Nxt Shots

These are shots of the setup we used to light the Nxt on the green screen, after deliberation we have decided to construct a box on which to place the Nxt so it can rotate for the purpose of our video so that we can see how the lighting will look in relation to maya.

Uv mapping in Maya

I did a tutorial into how to create a uv map to wrap a design around a shape, i found that it worked how it wanted it to individually but i couldn't work out how to apply it so that all cubes were covered in the same way with them mapped the same aswell. So we have decided to try different textures to see if this looks good.
Below is the map and the version with the imagery i wanted to use on it.

Logo Animated

Mindstorms Logo

We decided that it would be best to create our logo using maya seen as we wanted it to be animated. One of our ideas involves greenscreening the Nxt then zooming out using editing until it's stood on one of the tiny blocks on our logo.

Red Cam

While some of us are dreaming of the latest digital SLR (the new Canon 50D comes to mind), the founder of Oakley has a different idea. Jannard sold Oakley for a tidy sum about two years ago and set about revolutionizing photography and cinema. The product of his imagination exists today in a distinctive Oakley-esque style: the RED Digital Camera.

The RED Epic and RED One are the first cameras to be launched by the company. Calling these a camera is oversimplifying things somewhat. The RED is a completely modular system, in which each component is combined with the others in any desirable configuration. That means piecing together lens, image sensor and battery packs, for example. Each component is available separately, meaning the capabilities of the device can be extended and enhanced.

Take the image sensor, for example. Why not start with the rather pedestrian Mysterium-X for the Scarlet capable of 4.9MP still images. Tired of that low resolution? No sweat: insert the Monstro to gain the same still image at 261MP!

What good is a still image if you want to shoot movies? Of course, the RED is capable of shooting beyond the now outmoded HD resolution. In fact, consumer television sets are not yet in production to display the movies shot at the maximum super high definition resolution. Output is written to any number of storage media, including flash cards, hard drives and RAID arrays.

The RED looks absolutely awesome and i think this is a new way of thinking about shooting, which could mean a new era for special effects and the possibility it will be better for the cgi intergretion into films in the future

Stop motion Film

These are a few examples of stop motion which may be an avenue we pursue. I think the transformers video is particularly good it's very fluid and the sound finishes it off nicely.

New Advert Technique

This is one of my favourite advert out at the moment, i think it's very clever and i really like the way it fits the music. I thought this was done with green screen but it is actually done using camera shots edited. Below is the making of video, which is using a 3d storyboard technique used in making the indiana jones movie to determine the camera timing and shots.

Proper Robots

Almost everyone involved in robotics knows about Tomotaka Takahashi from ROBO-Garage. His surprisingly lifelike creations include Neon, Chroino, and most recently FT - the female robot that walks as if she were actually strutting down a fashion show runway in Paris or New York. In addition to designing highly stylized robots, Takahashi is also one of the key members of TEAM OSAKA, the champion robot soccer team that has consistently walked away with top honors at both Japan and international Robo-Cup competitions.

THE FIRST MANOI

Approximately two years ago Takahashi was commissioned by Kyosho to create a new robot humanoid, based in part on his Chroino design. The result was the first MANOI robot, now named the ‘PF01’, unveiled to the press and public in the Fall of 2005. The PF01 immediately captured the attention of both the press and the public with its distinctive comic/manga character, style, and anime movements. Although the robot was initially scheduled to go on sale by June, 2006, it ran into unexpected production problems and initial shipments have been delayed until November of this year.

Takahashi’s creations are quite literally technological works of art. They are so finely designed and beautiful, that it’s hard to imagine an owner really getting down and dirty with one. The first scratch or part that’s cracked because you were trying to battle it out with a friend’s robot in a backyard ROBO-ONE fight might be a heartbreaker.

At the same time, there are a huge number of hobbyists and enthusiasts that love to express their own personal creativity and personality through their ‘toys.’ To address this still emerging market for personal and hobby robotics, Kyosho decided to expand the original MANOI design concepts. Working closely with Kondo, a leading provider of servos and equipment to hobbyists and experimenters involved in humanoid robotics, they created the MANOI AT01 robot.


DESIGNED FOR HACKING

In order to distinguish between the two MANOI robots, Takahashi’s anime style robot was renamed the MANOI PF01 - the “PF"standing for “PerFormance.” The new MANOI model, specifically designed with the hobbyist and experimenter in mind, was dubbed the MANOI AT01 - the “AT” standing for “Athlete.” Kyosho expects that PF01 owners will be really pleased with the robots performance and styling, while the AT01 owners will be totally turned on by the opportunity to build, customize, and compete with their robot.

Both Kyosho and Kondo are founding members of the Japanese ROBO-ONE organization, so it made perfect sense for them to call on some of the top ROBO-ONE champion robot builders to serve as key advisors for the project. It’s no coincidence that their two advisors, Dr. GIY and T. Sugiura, also happen to hold ID numbers 1 and 2 respectively in the official ROBO-ONE builder database...

By selecting the Kondo RCB-3 controller, Kyosho has made it possible for AT01 owners to take advantage of a wide range of accessories, established know-how, and modifications. For example, almost all the remote control strategies already proven to work with the Kondo KHR-2HV robot and its predecessor the KHR-1, will work with the AT01 with little or no modification. Most owners will initially select an optional RC remote control like the Kondo KRC-1, but other remote control implementations like BlueTooth are certainly feasible.




info from http://www.botmag.com/articles/manoi_1.shtml

Lego Mindstorms Nxt Adverts 3d

These are the 3-d ad's i found for the Nxt, i think they are good but they are a little boring and the movement isn't very life like. Also it gives the impression of more flexibility in the robots joints than is actually achievable

Previous Programmable bricks

The RCX microcomputer is the brain of the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® for Schools system. It receives programs for the ROBOLAB™ software (Windows or Mac) via an infrared computer link and stores up to five programs at a time. The RCX then runs the programs when activated.
Up to three inputs can be used by the RCX to sense events in its environment, which in turn can determine what the three outputs will do to react to the sensing data.



This is the cybermaster it was the first programmable brick Lego released it used IR reflex technology.

Nxt Variants

I decided to construct the Alpha Rex which is the original model, it took me about 2 and a half to 3 hours to build and is quite complex. However they are easy to follow instructions which means that with time younger people could construct it, it is a bit unclear about the wiring but it can be worked out. The Nxt is a very easy to use interface with simple push commands or there is a program on a computer for more complex sequences.

Advanced Variations

Nxt Safe- Someone has far too much time on their hands.


iphone control




gramaphone



slotmachine advcanced nxt tech



controlling with macbook



lego warehouse

Variations

Lego Mindstorms Nxt Adverts

This is a cool adaptation of the Nxt, the advert shows the programmable area of the NXT well but is still quite poor looking.


This advert shows a good example of the wireless programming again, i definitely want to show this in a similar way


This i the worst one in my opinion it has the worst acting i've seen. the guy doesn't even connect lips with the girl when he kisses her.



This advert reminds me of home and away it uses strange camera angles and bad shot's. i really don't think any of these adverts are any good, i don't like the camera angles, i think the acting is weak and i think it's dated. However they show good usage of the programmable features and variation on the original bot.

Lego Mindstorms Nxt Adverts

Again i am less than impressed with the professionalism of the advert, i think the acting is particularly cheesy but then again if it's aimed at a younger age range maybe it appeals to them. Using the psp could make early teens think that makes it really cool.

Lego Mindstorms Nxt Adverts

This is a poor advert, to me it looks like it's from the late 90's rather than 2006 when the nxt was launched. It's a good example of how versitile the robot is but it doesn't do it justice they just look low budget.

Lego Nxt Robot

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT

The next generation of robots!
Create the smartest, strongest and most advanced LEGO® robot ever, in as few as 30 minutes! The new NXT Intelligent Brick, your robot's "brain," features a powerful 32-bit microprocessor and more memory, plus support for USB 2.0, Bluetooth and more!

A highly versatile palette of LEGO TECHNIC® elements combines with state-of-the-art ultrasonic, sound, light and touch sensors in the next generation of intuitive robotics. With included Quick-Start guide, easy-to-use software and step-by-step building instructions, beginners and experts alike can create humanoid, vehicle and animal robots that obey every command!

Programming software is now available for both PC and Macintosh, plus with Bluetooth support, you can even command your robot from your mobile phone!

Moving Image Pathway

Lego Mindstorm Nxt Rationale

I have decide to go down the moving image pathway due to how this is the area of digital media which I want specialize in. The main reason I have chosen this specific brief is due to how I feel it offers me a chance to gain more skills with the cameras and with after effects, also it will allow me to use equipment I have not used before. I also chose this brief due to how it is to do with advertising which I feel is an area of video which I may persue more. With this brief I want to experiment with the different kinds of shots you can do, I want to use a track and dolly system to experiment with the effect which this gives.
I have chosen the Lego Mindstorm Nxt brief, when I was younger I used to play with Lego all the time, it was just bricks, wheels, windscreens, basically click and play. As I got older I had Lego Technics, which started off as Lego “expert builder” many years before I was even born, this was more complex and involved gears, cogs, batteries and elements with light and sound. In 1985 the first Technic Computer Control was produced, which was an educational system whereby Technic robots, trucks, and other motorized models could be controlled with a computer. In 2006 the NXT was released which is the next step, it’s fully programmable and uses scensors to react with it’s environment. I want to do this brief because it’s something which I am interested in and feel I have a bit of background knowledge in the area.

Evaluation

The idea of this brief was to create a piece of video, an ident for a channel of our choice from the list we were provided with an to incorporate visual effects and motion graphics. I first chose to do an ident for channel 4 on the fear season, after thinking of the idea for a little while I decided that this was not what I wanted to do and changed my idea to the Sci-fi channel due to how I could see more scope for using visual effects. I chose to use maya to create my spaceships because i felt as though I had enough knowledge to use it for modelling, but I didn’t feel I was comfortable with it. After creating the model I rendered it, then exported it, which is where the main problems with this project occurred. I discovered that animating cameras in maya then putting it into after effects created an effective look, however the first footage I tried it on was too shaky which meant that even with image tracking it still looked well out of place, also lighting it was a nightmare as well due to how in maya I was trying to emulate the position of the sun in the footage but it is very difficult due to how to view it you have to render then import and if it’s wrong you have to go and change it in maya then re-export it and see if it fits.
When I went out to shoot my new footage I went prepared with a tripod so the footage would be stable, also I had in mind the fact that I needed to note the position of the sun and the fact I needed to be aware of the camera movement as well. When I was using this footage I found that it was far easier because there was very little camera shake which meant I could concentrate far more on ensuring the lighting and movement which makes the overall composition look far better.
I found the most useful part of this module was the fact it taught me that planning is far more important that I first thought and that I really like after effects. Also I took a lot of knowledge from creative cow tutorials which really helped.

Typography & logo

For the type i began by looking at different fonts, i decide on a font called Alien Encounter which is very x-files like. I then did some tutorials into text scrolling and lighting and more advanced effects. I decided that using a glow and blur effect combined with a layer mask creates the best effect.


I also used the sci fi logo took it into illustrator created an outline with the pen tool so it's vector then brought it back into after effects where i added a light beam to it to make it look more like the scifi channel's own logo.

Maya In video

This video examples the fact that if you don't use a tripod footage especially when zoomed is very shakey. In after effects there are ways that you can stabilze the movement but i feel like that is one thing too much to do in the time constraints. Also i have had to modify my original idea, in a crit it was suggested i take it more like a news shot as these are slow panning shots. I am still going to use the Bridgewater Place building just i will use a tripod and have my idea as doing a shot of the building then a UFO flies out the top and when it gets closer to the camera it cuts out. Below is the actual footage that i will use.

3D Maya

I decided to use maya to create the spaceship, i have very little knowledge of how to use it so it is a challenge. I started by modeling a ship.



After making the ship i exported it and placed it into after effects, animating it in maya. I found it very hard to match the movement to the video due to how it is very shakey, also it is very difficult to light 3d to match the video. I used masking to let the ship pass behind the trees, one thing which i have realised is that lighting the 3-d is made easier as is animating if i film my shots from a tripod to give stability.

Sci Fi ident research

Tutorials

Considering that some of my footage was shot without a tripod it is quite shakey, i went on to the internet and did a tutorial in motion tracking and motion stabilisation.

Location shots

These are some buildings which i thought would suit the purpose for my video, i have decided that a video with minimal movement is best also that a tripod is an essential.
These are shots of a building behind West Yorkshire Playhouse, i thinks it's called quarry house. I thought of this as an option due to how it looks sinister and has a strange feel to it with large dark glass and a strange structure on the top.




This is Bridgewater place it's the largest building in Leeds and is 110m tall.

Storyboard and Animatic

The building which i think would be best to use and the one which i have drawn in my storyboard is called Bridgewater Place and it is the tallest building in leeds, which means that the footage of a UFO coming from there may be more realistic due to how it's very large and very imposing upon the surrounding buildings

SCi Fi idea

I decided due to how i wanted to use maya again that i would make an ident for the sci-fi channel. The idea that i have is to film a shot of either a building or skyline and then for a UFO to appear and move around the screen, then for the camera to be knocked to the floor (just the view not the actual camera) due to a hand trying to stop filming. I plan on shooting in Leeds city centre, weather permitting on a reasonably unclouded day. If the weather is not fantastic i plan on shooting footage anyway but i will then have to concentrate more on lighting the UFO accurately.

I began by getting imagery and examples of idents used on the sci-fi channel, below is the logo which i took into illustrator then used to create a vector image with the pen tool. this meaning it won't pixelate at any size.

After effects

Having never used after effects before these are a few effects that i tried out, i think the ease of creating some of these effects is unbelievable. Obviously these are only simple effects but i think that applied correctly they will look highly professional.

Idea

Initially the idea i had for the fear season was that someone most probably a female would be reaching for a magazine on a high shelf shot from a high shot looking downwards showing a screwdriver resting precariously, cuts to flashback of housemate setting it up like that earlier. Then cut to a side shot, cuts to black when she starts pulling the magazine, then cuts to her on the floor laying from side angle then pans round to top shot. She is laying dead her body is crumpled into the shape of a channel 4 logo.

Idents

This brief is to create an ident for a well known channel, using the visual and typographical effects were are to be shown in tutorials using After effects. I originallty planned to do Channel 4 which is an ident for the fear season, the work i started towards this is below. I however changed my mind due to how i was more intersted in using special effects which the sci-fi channel gave me more of an option to use with the series being on UFO's.

Channel 4 Ident Videos

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eVAgXbgFReQ CITY SCAPE
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_9PhF2S5UVk TOKYO
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DSwEjmV8VVk PIGEONS
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkw-RaAyYVE HAY
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Sk18jPCCc URBAN STREETS
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UeAFh-n6YNI HIGH RISE ESTATES
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7z0qMb8YNI PYLONS
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eCf2FVbnrOU ROAD SIGNS
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jL9lRn6ridg DOCKYARD
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rYkBgRdcQUk ALIENS
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bZEbv7tTVnk ROLLERCOASTER
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PXgl7eWTS-I GENERIC IDENT

Cover Design

Editing Effects

Title Design

Cover Examples

Green Screen

This is an instructional video for green screening, the main points that i noticed are the screen itself needs to be un-wrinkled and the lighting is very important. I want to use green sreen and ad an animated background. I plan on using video editing also to do some diffo effects.

SturyBoard

Cool Advert

Lacoste-future
by lacoste-future

Script

This is a version of our horros story after we have had our crit and some interesting input has been applied, we have decided to twist the story far more than we originally had. But the darker the better, also we have locations and actors almost finalised.

(Beggining with a ms)A young girl is sat on her computer, she is using an instant messenger to talk to a friend. (Cut to view through her eyes CU on computer screen) you see the last few messages of her conversation, it’s from a boy saying we’ve been talking for a while now are we gonna meet soon, you hear her voice in her head, “should i go? i’ve been talkin to him for a while i think i should” they arrange to meet at a bridge loacally to the pair. (cuts to shot through her eyes) she sees a male halfway across the bridge lookin at the river, (cut to LS, zoom to CU of male face, cut back to view through her eyes) “oh no this was a bad idea, he looks old enough to be my dad” She turns to walk away (trough eyes) when she sees a young man,(shot through his eyes) he says “hi it’s jake” (shot from her eyes) “thank god” . He suggests they go for a walk in the woods, she is more than happy to get away from the bridge. (LS) They start walking, they head through these woods filled with bluebells (through girls eyes LS) she turns and sees the old man walking behind them, (MS from side) she grabs the boys arm and walks briskly off deep into the woods, (through his eyes CU) he stops as does she they look deep into each others eyes (alternating CU) both close their eyes, as though they are going to kiss (screen goes blank) lots of banging and the male grunting, the girl stays quiet. (cut to a CU of a computer screen) hear a double click and a photo album opens up on screen..........................pictures of the boys mutilated body. (MS) Girl on instant messenger again.

Horror SFX makeup

We are making a short horror film which is to be 2 minutes long for a competition bieng held by the channel zone horror, one of my friends does SFX makeup at uni and these are some examples of the sort of work she does...

Gun Colour

Alien weapon