Sharper projection mapping/camera mapping? (/possible to increase shadow map beyond 4000?!)

[Tim Drage]

Hmm just did some further experimenting and it seems like changing the camera angle/zoom effects the sharpness of the shadow map! So I might try altering that, tho alas I think that’ll mean rebuilding my 3D wall layers from scratch. :-S

Any other suggestions still welcome, thanks!

[Tim Drage]

Thanks for the quick reply. Like I said in my original post, the map I’m using to project is 3000px wide (and 2292 high, so it’s taller than 16:9) so in theory it’s much bigger than my 1080p comp. (and I tried an even larger 5000+ wide random image with the same sort of results) It’s 300dpi in photoshop but after effects doesn’t pay any attention to that does it?! :-S And i’m using the maximum 4000 shadow map resolution in the comp 3D settings.

I did some more experiments and turns out a AE text layer also casts non-crisp shadows in the same comp.

A wider camera angle definitely seems to improve the sharpness of any of the projection maps/shadows I’ve tried so far. my original problematic attempt was arbitarily a 35mm camera, in my tests I tried a 20mm one to much better effect. Changing the camera angle messes up my original half-built comp of course but I think* it doesn’t really make any difference if I start again in a new comp with a wider camera.

(*it’s too friday afternoon to quite get my brain around whether the camera angle even makes any difference but I think I’m correct that it’ll just mean the grid solids i line up will be a different size/distance from the camera?)

[Tim Drage]

What

[Tim Drage]

I explained all that, I even made a diagram with.black metal dingbat font. AND I have pretty much answered my own question anyway. I was waiting for a bus and conceptualised the whole shadow map resolution thing; naturally if the shadow map is a specific size then a camera more zoomed in will be more low rez.

[unhelpful and unprofessional comments removed, since this old thread has been bumped] :-S

[Ahmad Elmahmoudy]

Hello There,
A quick note in that case, first make sure the comp size is matching the projection output.
second if it’s available to move the projector try the best position. and I think less wider lence will give better results with adjusting the focus the output of the projector
I know it’s silly to say the light condition but I have to say.
Ahmed
id-labs.org

[Ridley Walker]

[Tim Drage] “You’re the worst support/tech forum poster I know TBH. “

Tim;

I’m not sure whether you got off to a bad start today, but in Dave’s defence he is a valued member of the Cow Community. Over the years his contributions here have save my bacon many times. He deserves your respect and if he doesn’t respond to your liking you’re welcome to ignore it.

TBH your post, while not lacking in detail, was a bit of a ramble and difficult to decipher.

I hope you realize that other every poster here is a user like yourself, other than Todd Kopriva, no one has a direct affiliation with Adobe or gets paid to post on the forum.

[Tim Drage]

Yeah that was pretty uncalled for on my part to say the least, sincere apologies to Dave.

and yes I do realise that.

and Ridley Walker is a great novel!

[Ridley Walker]

[Tim Drage] “Ridley Walker is a great novel!
“

True that.

[Michael Underwood]

Just came accross this thread while dealing with this so I wanted to reply in case anyone else was dealing with this. If setting the shadow map rez to 4000 doesn’t quite get rid of the blurriness, you can leave it set on “use comp size” and just make your comp size 8k or more. Then crop your comp by putting it into another comp that is your final output size.

[Roei Tzoref]

thanks Michael that’s a solid workaround! if anyone finds another please share