Anyoe Usig Syntheyes? I have a Question

[Jerzy Drozda jr]

I’ve been using SynthEyes a long time ago so I don’t quite remember. What I do remember that it was well explained in the attached tutorial that you should have.

The basic rule that is not only SynthEyes related is that you should have at least one marker on the ground, so you know what to refer to later on.

I’m not sure, but I believe that there was this option somewhere in SynthEyes where you could select some markers (trackpoints) that sit on the ground and then you could tell SynthEyes that those trackpoint share the same plane (XY plane in your case – if Z is the UP-axis).

Then all trackers and the camera would be altered so that the points you’ve selected truly sit on the ground.

I hope that helps. Check for tutorials included with the installation. Good luck!

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maltaannon.com – Free After Effects Video Tutorials and more

[Christopher R. green]

Speaking AE — post-SynthEyes — here:
If SynthEyes created and used track points on the plane you need, then, after you import the (.ma) file in AE, check to make sure everything looks perfect (add original footage to comp with track marks and analyze). Then find a track point (null) correctly stuck to that plane and copy its position data. Create a big solid (maybe you can resize the heck out of it; I don’t know the context here), make it 3D and paste the position data into the solid’s position. Now rotate the solid and adjust whatever else (e.g. scale) so that it looks right (being careful to keep it on that plane’s two axes). Lens distortion may need to be ‘faked’. Now, depending on how you plan to set up the composite, you could throw shadows on that solid for a shadow pass, or composite it over other footage by it being white with shadows, multiplied or darkened over layers beneath. Various material settings need to be in order for this to work.
hope this helps …

[Darby Edelen]

[Jerzy Drozda Jr] “I’m not sure, but I believe that there was this option somewhere in SynthEyes where you could select some markers (trackpoints) that sit on the ground and then you could tell SynthEyes that those trackpoint share the same plane (XY plane in your case – if Z is the UP-axis).”

You are correct. After you have your 3d track points you need to set up a coordinate system to define the X, Y and Z axes, otherwise they are pretty much arbitrarily set.

Darby Edelen
Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA