or a cylinder is more suitable for this model. This can help us save many unnecessary troubles. This week’s work has given me the ability to solve problems independently. Whenever you encounter a problem, go directly to Google or find it on major forums. Many of the above have encountered the same problem as me. Most of them can be solved.

Nuke-week4

Nuke 2, Term 2

Our main course content this week is to learn 3D tracking. I used the basement footage as an practice.

In this process, I did a lot of tests. Because the results obtained at the beginning are always bad. The camera always deflects or slides when checking through the card and anchor point at the end.

After the calculation is completed, we need to try to stabilize the error value at about 0.5. This is more conducive to help us get an accurate camera movement trajectory.

After finishing the last exercise, I did another work.

Nuke-week3

Nuke 2, Term 2

For this session, we focus on the 3D Environment. The content is to convert a picture into a 3D scene in Nuke.

In this project we will use the following nodes.

In the process of work, I found that it is easy to create a 3D environment for a normal flat view, but it is difficult to create a 3D environment if the original material lens angle is offset or the room is irregular. Such as these images.

Here is a successful case.

Houdini-week1

Houdini, Term 2

In the first week, we have been introduced the Houdini interface and how to create a basic model in Houdini. As I consider it is mainly to familiarize us with Houdini.

Here is the outcome and nodes structure. Although this result is not very good and simple, this is my first time learning Houdini. I think I will become better and better in the next practices.

Maya-week 2

Maya 2, Term 2

For this session, we have learned basic rigging techniques in Maya.

Rigging is an essential step in character development and animation. It helps us move the character or objects. To be honest, it is quite complicated for me. For this week, we aim to create a steam engine. Rigging can help us making animation on the objects.

The first step is to create the models.

Then move on to the rigging. Creat locator first as the reference. moving the locator to one side of the handle which is connected with the cog wheel and copy it to the other side. For this step, you have to make sure the locator has been put to the specific point.

The next step is creating a skeleton and adding ikHandle to the skeleton. Changing the IK Handle attributes as sticky. Combine the locator with the skeleton.

Here is the outcome

Overall, rigging is a big challenge for me. To reach the result I have tried the process several times. From the exercise, I have realized that understand the principle is much important rather than just following the steps from the recording.

Nuke-week2

Nuke 2, Term 2

For this session, we have learned the ssmart vectors, markers removal and face brauty.

Beauty

The first step is to denoise the original footage and export it as dpx file. The smart vector node is the focus of this session. It can help us track the objects without complicated processes.

During the process, I have encountered a problem with her lipstick. When I use rotopaint to cover the spot, the lipstick has been covered as well. Therefore I have considered that it is possible to fix it by using the roto node. My result proves that it works.

Markers removing

The second practice is markers removal. I got a shot cut from Alita. The process is working quite well. I am going to do another exercise with my video.

Video Essay Presentation

Narrative structures

I made composition as my presentation’s topic. This video is aimed to research the composition in Quentin’s film. As I consider, In addition to the development of the storyline, the emotional changes that the movie brings to the audience are also be noticed. So how the composition is used in film and conveying emotions to the audience is what I am interested in. Plus, This is my first time dubbing; please forgive my weird voice acting.