Scaling With Motion Control Part 2¶
▶ Scaling With Motion Control Part 2 — Watch on YouTube
You asked for it, so here it is. Scaling You asked for it, so here it is. Scaling part two. I've already covered an introduction to I've already covered an introduction to scaling in a previous video, which I'll scaling in a previous video, which I'll scaling in a previous video, which I'll leave a link to. So, today I'm going to leave a link to. So, today I'm going to leave a link to. So, today I'm going to focus a bit more on the process in focus a bit more on the process in focus a bit more on the process in detail so that hopefully you can follow detail so that hopefully you can follow detail so that hopefully you can follow along. Just a heads up, if you're along. Just a heads up, if you're along. Just a heads up, if you're planning to use the same approach as me, planning to use the same approach as me, planning to use the same approach as me, you will need a subscription to Adobe you will need a subscription to Adobe you will need a subscription to Adobe After Effects, as well as a plugin for After Effects, as well as a plugin for After Effects, as well as a plugin for Blender called AE2 Blend so that we can Blender called AE2 Blend so that we can Blender called AE2 Blend so that we can copy data from After Effects into copy data from After Effects into copy data from After Effects into Blender using the clipboard. The Blender using the clipboard. The Blender using the clipboard. The approach involves shooting a video, approach involves shooting a video, approach involves shooting a video, tracking the video so that we can solve tracking the video so that we can solve tracking the video so that we can solve for a 3D camera, scaling the tracked for a 3D camera, scaling the tracked for a 3D camera, scaling the tracked camera, exporting an FBX file, which is camera, exporting an FBX file, which is camera, exporting an FBX file, which is just a file format for 3D data, just a file format for 3D data, just a file format for 3D data, importing the move into Flare, and importing the move into Flare, and importing the move into Flare, and running it on your motion control robot. running it on your motion control robot. running it on your motion control robot. Funny enough, this is the technique and Funny enough, this is the technique and Funny enough, this is the technique and the approach that was actually used in the approach that was actually used in the approach that was actually used in part one of scaling, and it's what we're part one of scaling, and it's what we're part one of scaling, and it's what we're going to be focusing on today. The move can be scaled either in your 3D The move can be scaled either in your 3D software of choice or inside of Flare software of choice or inside of Flare software of choice or inside of Flare since Flare has all the tools that you since Flare has all the tools that you since Flare has all the tools that you need to do this natively. Not only that, need to do this natively. Not only that, need to do this natively. Not only that, but you can also import 3D models into but you can also import 3D models into but you can also import 3D models into Flare or spawn some primitive shapes so Flare or spawn some primitive shapes so Flare or spawn some primitive shapes so that you can see how things are lining that you can see how things are lining that you can see how things are lining up in frame. This means that you can get up in frame. This means that you can get up in frame. This means that you can get started quicker without having to learn started quicker without having to learn started quicker without having to learn any additional software. I've personally any additional software. I've personally any additional software. I've personally accumulated some experience in Blender accumulated some experience in Blender accumulated some experience in Blender over the years, so I'm pretty familiar over the years, so I'm pretty familiar over the years, so I'm pretty familiar and I like some of the additional tools and I like some of the additional tools and I like some of the additional tools that are included which help me to align that are included which help me to align that are included which help me to align things and take measurements. The first things and take measurements. The first things and take measurements. The first thing that you'll need is a video that's thing that you'll need is a video that's thing that you'll need is a video that's going to be our background plate. I use going to be our background plate. I use going to be our background plate. I use the Osmo Pocket 3 to film the intro, but the Osmo Pocket 3 to film the intro, but the Osmo Pocket 3 to film the intro, but any camera will work. Just try to be as any camera will work. Just try to be as any camera will work. Just try to be as smooth as possible if you're working smooth as possible if you're working smooth as possible if you're working with the Cineabot Mini so that you don't with the Cineabot Mini so that you don't with the Cineabot Mini so that you don't create any rapid accelerations in create any rapid accelerations in create any rapid accelerations in between frames. Okay. Now, let's open up between frames. Okay. Now, let's open up between frames. Okay. Now, let's open up After Effects so we can track the After Effects so we can track the After Effects so we can track the background plate. You're going to take background plate. You're going to take background plate. You're going to take your background plate and you're going your background plate and you're going your background plate and you're going to solve the camera. Once you solve the to solve the camera. Once you solve the to solve the camera. Once you solve the camera, you get all these little tracker camera, you get all these little tracker camera, you get all these little tracker points and you're going to find uh three points and you're going to find uh three points and you're going to find uh three or you can take an average of them by or you can take an average of them by or you can take an average of them by clicking and dragging and create a plane clicking and dragging and create a plane clicking and dragging and create a plane by right-clicking, set ground plane and by right-clicking, set ground plane and by right-clicking, set ground plane and origin. That's a very important step. origin. That's a very important step. origin. That's a very important step. Uh, and then you can create a solid and Uh, and then you can create a solid and Uh, and then you can create a solid and a camera. So now we have a solid that's a camera. So now we have a solid that's a camera. So now we have a solid that's tracked to our surface. At this point, tracked to our surface. At this point, tracked to our surface. At this point, we basically want to copy the key frames we basically want to copy the key frames we basically want to copy the key frames of the camera using the AE2 blend of the camera using the AE2 blend of the camera using the AE2 blend plugin. There's plenty of tutorials on plugin. There's plenty of tutorials on plugin. There's plenty of tutorials on how to do all of this, but we're going how to do all of this, but we're going how to do all of this, but we're going to create the camera and delete this. And we're going to and delete this. And we're going to create the plane by dragging these four. create the plane by dragging these four. create the plane by dragging these four. Copy and create plane. Um, and then grab Copy and create plane. Um, and then grab Copy and create plane. Um, and then grab our camera so we can see it. our camera so we can see it. our camera so we can see it. Scale it up. Scale it up. Scale it up. And we'll set the background image to be And we'll set the background image to be And we'll set the background image to be the movie clip, the movie clip, the movie clip, which is our video. And at this point, it should be pretty And at this point, it should be pretty close, but it's not going to line up close, but it's not going to line up close, but it's not going to line up perfectly because we need to also change perfectly because we need to also change perfectly because we need to also change the focal length. So, come into After the focal length. So, come into After the focal length. So, come into After Effects, hit control shift Y on the Effects, hit control shift Y on the Effects, hit control shift Y on the camera tracker. We'll copy this focal camera tracker. We'll copy this focal camera tracker. We'll copy this focal length, paste it into our focal length length, paste it into our focal length length, paste it into our focal length here, and now everything lines up nice here, and now everything lines up nice here, and now everything lines up nice and perfect. Now, if you'll notice, the and perfect. Now, if you'll notice, the and perfect. Now, if you'll notice, the ground plane isn't where the ground is ground plane isn't where the ground is ground plane isn't where the ground is in the real world, but that was in the real world, but that was in the real world, but that was intentional because I wanted it to look intentional because I wanted it to look intentional because I wanted it to look like I was defying gravity by standing like I was defying gravity by standing like I was defying gravity by standing on the face of the warehouse. So, rather on the face of the warehouse. So, rather on the face of the warehouse. So, rather than solving the camera normally and than solving the camera normally and than solving the camera normally and then trying to orient the camera after then trying to orient the camera after then trying to orient the camera after the fact, I just went ahead and set the the fact, I just went ahead and set the the fact, I just went ahead and set the ground plane where I wanted and let ground plane where I wanted and let ground plane where I wanted and let After Effects do all the work. Here's After Effects do all the work. Here's After Effects do all the work. Here's the fun part. Here's where the scaling the fun part. Here's where the scaling the fun part. Here's where the scaling comes into effect. Now, you could scale comes into effect. Now, you could scale comes into effect. Now, you could scale in Flare natively. That exists and it's in Flare natively. That exists and it's in Flare natively. That exists and it's very handy, but I personally like to do very handy, but I personally like to do very handy, but I personally like to do this in Blender for one reason. So, if I this in Blender for one reason. So, if I this in Blender for one reason. So, if I create um an empty and I'm going to make create um an empty and I'm going to make create um an empty and I'm going to make a cube and we'll just call this scale, a cube and we'll just call this scale, a cube and we'll just call this scale, then I can grab the plane transform and then I can grab the plane transform and then I can grab the plane transform and the camera transform and then the scale the camera transform and then the scale the camera transform and then the scale last. Ctrl P. Set the parent to the last. Ctrl P. Set the parent to the last. Ctrl P. Set the parent to the scale. So now, as I scale this up and scale. So now, as I scale this up and scale. So now, as I scale this up and down, you'll see that it doesn't really down, you'll see that it doesn't really down, you'll see that it doesn't really appear to have any effect on anything appear to have any effect on anything appear to have any effect on anything except for the grid in the background, except for the grid in the background, except for the grid in the background, and that's what we want. So now, if I and that's what we want. So now, if I and that's what we want. So now, if I create a mesh that's going to represent create a mesh that's going to represent create a mesh that's going to represent my height, so a cylinder, and we'll set my height, so a cylinder, and we'll set my height, so a cylinder, and we'll set the height to be 5' 10 in. the height to be 5' 10 in. the height to be 5' 10 in. And I'll And I'll And I'll go to the front view here and line it up go to the front view here and line it up go to the front view here and line it up with the ground. with the ground. with the ground. Then if we come back into our camera and Then if we come back into our camera and Then if we come back into our camera and I grab the scale and I scale down, I grab the scale and I scale down, I grab the scale and I scale down, you'll notice that everything except for you'll notice that everything except for you'll notice that everything except for the cylinder changes in scale. And we the cylinder changes in scale. And we the cylinder changes in scale. And we get to the point where my height feels get to the point where my height feels get to the point where my height feels roughly what I want it to feel like. And roughly what I want it to feel like. And roughly what I want it to feel like. And as we scrub through the footage, you'll as we scrub through the footage, you'll as we scrub through the footage, you'll see that see that see that uh you know, maybe we need to scale down uh you know, maybe we need to scale down uh you know, maybe we need to scale down a little bit more so that I appear a little bit more so that I appear a little bit more so that I appear bigger. And somewhere in there feels bigger. And somewhere in there feels bigger. And somewhere in there feels pretty good, right? So, now that we have pretty good, right? So, now that we have pretty good, right? So, now that we have the scale roughly where we want it, we the scale roughly where we want it, we the scale roughly where we want it, we need to take some measurements. And need to take some measurements. And need to take some measurements. And Blender makes this pretty easy. So, I go Blender makes this pretty easy. So, I go Blender makes this pretty easy. So, I go to the end. I'm going to grab the to the end. I'm going to grab the to the end. I'm going to grab the measure tool. We want the camera's measure tool. We want the camera's measure tool. We want the camera's height height height at the end. And then we go back to the at the end. And then we go back to the at the end. And then we go back to the beginning. We want the camera's height beginning. We want the camera's height beginning. We want the camera's height at the beginning. And we want the at the beginning. And we want the at the beginning. And we want the distance traveled. So, I'll make another distance traveled. So, I'll make another distance traveled. So, I'll make another key frame or another measurement from key frame or another measurement from key frame or another measurement from here to here. and you just want to make here to here. and you just want to make here to here. and you just want to make sure that you can achieve this move with sure that you can achieve this move with sure that you can achieve this move with the rig that you're trying to run it on. the rig that you're trying to run it on. the rig that you're trying to run it on. Lastly, we just export the FBX of the Lastly, we just export the FBX of the Lastly, we just export the FBX of the camera move and we can head on over into camera move and we can head on over into camera move and we can head on over into Flare. Inside Flare, I start by engaging Flare. Inside Flare, I start by engaging Flare. Inside Flare, I start by engaging the robot and piloting the camera to the robot and piloting the camera to the robot and piloting the camera to roughly where I think the first frame roughly where I think the first frame roughly where I think the first frame will be. And I also make sure that the will be. And I also make sure that the will be. And I also make sure that the camera is at the correct height. Once camera is at the correct height. Once camera is at the correct height. Once it's there, I'll just go to move, it's there, I'll just go to move, it's there, I'll just go to move, import, and I'll check these two boxes import, and I'll check these two boxes import, and I'll check these two boxes so that the move automatically so that the move automatically so that the move automatically translates and rotates to the camera's translates and rotates to the camera's translates and rotates to the camera's current position. Then I'll just select current position. Then I'll just select current position. Then I'll just select the FBX move file in my browser and the FBX move file in my browser and the FBX move file in my browser and click import. Once the move's imported, click import. Once the move's imported, click import. Once the move's imported, I'll make some manual key frames for the I'll make some manual key frames for the I'll make some manual key frames for the track axis so that the arm can actually track axis so that the arm can actually track axis so that the arm can actually reach the camera positions throughout reach the camera positions throughout reach the camera positions throughout the entire timeline. And I'll also add the entire timeline. And I'll also add the entire timeline. And I'll also add some key frames for focus. And that's some key frames for focus. And that's some key frames for focus. And that's pretty much it. If you guys are stuck or pretty much it. If you guys are stuck or pretty much it. If you guys are stuck or you still need some help, uh, feel free you still need some help, uh, feel free you still need some help, uh, feel free to leave a comment down below or reach to leave a comment down below or reach to leave a comment down below or reach out to me directly on Instagram. Thanks out to me directly on Instagram. Thanks out to me directly on Instagram. Thanks again for tuning in to MRMC Academy. I again for tuning in to MRMC Academy. I again for tuning in to MRMC Academy. I hope you guys are enjoying this series hope you guys are enjoying this series hope you guys are enjoying this series so far. Don't forget to like and so far. Don't forget to like and so far. Don't forget to like and subscribe if you haven't already, and subscribe if you haven't already, and subscribe if you haven't already, and I'll catch you in the next one. Peace. I'll catch you in the next one. Peace. I'll catch you in the next one. Peace. [Music]