Category: Visualizations

  • Technical Animation:
Wastewater Training

    Technical Animation: Wastewater Training

    Vestis needed a way to explain to their thousands of wastewater technicians what was happening inside the machines that they maintained.

    They also needed to explain how the many disparate machines all fit together into a whole system to process wastewater.

    With their existing training and process documentation as a starting point, we defined their wastewater treatment process in macro and micro detail – everything that happens from when the water exits the washing machines to when the cleaned water and sludge exit the plant.

    Very early on it became clear that we would have to show what was going on INSIDE the equipment. We experimented with different visual styles, paying attention to where the line was between illustrative and realistic.

    The visual language is based on an idealized diorama with textures and materials based on the physical machines, water , and sludge.

    This provides a foundation for engaging illustrations, while allowing some leeway in terms of strict realism.

    We decided that animated illustrations mixed with video of working equipment would be the most effective way to tell their story. We then defined the process in detailed scripts for each module.


    The videos have been well received, resulting in a few genuine ‘a-ha’ moments in the field.

  • Arduino + 3D Printing:
roboCAM MCP

    Arduino + 3D Printing: roboCAM MCP

    The roboCAM Master Control Panel
 is a wired serial controller for 
Blackmagic Cinema cameras. The MCP enables remote control of Focus-Iris-Zoom, as well as ISO, White Balance, Rec toggle, and nearly every other camera setting.

    The MCP is built on Arduino computers enclosed in a bespoke 3D printed aluminum and nylon case.

    To print the case, a virtual scale model of the MCP Arduino boards, physical I/O connectors and buttons were assembled in 3D.

    As well as controlling Focus, Iris, Zoom and all settings of the camera, the MCP was developed to control servos in a robotic camera mount.

    v.1 replaced the expensive custom plastic and aluminum case with an expensive 3D-Printed nylon case and lithe aluminum frame. The design remained the same Arduino brains, touchscreen and buttons as v.0, but the case is more ergonomic (for right-handed people).

    Many emboss patterns were tested for the grip before the flowing swirl was chosen.

    The v.1 design has a very stable feel in the hand. The contoured swirl flows with the hand, and the oversize physical controls are accessible even through gloves.

    The interface on the 2.8″ screen is drawn by the Arduino, created with a combination of static backgrounds with animated sprites overlaid.

    Version 2 stayed wired to communicate with the camera, but moved the UI to a WiFi connected phone over the OSC protocol. OSC allows both faster UI iteration and the ability to animate camera settings with an OSC sequencer.

    The printed aluminum and nylon construction was kept, but the smaller Arduino Feather boards and lack of touchscreen greatly reduced the materials costs.

    The camBOT Master Control Panel is a small form-factor addition to my camera kit that allows me to put a camera anywhere, and still have full control of all settings from a phone or tablet.

  • Virtual Film Production:
Workflow Tests

    Virtual Film Production: Workflow Tests

    Big LED walls!

    Final VFX In Camera!

    Real Time Compositing!

    Film at any location!

    Save on travel!

    Save CO2!

    Save the world!

    You’ve heard the VP hype.

    The reality is that Virtual Production is still Production. You may spend less days filming on location, but you still need to create those locations both virtually and practically. You still need skilled crew, talent, creatives, crafty, and lots of money.

    In 2021/22 I spent some time with the Chicago Virtual Production Group exploring how LED walls and camera tracking might impact the local filmmaking community.

    We did extensive pre-production, and filmed a few tests at various stages around Chicago. What I found is that full 3D CG environments are great, but they seem to be a solution in search of a problem.

    LED walls paired with camera tracking are fantastic technology. They are an evolution of rear projection –  the original real-time compositing.

    VP is a vastly more expensive and convincing rear projection, and has a similar use case – it is not, as the hype makers might profess, a replacement for the entire filmmaking process.

    The Tests & Pre-Viz:

    Virtual Production Real Time Environement

    Unreal Real Time Environment

    Real-Time Compositing Test

    In-Camera LED Wall + Talent Composite
    Composite

    Driving Sequence Pre-Viz

    Previz
    Techviz

    Package Handoff Pre-Viz

    Previz
    Techviz
  • CG Visualization

    CG Visualization

    Communicating ideas visually.

    This current collection of projects represent architecture, video, VR, virtual film production, and product design.

    • Technical Animation:
Wastewater Training

      Technical Animation: Wastewater Training

      Vestis needed a way to explain to their thousands of wastewater technicians what was happening inside the machines that they maintained. They also needed to explain how the many disparate machines all fit together into a whole system to process wastewater. With their existing training and process documentation as a starting point, we defined their…

    • Arduino + 3D Printing:
roboCAM MCP

      Arduino + 3D Printing: roboCAM MCP

      The roboCAM Master Control Panel
 is a wired serial controller for 
Blackmagic Cinema cameras. The MCP enables remote control of Focus-Iris-Zoom, as well as ISO, White Balance, Rec toggle, and nearly every other camera setting. The MCP is built on Arduino computers enclosed in a bespoke 3D printed aluminum and nylon case. To print the…

    • Virtual Film Production:
Workflow Tests

      Virtual Film Production: Workflow Tests

      Big LED walls! Final VFX In Camera! Real Time Compositing! Film at any location! Save on travel! Save CO2! Save the world! You’ve heard the VP hype. The reality is that Virtual Production is still Production. You may spend less days filming on location, but you still need to create those locations both virtually and…

    • Architectural VR:
The Orkas Residence

      Architectural VR: The Orkas Residence

      Off the coast of Washington state on the island of Orcas, just a few miles from the Canadian border, the Orcas House by architect Susanna Douglas has commanding views above the trees that optimize the light on the North face of the island. To get a sense of the views from the house before the…

  • Architectural VR:
The Orkas Residence

    Architectural VR: The Orkas Residence

    Off the coast of Washington state on the island of Orcas, just a few miles from the Canadian border, the Orcas House by architect Susanna Douglas has commanding views above the trees that optimize the light on the North face of the island.

    To get a sense of the views from the house before the house was built, we built a VR walkthrough of the home and surrounding property.

    The location was based on USGS elevations, and the trees were placed based on a tree map of the property. The home could be viewed from multiple vantage points inside and out, to get a sense of light and space.

    All surfaces and finishes were based on BIM specified options, and the sun can be set to any time or day of the year.