PFTrack F2 Rename

F2 = shortcut key for 'rename' function.

PFTrack Attach Masks to Tracked Points

After doing a manual 2D point track, you can attach masks to the point. Right click mask under the bin and select "attach" and point to the 2D point track of choice.

PFTrack Camera F-Curve Smoothing

For jittery solutions, go into the Camera's F-Curves, select the curve points, and hit the numeric pad " + " to smooth out.

Must recalibrate / solve the camera again before anything takes into effect.

PFTrack Solution Extension

Learning more about PF Track, it seems like if you can't get a clean solution solving for the entire shot, you can solve the part that you know works, and "EXTEND" a solution.

I had always assumed the software took the entire shot as a whole when doing the camera solve, but it turns out you can solve a solid section first, then give the software more hints as you extend the camera solution.

Quadro 4000 / Maya 2010 Multi-Display Issue

The problem:

There's an issue using multiple displays with the nVidia Quadro 4000 and Maya 2010. When set up as separate monitors, OpenGL is only supported on the monitor designated as the primary. I get an error message saying that OpenGL is not supported on the videocard, or that the drivers are not set up properly.


The workaround:

Instead of 'Dual-View', switch over to 'Horizontal Span' (or Vertical Span). This makes the operating system consider your multiple monitors as one giant monitor, which makes it think all your monitors are the primary monitor.

Gearing Up for 64bit Transition

I've reached the realization that for the upcoming film I'll be working on, a 32bit pipeline just isn't going to cut it. An upgrade to an all 64bit pipeline is in the works, starting with a Snow Leopard upgrade on the editing system.

The PC workstation will receive the first Windows XP 64bit upgrade. If everything goes well (aka computer doesn't explode), the Quad-Quad nodes will receive the same upgrade.

Upgrading the workstation to 8GBs of ram instead of the sad 4GBs currently on the workstation. If there's a huge difference in render performance, might opt to upgrade all of the Quad-Quad Nodes to 8GB of ram as well.

Also to address the failed 400CX power supply on the Quad-Quad Node #2, I'm upgrading the workstation's PSU to a Corsair AX850, one of Corsair's 'gold' line of power supplies. The current 650watt PSU was setting off voltage drop alarms, which I suspect to be the reason for numerous crashes. Let's see how the 'gold' line 850watt will do. Node #2 will receive the 650watt.

More to come. Yay!

DJ Hero 2: Sliding Notes Rig Malfunction

PROBLEM:

Had an issue registering polygon objects perfectly on a NURBS surface. They seemed to deform differently, no matter what the tessellation values were on the surfaces themselves, or the lattice which was the center of the rig.


SOLUTION:

Swapping to the same type of geometry worked like a charm. Polygon surface, polygon objects.

SquarePushers RnD

Did some work for a project that didn't pan out, but I thought the test was pretty cool so here it is:

SP_SPHERES_v004_RnD_H264.mov

For this test, 3D was done in Maya, rendered in Mental Ray. The depth of field and blinking-on effect was animated in After Effects, utilizing the different passes out of Maya. Lit entirely with an HDR map.

Energizer Inductive Charging Pad

Just finished 3D work for Energizer's new Inductive Charger for the iPhone 3G/3GS and Blackberry Curve 8900's under the creative direction of the guys at TBWA\CHIAT\DAY.

Did all of the 3D work and compositing for the opening intro sequence (minus the streaky glows, that credit goes to Jeff Dickson, native AfterEffects extraordinaire at TBWA\CHIAT\DAY), as well as the product info page.

My 15" MacBook Pro doesn't have vertical resolution to do a proper screengrab, so screenshots are coming as soon as I can hop on a workstation with an internet connection.

Intro + Home Page:
http://preview2010a.energizer.com/inductive/

Product Info Page:
http://preview2010a.energizer.com/inductive/product-overview.aspx

Open Projects 2010

After the XBOX360 (Codename: "BOB") was kidnapped, productivity skyrocketed. Here are the current open projects.

Fat Knight Doodle

Another waiting-out-traffic doodle at the office. This one's of a fat knight. Needs more detail in the helmet and shoulder guards etc, but I'll have to post an update later on. First time really using any kind of color.

Oh one last note, this was on the iPad! Autodesk Sketchbook Pro for the iPad to be exact.

Removing Reference Edits

Editing the skin weights on a referenced model created 'explosive' results upon saving and loading again. I had figured out that you can list all edits done to the referenced models and delete selectively, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why my selections weren't deleting.

Then I came across this article.

Seems like you have to UNLOAD your reference first, before any deleting was allowed. -___-