[SavageEye]

Looks sweet! What kind of projector are you using? I really want to do this but I have a large tree in one half of my yard...

You are correct that the angles will transfer to your finished product. If you don't angle your overlay ( say stone walls) they will look off. What I did was draw in reference lines of my siding so I could match my images to. Last year I did a decrepit run down house with peeling painted siding. My reference lines were used to line up my peeling painted siding image, so I even had everything lined up plank for plank.
M View attachment 323993
Here is a reference image, albeit sideways.

Edit: I don't remember what software your using for video editing, but with serif, if you hold the control key then grab a corner of the video frame, it makes it easier to adjust for this situation. Other software editing programs can also do this by adjusting your video tracks in "3-d" space, just serif made it super simple. That's the main reason I used serif to begin with, the ability to make quick easy adjustments to match those weird angles.

 

[roselanecemetry]

Just wondering where everyone gets there video files from. Started playing with this last night. The out line and photo shop part was pretty easy now just need to get all the video parts together.

 

[Icepick]

Looks sweet! What kind of projector are you using? I really want to do this but I have a large tree in one half of my yard...

I'm using a BenQ 880 ust. I needed ultra short throw to be able to get full coverage of my house. Before I purchased he short throw, I was using a view sonic pj862. I had to have it around 30 feet away, and it only covered about 2/3 of my house.

 

[Icepick]

Just wondering where everyone gets there video files from. Started playing with this last night. The out line and photo shop part was pretty easy now just need to get all the video parts together.

Most of my footage is from videos I own. There are a few exceptions where I found royalty free footage and use it. There is also using google images for static items.

 

[Roselanecemetery]

ok so i made my trace, in windows paint set the properties to 1024x768. screen res is the same . when i bring this image into serif set the project to the same 1024x768 when i look at the full screen video on the house the image dont line up like it did in paint the right side is short if that makes scene any idea on what the issue could be.

 

[Icepick]

ok so i made my trace, in windows paint set the properties to 1024x768. screen res is the same . when i bring this image into serif set the project to the same 1024x768 when i look at the full screen video on the house the image dont line up like it did in paint the right side is short if that makes scene any idea on what the issue could be.

From the messages I get from people having issues using "paint" , it seems like the best work around is when your making the initial trace, have your display set for projector only. This seems to have fixed issues with the lining up. There is also a " pixel aspect ratio" in serif properties that needs to be set at "1.0"

 

[Roselanecemetery]

Ok thanks i will look into that tonight

 

[MET42]

I was wondering how the mapping went and if you have any video from Halloween night

 

[Privateer]

Hi Icepick, great tutorial. I have a few questions if I may:


Firstly, like Icepick, my wife and I go yearly to Disney albeit DLP (Disney Land Paris in France) and we were blown away by the Disney Dreams night show that transforms the castle.

I understand the importance to setting your computer’s resolution to the same as the projector’s native resolution to do the trace of the house.

My current projector (NEC MT106) whilst good as it has 2,600 ANSI lumens, native resolution of 1024 x 768 (XGA) but a throw ratio of approximately 1.5:1 so I’d have to position it across the road to get the effect. I will have to get another projector with a shorter throw ratio.

Question 1: After doing 3D trace do you set your computer back to default resolution?
Once you have done the trace and you’re back inside using your image editing program to make masks do you need to keep the computer’s resolution the same the projector’s native resolution or can you reset the computer back to its default resolution.

Question 2: Best cost effective native resolution?
As I need to get another projector but this time a short throw one, apart from good ANSI lumens, what native resolution should I go for. i.e 1024 x 768, 1280 x 800, or 1920 x 1080? OK that might be a silly question as on paper 1920 x 1080 is better but on terms of projection mapping is there much difference between 1280 x 800 and 1920 x 1080 or even 1024 x 768? Bearing in mind that a higher native resolution is going to cost more.

Question 3: If you upgrade projector do you need to redo 3D trace and start again?
If I bought a 1280 x 800 native resolution projector and used it for a few years and then when prices drop bought a 1920 x 1080 native resolution projector would I need to start from scratch, i.e.redo the 3D trace etc?

Many thanks,

 

[Icepick]

Hi Icepick, great tutorial. I have a few questions if I may:


Firstly, like Icepick, my wife and I go yearly to Disney albeit DLP (Disney Land Paris in France) and we were blown away by the Disney Dreams night show that transforms the castle.

I understand the importance to setting your computer’s resolution to the same as the projector’s native resolution to do the trace of the house.

My current projector (NEC MT106) whilst good as it has 2,600 ANSI lumens, native resolution of 1024 x 768 (XGA) but a throw ratio of approximately 1.5:1 so I’d have to position it across the road to get the effect. I will have to get another projector with a shorter throw ratio.

Question 1: After doing 3D trace do you set your computer back to default resolution?
Once you have done the trace and you’re back inside using your image editing program to make masks do you need to keep the computer’s resolution the same the projector’s native resolution or can you reset the computer back to its default resolution.

Question 2: Best cost effective native resolution?
As I need to get another projector but this time a short throw one, apart from good ANSI lumens, what native resolution should I go for. i.e 1024 x 768, 1280 x 800, or 1920 x 1080? OK that might be a silly question as on paper 1920 x 1080 is better but on terms of projection mapping is there much difference between 1280 x 800 and 1920 x 1080 or even 1024 x 768? Bearing in mind that a higher native resolution is going to cost more.

Question 3: If you upgrade projector do you need to redo 3D trace and start again?
If I bought a 1280 x 800 native resolution projector and used it for a few years and then when prices drop bought a 1920 x 1080 native resolution projector would I need to start from scratch, i.e.redo the 3D trace etc?

Many thanks,

Yes you can set your computer back to its native resolution while working and even using it to playback( if your using it for playback) of your edited mapping. If you want to save a step with not having to make changes back and forth, just set your display to "projector only" when making the map. This should use your native projector settings right from the start.

Question 2 isn't one I can really help with. Of course I want to say go with a 10000 plus lumen, 1920x1080 ultra short throw. But I know everyone has a budget. All I can recommend is to buy what you can afford. Resolution is more important than lumens to me, but that means nothing if people can't see it. Base your lumens on you r ambient lighting. My first year, I used a 1100 lumen machine and it worked just fine.

Question three is an absolute yes, a new map will be needed if you change projectors. The good news is, is that the mapping is the easy part. Going through all your created content to resize and adjust to fit the new projector is the hard part. for me, this is where labeling my video tracks properly helped. Your house won't change so it's just adjusting the actual video track to fit to the new map.

If I missed anything let me know, or if you have any more questions.

 

[Privateer]

Hi Icepick ,

Thanks for the advice, I think what I'll probably do is keep to the "reasonably priced" short throw projectors off eBay that have 50% or more of their lamp life left. This will allow me to get a reasonable projector and if I upgrade every 2 to 3 years then hopefully for the same price as the previous one, I can get a more advanced projector with better ANSI lumens and resolution. This would then give me a reason to re-map and to try different techniques and effects.

I have a couple more questions:

1. Projector safety and security
Halloween where I am iis generally wet and windy. How do you keep your projector safe from the elements and also safe from being interfered with (i.e. moved or shaken) by inquisitive ToTs or at worse picked up and stolen?

2. Effects
On YouTube there are some great Halloween projection mapping videos with the house being knocked down at the finale, bricks or sections of house spinning around like shutters or Rubiks Cube. How are these effects achieved? Are they generic so any video editing software will do it or are they specific to individual software? Are there names for effects dos if you watched a particular Halloween projection mapping videos you would say ah, they did x, y, and z effects. Are there any web resources that list describe a load of effects so that us novice mappers, once we have 3D traced our houses, can say right lets do A, B, C, and D to the effects and add such and such extra videos as well?

Many thanks,

 

[Privateer]

I myself use a program called screen marker. It's free and easy. I run the software and color my entire screen black. Using the line tool,( switching to white) I then draw onto my house tracing anything I want to project on.

Sorry, I'm being a complete newbie on the first step of 3D tracing the house.

I'm trying to work out the actual software that you're referring to as a lot of different links come up for "screen marker", who makes it?

Secondly, can anybody recommend a decent "full screen drawing program" for Mac? I tried Paint 2 which I can't get to go full screen.

Once again apologies from an ex-Windows user who is now floundering in Mac

 

[Icepick]

Sorry, I'm being a complete newbie on the first step of 3D tracing the house.

I'm trying to work out the actual software that you're referring to as a lot of different links come up for "screen marker", who makes it?

Secondly, can anybody recommend a decent "full screen drawing program" for Mac? I tried Paint 2 which I can't get to go full screen.

Once again apologies from an ex-Windows user who is now floundering in Mac

Sorry for the delayed replies. I do not have a Mac , but any "highlight" type program should work. Preferably one that allows free form drawing as well as custom shapes and perfectly straight lines.

 

[Icepick]

Hi Icepick ,

Thanks for the advice, I think what I'll probably do is keep to the "reasonably priced" short throw projectors off eBay that have 50% or more of their lamp life left. This will allow me to get a reasonable projector and if I upgrade every 2 to 3 years then hopefully for the same price as the previous one, I can get a more advanced projector with better ANSI lumens and resolution. This would then give me a reason to re-map and to try different techniques and effects.

I have a couple more questions:

1. Projector safety and security
Halloween where I am iis generally wet and windy. How do you keep your projector safe from the elements and also safe from being interfered with (i.e. moved or shaken) by inquisitive ToTs or at worse picked up and stolen?

2. Effects
On YouTube there are some great Halloween projection mapping videos with the house being knocked down at the finale, bricks or sections of house spinning around like shutters or Rubiks Cube. How are these effects achieved? Are they generic so any video editing software will do it or are they specific to individual software? Are there names for effects dos if you watched a particular Halloween projection mapping videos you would say ah, they did x, y, and z effects. Are there any web resources that list describe a load of effects so that us novice mappers, once we have 3D traced our houses, can say right lets do A, B, C, and D to the effects and add such and such extra videos as well?

Many thanks,

For weather proofing and security, I used a speaker box for 15 inch subwoofers that I sprayed with "plastic-dip" (rubberized paint) to weather proof. It's also quite a heavy box, and far enough away from prying eyes (and sticky fingers) so it isn't an issue. I also bring it in every night (only run the show for the week of Halloween) so as to not create temptation. I will try to get a photo of what I use at some point, or find the thread where I posted photos to already.

For the effects, you can custom build your own in after effects, or use mapping templates (to an extent) to create some cool things. After effects has a crumble effect that I used to make a gingerbread house (for Christmas) crumble away at the end. In serif, you can do like say "spinning shutters", by setting key frames and rotating you video track. I was really hoping to get more tutorials done showing some thing that can be done in serif movie plus, but time has become a precious commodity for me since I have started working again.

 

[Icepick]

Privateer, check your private messages.

 

[Pumpkinsandspiders]

Looks sweet! What kind of projector are you using? I really want to do this but I have a large tree in one half of my yard...

You are correct that the angles will transfer to your finished product. If you don't angle your overlay ( say stone walls) they will look off. What I did was draw in reference lines of my siding so I could match my images to. Last year I did a decrepit run down house with peeling painted siding. My reference lines were used to line up my peeling painted siding image, so I even had everything lined up plank for plank.
M323993
Here is a reference image, albeit sideways.

Edit: I don't remember what software your using for video editing, but with serif, if you hold the control key then grab a corner of the video frame, it makes it easier to adjust for this situation. Other software editing programs can also do this by adjusting your video tracks in "3-d" space, just serif made it super simple. That's the main reason I used serif to begin with, the ability to make quick easy adjustments to match those weird angles.

I also have a few trees that are blocking my way , I bet for many not all having a short throw projector would work best for this.

 

[Privateer]

Hi Icepick,

Many thanks for your help and advice and also for your PM.

I'm kinda making things harder for myself by moving over to Mac (from Windows) so not only do I have to learn the Mac, I have to find the necessary (and right) software which is time consuming. Coupled with the fact that I have other non-Halloween projects on the go plus I have to work means that it's taking me a long time to do things and thus reply. However, I have found a couple of useful things so far for Mac users:

Full screen drawing/paint program for Mac

I have found that Paintbrush by Soggy Waffles is a great paint program and is similar to MS Paint. It allows you to go full screen and you can quickly invert the screen, which makes it ideal for 3D tracing.

Display Menu

Icepick has said how important is is to set your computer's screen resolution to the same as your projectors native resolution, well Display Menu by Thorsten Karrer (in the Mac App Store) is a useful little app that allows you to quickly set your screen resolution. Display Menu is free and can do a limited number of screen resolutions, you can upgrade it to Display Menu Pro for £1.99, which gives you more resolutions.

Now that I have a full screen paint program and the ability to easily change my Mac's screen resolution I shall look for a projector and the necessary cables to connect to the Mac. Then I can create a 3D trace of my house, probably when the weather's a little warmer! As the projector will be a used one, sourced via eBay (or similar), it will take me some time to get my hands on the right projector for me.

I'm glad that I looked into Projection Mapping when I did, as things are progressing very slowly due to the aforementioned interruptions. However I'm enjoying the challenges and looking forward to the finished display.

Regards,