#035 GAD BA1 P4: 3D Projection Mapping - Part 5

With the Space Invaders done, I moved on to the Mario part of the projection. Same as with space invaders, I used Adobe Flash for the graphics. I grabbed bits and pieces of the mario game and put them into flash and create a replica. I then chopped it up and put it in photoshop to create the level and put the 2D front face of St Georges behind it, this time I was more free with the location of the objects in the design.

Although I was a little but more loose with the geographical location of the objects on the design I still utilised some of the points. For example, the shoot lines up with the far right window, the floors line up with the bottoms of windows, the floating blocks line up with the window frames.

#034 GAD BA1 P4: 3D Projection Mapping - Part 4

With the 3D completed I moved on to providing a demo of the actual projection. First I'm starting off with the simplest, space invaders. Below are just two stages of creation.

Done on Adobe Flash I simply created a standard block/pixel and copy and pasted it to create the graphics. I was comparing it to an image I found on the internet of the space invaders game and created a near perfect match. The idea is to project this image up onto the building and make use of the windows by using them as the dot matrix. Although there won't be enough windows for the full sized version of the game, a mini one can easily be created (See below):

#033 GAD BA1 P4: 3D Projection Mapping - Part 3

Unfortunately for a few days I was stuck in bed due to some prat at a local Chinese not being able to cook properly... I was still able to work on my 3D model, but much less efficiently thanks to the lack of a computer mouse and constant vomiting.

So here it is:

Although the model is not 100% accurate, I am fairly confident that it will be a fairly close match dimension wise. I used the photographs that Kai Shepherd took as a comparison. I counted the amount of bricks (which are a standard size of 225mm long and 75mm tall with a 5mm joint allowance on each side for mortar) and got the basic dimensions for the building, which I then drew up in rough. I then began on the detail using standard sizes for the era that this building was constructed (apart from the windows) and filled in more detail such as the arches and outcoves. I then used the close up pictures to design the windows, counting bricks for a rough size of the window frame and then dividing it up by the amount of windows with the allowance for the window frames.

Here is the 2D front face I will use for the animation concept designs:

#032 GAD BA1 P4: 3D Projection Mapping - Part 2

Okay, so with my first projects out of the way, time to get cracking. I've teamed up with Kai Shepherd for this project, having worked with each other before we know each others style of working. We sat down and discussed what we would do for the projection and came up with a game related projection. We wanted to do something that the majority will be familiar with, such as classic arcade games like Space Invaders and Mario. Surprisingly we both had the same building to use in mind, that being the St Georges Art Building (Shown below).

With the base set, I began researching projection mapping and I am I found an interesting link (http://vvvv.org/documentation/how-to-project-on-3d-geometry), it pretty much covers how projection mapping is done and the processes behind it. I'm not going to waste time by quoting paragraphs from it, it is plain to see how extensive it is in the explanation of project mapping. On the web page I noticed one specific part more than the rest... To achieve the best quality projection mapping, the projection must be specifically made for the thing it is being projected on. In the case of this project it will be on the St Georges Building. Not only does the projection need be specifically made for what it is being projected on, the projection design requires a 3D model of the object it is projection on to allow for the graphical points of the building such as windows. For the purpose of design, I will create a 3D model of the St Georges Building: As this is just a concept design I will not go to great lengths to make it accurate, I will just use my pre-existing skills from an architectural background for the dimensions of window pains, bricks, arches etc. If the project is carried forward there will no doubt be an accurate blue-pint for this building as it is a historic building (If not, it is possible to measure the building using a laser distance meter).

While I handled the 3D mock up, Kai began to work on the basic concept that we had agreed on.

#031 GAD BA1 P4: 3D Projection Mapping - Part 1

For the past few weeks I've not been able to post on blogger for some reason, so better late than never, here are my posts for Project 4 - 3D Project Mapping.

Slightly out of the blue, a 4th project for the course (or 5th if you count the Archant Project) was sprung on us. The project was to research, design and develop a site-specific, projection-mapped light show to accompany the undergraduate exhibtion at NUCA. Slightly aggravating as Marie-Claire assured me that there would defiantly not be another project after submission (I need to complete Projects 1, 2 and 3 as I was delayed by a week and had an extension due to a legal battle), this will no doubt limit my time and effect my work, which I wanted to avoid. Anyway, rant over... Onwards!

To put it simple 3D Projection Mapping is the projection of mapping a 3d projection onto a 2D plane. Still confused? So was I... Basically it is projecting a 3d animation onto something while keeping it looking like is is 3D. First of all, we were shown a variety of examples of 3D Projection Mapping, mostly used to advertise something. The examples shown were projections on to buildings, which doesn't have to be done, but commonly is. In the case of this project we were tasked to use one of the buildings on the NUCA campus... and that was pretty much all we were given to work with, research, design and develop a 3D projection-mapped light show of your choice on a building of your choice in a group of your choice in a maximum of 5 people.

I had some ideas of what to do, but for now I am pushing it all to one side until I have finished my first three projections.