That VFX Guy

StoryBoards for a dome

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:59:00 -0700

Full dome video isn't exactly in its infancy, more like its toddler years, with very little established... but I've found many opportunities to create some standards.

(Click to enlarge)

Storyboard templates can usually be found anywhere online, but boards for a dome are a little illusive... so I made my own, and it seems to be well adopted by the community.

Now some background on full dome video.

Firstly most domes are conforming to unidirectional seating, making the dome more like an immersive movie screen. They generate a full dome image using two projectors with fish-eye lenses that each display 180 degrees of a dome surface creating a full 360 degree image.
Though, there are some domes that use only one projector that displays a truncated 3/4ths image of a dome. This blank area of course is behind the viewer.

My challenge was creating a flat story board that is interpretable for people who aren't used to viewing what is called a "Dome Master". Which is in essence a circle that represents a flattened dome, inside a black square bounding box.

Where the bottom of the circle represents whats in front of you, and the top behind you. This format creates quite a bit of visual distortion that looks like a video shot through a fish-eye lens.

My result was to think of the dome as a viewer and make it encompass only 180 degrees similar to the traditional Raster Area of a story board, but also allow for banded room that could be used to explain what would be going on beyond the persons peripheral. This space allows for staging of objects to come from behind the viewer. Using some minor research in fields of view I tried to bread down what would be considered the range of readable text, and perceivable peripheral image recognition to create a title and action safe. Though these areas are relative to the direction and turning of the head.

The end result is the template you see, it offers a flat view of what might be visible if you were sitting in a standard dome unidirectionally oriented.

As I continue to tackle the new and exciting frontier of full dome video, I'll try to post some of my breakthroughs, insights, and possible failures in this challenging medium.

animation, recent_work, full dome video ,story board, planetarium , Peter Althoff

Space: above and beyond

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:05:00 -0700

Its been a wild ride since october. So here's where I am and what I'm doing.Currently in Annapolis Maryland, and far from Eastern Washington state. I’ve been fortunate enough to find an opportunity working at the Morehead Planetarium of Chapel Hill North Carolina. This is an exciting opportunity to move from the confines of a flat screen and deal with the challenge of a dome surface.

On top of the technical challenges I’m moving out of history and back into my first love of science. Even better yet its astronomy and science. So my official title is Instructional Graphic Media and Animation Specialist. Ultimately a step towards becoming a motionographer.

I’m excited, and hopefully will be able to post work as it becomes available.

Recent Work Night and Day

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:30:00 -0700

These shots feature the before me, after me process... for more info on the specifics of this production cycle view the extended version of this entry, but for now enjoy the screen caps.

Our current cycle is from start to finish (All three phases of production, Pre,Pro, and Post) we have to create a 30 minute animation in 6 months with 15 employees. Thats 43000 frames, and usually over 400 shots, last I checked.The specific details of which I'm currently not at liberty to say. But I will say this, when it comes to a rush in production, it means a lifetime of opportunity in Post. Which is my clever way of saying a nightmare. Though thats what compositing is all about. Its when the budgets low, and times run out, and you've got to make it shine, go team post.

Re-Learning Maya

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:27:00 -0700

So today I just decided to give myself a little refresher in 3D. As I ramp up and collect some work for a new burst of reel footage, and to prepare for some projects I have coming up. It was a heavy blow because we use Maya at the studio, and I’m traditionally a 3ds Max man.

Translating between the two programs will be more formidable than I thought. Though I’m going to keep at it, I’ll be sure to post some screen caps when I’ve got something presentable. Right now its just understanding the interface, and finding where everything is hidden. Its a like brushing up on Latin, when all you know is Spanish... I'm pretty sure that analogy flies.

Sample Work

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 13:44:00 -0700

3ds Max and Composites

Compositing for Animation

Teddy Roosevelt Concepts

Personal Pieces and sketches

Resume

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:29:00 -0700

If you need this resume in the form of a word document download here

Objective: Seeking professional environment that can benefit from resourcefulness and creativity, and are as valuable as talent and skill.

Education:

Bachelors of Art in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics
The Art Institute of Phoenix Mar.2007

Work Experience:

American Animation Studios: Lead Compositor
Mar. 2007- Present

Paul Revere: Midnight Ride- Animated DVD,
Paul Revere: Midnight Ride Teaser- Teaser
Patrick Henry: Quest for Freedom- Animated DVD

-Advanced the post-production process to complete two titles, Participated in production meetings, painted and fixed frames, generated graphic material for distribution and DVD authoring, Created end credits sequence and motion graphics, worked with and supervised multiple departments to track and composite 500+ shots.

-2D Compositing, Matte Painting, Roto Paint and Fixes, Motion Graphics, Tracking, Shot Supervision and Break Down

Bolt Action Design and HOW2.com: Graphic Media Director Feb.2004-Nov.2005

-A Co-founded subsidiary of HelpOnWheels2 (HOW2), in charge of generating Graphic Design, Web advertisements, mailers, and spoke as a company representative at networking functions

-Inner Office Management, Image Manipulation and Retouching, Advertising, 3D modeling, and Animation.

Freelance experience: Jan.2006–Mar.2007

Fallen Film (www.fallenfilm.com)

A New You- Sci-Fi Short film

-Generated 3D human character for clone growing sequence and took direction for sound editing and recording.

-Modeling, Compositing, Texturing, Animation, Rigging

-3ds Max, After Effects, Combustion, Pro-tools, Photoshop

Back from Ashes- Music video

-Shot supervision, participated in production meetings, and generated 3D thorn element for use throughout the video

-3D Modeling, Animation

-3ds Max

Autumns End- Supplementary DVD material

-Generated Motion graphics display to accompany album release, using expression driven animation and a combination of album art, along with personal photography.

-Compositing, Motion Graphics, Digital Image Manipulation
-After Effects, Photoshop , Illustrator

2006 NASA ASPIRE Project-PSA

-3D Pre visualization incorporating a montage sequence and 3D camera move transition in a competitive student generated PSA for NASA.

-3D modeling, Animation, Compositing, Image Manipulation

-3ds Max, After Effects, Photoshop

Skills and Software

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, 3D studio Max, Combustion, Premier, Corel Draw, Pro tools, Flash MX Pro*, Final Cut Pro*, Maya*, Boujou*, DVD studio Pro*

*Familiar with and or exposed to, but not an expert in the use of selected programs

Demo Reel

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 16:28:00 -0700

Continue to view
I understand this is a low quality reel, but serves only as a stand in for the time being.

Download Here ==> Web Demo

Breakdown

Opening: Completion time 5 hours + render time

Context: Title graphics and Animated Gears created specifically for demo reel.

Accountability: Model, Texture, Animate, Light/Render, Composite, and Sound design

Software: 3ds Max, Photoshop, Combustion, Pro-tools, Garage band, and After Effects

Outpost247: Completion approx 18 hours.

Context: Matte and Set Extension part my shot from a team project to create 2-3 minute sci-fi short, featuring no 3d models, had to be practically created.

Accountability: Concept, Storyboard, Model building, Key, Roto, and Matte Paint.

Software: Photoshop, After Effects

Sci-C.L.O.P.S: Completion for this shot approx 32 hours

Context: Match move, digital set extension, 3d animation, one of my shots from a two man senior project.

Accountability: Concept, Storyboard, Shot setup, Model, Texture, Animate, Camera track, Key, Roto, Matte paint, Light/Render Composite.

Software: 3ds Max, Photoshop, After Effects

Parking Lot Chaos: Completion approx 80+ hours

Context: Cg with live action plate, my shot from a student short film.
Accountability: Concept, Storyboards, Animatic, Shot design, Acting, Key/Roto, Model, Texture, Animate, Camera Match, Light/render, Composite Assist Score/ Sound Design

Software: 3ds Max, Photoshop, Combustion, After Effects, Pro-tools

Sci-C.L.O.P.S: Completion for this shot approx 40 hours

Context: Digital set extension, 3d projection matte painting, and animation, one of my shots from a two man senior project.

Accountability: Concept, Storyboard, Shot setup, Model, Texture, Animate, Key, Roto, Matte paint, Light/Render, Composite.

Software: 3ds Max, Photoshop, After Effects

Wobblers: Completion approx 8- 11 hours

Context: Cg and live action, my first simple match move attempt.

Accountability: Camera track, Model, Texture, Animate, Light/Render, and composite

Software: 3ds Max, After Effects

Discovery A-247: Completion time 80+ hours

Context: Live action on a digital set, solo matte shot that had to match required thematic specks.

Accountability: Storyboard, Concept Design, Shot Design, Model, Texture, Animate, Light/Render, Roto/key, and Composite.

Software: 3ds Max, Photoshop, and After Effects

Credits: Completion time 6+ hours

Context: Motion Graphic using 2d, and 3d effects\

Software: 3ds Max, Photoshop and After Effects

Music was Created in Garage band, and reel was edited in FinalCutPro, and After Effects.

Finally A WEBSITE!

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 20:01:00 -0700

Welcome to my portfolio website, currently I am still developing the features of this page and its construction has become my new obsession. Enjoy what media I have available, and let me know if there are any questions or concerns. And Yes I realize everyone looks better in black and white >:D

PeterwAthoff@yahoo.com
Ph. 520-732-4638

Demo Reel

Resume

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