I finally did a full size ground projection test last night.
The original small scale test in the driveway had shown that the texture of the concrete destroyed the 3D effect, so I bought 4 sheets of 4'x8' white tile board, de glossed them, and gave them a coat of 1-2-3 Primer(it's supposed to stick to everything, but unlike Kilz, it's water base, so you don't get high on fumes...). I laid them down flat on the courtyard ground with a slight overlap, so the joints would not be visible.
I mounted the projector on a 10 ft pole sitting on a concrete ledge 9ft above, so it ended up about 20 ft above the ground:
Since I was using the wide angle adapter, it turned out almost too high, and I had to zoom into fit the image to the 8ftx 16ft "ground screen". I will use a shorter pole next time, which will make things easier...
I had a selection of images made especially to test the 3D Ground Projection Concept, with an underground space underneath the "street" level, and also objects on the ground and flying above the ground.
The results were satisfying, but showed just how tricky it is to create the illusion, working so to speak "in the dark" in After Effects (distorting the images and moving them in space with a 30 to 45 degrees backward slant), and having to render the Left and Right images and combining them in an Anaglyph to actually see the final 3D image from the spectator vantage point. Also, at this point, I am using mostly 2D objects which appear as cutouts. The challenge will be to replace them with either real modeled full 3D objects(very difficult), or at least use 3D pictures of objects(more feasible). I am actually starting to shoot a collection of those.
There is definitely a sweet spot in the middle. When one moves sideways, the objects slant sideways, when one is too close, the objects slant back, when one is too far, the objects slant forward. The height of the viewer also affects the perspective: taller viewers see objects taller and see more depth.
This means the viewing space will have to be clearly marked, and the rest roped off. The actual public would ideally be limited to about 6 spectators at a time, the shorter ones up front, the taller ones behind.
That means that "the Show" has to be short, around 3 minutes, and repeat in a loop with may be a 30 seconds blank countdown in between for the spectators to move out and others in place.
I also tested some Phantograms which I did several years ago. More about those in my dedicated blog:
ANAGLYPHS and PHANTOGRAMS
They were quite effective, and that was actually the first time I saw them on that scale.
There could possibly be two Shows playing alternately:
1. "The Virtual Sink Hole", with the street caving in revealing the underground, and stuff flying in and out.
2. "Ghost Phantasms", with objects or people appearing to stand above the ground, even float in the air. Obviously, I would create images "a little less challenging" for the Alys Stephens public...
The original small scale test in the driveway had shown that the texture of the concrete destroyed the 3D effect, so I bought 4 sheets of 4'x8' white tile board, de glossed them, and gave them a coat of 1-2-3 Primer(it's supposed to stick to everything, but unlike Kilz, it's water base, so you don't get high on fumes...). I laid them down flat on the courtyard ground with a slight overlap, so the joints would not be visible.
I mounted the projector on a 10 ft pole sitting on a concrete ledge 9ft above, so it ended up about 20 ft above the ground:
Since I was using the wide angle adapter, it turned out almost too high, and I had to zoom into fit the image to the 8ftx 16ft "ground screen". I will use a shorter pole next time, which will make things easier...
I had a selection of images made especially to test the 3D Ground Projection Concept, with an underground space underneath the "street" level, and also objects on the ground and flying above the ground.
The results were satisfying, but showed just how tricky it is to create the illusion, working so to speak "in the dark" in After Effects (distorting the images and moving them in space with a 30 to 45 degrees backward slant), and having to render the Left and Right images and combining them in an Anaglyph to actually see the final 3D image from the spectator vantage point. Also, at this point, I am using mostly 2D objects which appear as cutouts. The challenge will be to replace them with either real modeled full 3D objects(very difficult), or at least use 3D pictures of objects(more feasible). I am actually starting to shoot a collection of those.
There is definitely a sweet spot in the middle. When one moves sideways, the objects slant sideways, when one is too close, the objects slant back, when one is too far, the objects slant forward. The height of the viewer also affects the perspective: taller viewers see objects taller and see more depth.
This means the viewing space will have to be clearly marked, and the rest roped off. The actual public would ideally be limited to about 6 spectators at a time, the shorter ones up front, the taller ones behind.
That means that "the Show" has to be short, around 3 minutes, and repeat in a loop with may be a 30 seconds blank countdown in between for the spectators to move out and others in place.
I also tested some Phantograms which I did several years ago. More about those in my dedicated blog:
ANAGLYPHS and PHANTOGRAMS
They were quite effective, and that was actually the first time I saw them on that scale.
There could possibly be two Shows playing alternately:
1. "The Virtual Sink Hole", with the street caving in revealing the underground, and stuff flying in and out.
2. "Ghost Phantasms", with objects or people appearing to stand above the ground, even float in the air. Obviously, I would create images "a little less challenging" for the Alys Stephens public...
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