February 08, 2006
SciVIZ - Class #4
Paths, Cameras and Objects - can duplicate the camera (in the behavior screen) and create an object that moves on the path just in front of the camera (change position).
Set the default camera and views so that when published on the web it is what we wanted. category-montage-set as active camera (this chooses which camera will see the main view when having two windows).
creating buttons - resources->textures>hold the control key, and a button is formed. A button is on the screen, undependent on the viewing angle. (2D sprite) Then attach a behavior to the button (help-button). Interface->controls->'pushbutton' behavior, drag to the 'sprite' screen. Released material->choose the original chosen picture. drag 'set active camera' to the behavior of the button.
to jump between camera views - setup a transition camera. Key waiter (waits for a space), sequencer (like a switch), edit parameters (put the different camera views) -> then it works like a switch, different camera view for each different pin connecting between the sequencer and the parameter selector. Then connect the 'smooth transition between views' (this is like a third camera that jumps between the static camera views that we have). Can change the speed using the Bezier progression.
If we add a 'Translate' characteristic to the path, and choose the key, the user can control the angle of the camera view.
Can use two different kinds of sounds -
- 2d - background sound
- 3d - spatialized sound - relating to the space
Level manager -
level script - Global characteristics for our world. Can have
just music playing, sky, etc...
week 4 folder -
* can have user move camera paths interactively
* having a grid system - using colors, you can detect when an object crosses to a certain area on a map, the camera angles will change.
* island - look at how they created sound domes, and how they created the sky. Test the sound first on the demo file, then merge with our world file. After that we can change the paths.
* particles - emitter (like volcano), rain drops, clouds (built from many textures). Can have a particle emmiter, that emmits the particles while it moves on a path.
* photoshop /AE - can create a filmstip (the different frames of an animation). Then the particle emitter divides the .jpg into frames, and sort of creates an animation. Then using vorteces (opposite of magnets), you create the movement of the smoke (keep moving the vorteces).
* shader editor - can write and compile OpenGL code (through the Resources tab)
* camera tracking - c/c++ editor which connects to the webcam. Should try to use my pixel by pixel code!
- CAMTASIA - creates a movie from all the screen activity. Good for demos.
Posted by Gilad Lotan at 12:50 PM | Comments (0)
February 01, 2006
SciVIZ - Lesson #3
Creating paths in Virtools.
Backface Culling - when you look at the tube from the outside, you can see to the inside, but when your camera is inside, you cannot see anything from outside of the tube. Can use this to make a sort of sphere over the city of manhattan. Easier to work this way.
When making a camer in Virtools, we add a behavior to the camera that gives it a scripted behavior (this time to follow a given path in our world). More properties - Banking (the angle of the camera as it takes a curve), Click on z (to view front), check out the schematic of the behavior to see the scripting that can be done on the behavior.
Building blocks - controllers - keyboard controllers - we get many possible keyboard behaviors (keywaiter - we pick a key, then it waits for you to press the chosen key). It is possible to encapsulate scripted behaviors within themselves.
Data Import/Export - Its possible to save paths as an array of points. It is also possible to create a path using an array of points in a .txt file. Can use PHP for this in order to create interactive paths that feed off of a real-time live information resource.
Look at pathfinder - (1997) explorer on mars. A NASA project.
Online reference - can see all the help files for virtools.
.cmo - file which can be opened
.vmo - encrypted, can't be opened when put online
Posted by Gilad Lotan at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)