Projection Mapping

Arturo00 · Post by **Arturo00** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:41 pm

I've heard of this technique before and have seen some videos in the past, but I was reintroduced to it recently. Now that I am doing visuals and projections myself, I have a new found appreciation for this technique.

Anyone into this? Any tips on getting started. I assume you'll need specialized software for the more complex endeavors. I'm mostly interested in animating the edges of the shapes (like in the second video I posted).

below are a few videos, including a very simple demo/how-to video and a more complex how-to video.

This is one of my favourites:
[video][/video]

This is the first example of Projection Mapping I saw, and probably the most impressive:
[video][/video]

Impressive:
[video][/video]

Very basic how-to:
[video][/video]

More complex how-to:
[video][/video]

There are tons of other examples on youtube. If you haven't seen this before, prepare to be blown away!

barto · Post by **barto** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:34 pm

something im interested in too. it seems that a lot of the content is premade for the projected surface. id be curious to see what type of real time controls are available once you set up your projection map.

this blog has a lot of stuff on projection mapping as well as other video art related stuff:
Createdigitalmotion

samn · Post by **samn** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:52 pm

Finally something I can contribute to. I have done this a bunch it's fairly easy with the right program and a decent projector I'm on my phone so ill give a couple recommended programs and then a more detailed explanation later. Righ off the bat for ease of use you should use some vj software: resolume, module8. I recommend those 2 as the 2 big mapping programs play really well with them. You then feed video into a program such as mad mapper which lets you form fit your visual to a surface. People use a lot of foamcore constructions as its cheap and lightweight. It's fun to do because people really go nuts for it . It's also become really easy with mapping progs.

Arturo00 · Post by **Arturo00** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 8:46 pm

There's a free program for Windows/Mac called VPT that looks alright. http://hcgilje.wordpress.com/vpt/

mr_coops · Post by **mr_coops** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:19 am

Hi guys, I'm part of a VJ ccollective and we do some mapping.
Priamrliy we use macs and a piece of software
http://www.madmapper.com/

this lets you take a feed and then assigne quads to it, these quads can then be moved and sized within your stage to fit the surface you want to project onto.

Other software that we have used includes vdmx, modul8 and resolume arena. All these seem to have their pros and cons.

If you're wanting to be very 3D focused then you need to work out projector distance from object and usuing the focal length and position of your projector go into a 3D package and recreate your 3D scene replacing the projector with a camera which has same focal length, you can then animate lights etc in your 3D space.

The other ways to do it 2D would be to use a drawing package and make your drawing area full size on your projector, you'd then draw in white on a balck background onto the areas in your space you want to project onto, make sure this canvas is at the full resolutioon of your projector.

Import this file into the top layer of your video/vJ software give it luma key and you should hopefully see visuals on the areas you want.

Hope that makes sense and is useful.

wcfields · Post by **wcfields** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:15 am

We did some projection mapping this summer with a focus on non-geometric shapes with photo-resistor activated oscillators embedded. A major hurdle we are facing is "circles" and why MadMapper did not put those in the list of shapes.

The spacial tool in Mad Mapper is less than stellar for exacting measurements, but does give a good idea of the areas to conform to.

[video][/video]

M6live · Post by **M6live** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 12:34 am

Redacted.

nickciontea · Post by **nickciontea** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:19 am

Im looking to work on projection mapping as a personal project in February.

My hope is to run the LZX as teh source with really simple maps.. SO.. I need to use a capture device running into resolume/modul8 to get it over to a program like madmapper?

any thoughts on best way to do this would be great. especially if different than I am thinking above.

I have a matrox mx02 mini that I currently use for capture. But have never messed with syncing that into a VJ program

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:34 am

This is not an area where I have any experience, but as a regular CDM reader, I've been wanting to try this for ages. I keep hoping a project will come along which will allow me to suggest projection mapping. Someday...

mr_coops · Post by **mr_coops** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:23 am

Hi again guys couple of points to further this I guess.
Modul8 and madmapper are both mac only.

wcfields - madmapper does circles, squares, triangles and masking, with meshwarping.
Also the spatial scanner is used to create content off site. So you'd go to the space, setup projector where it will be for the 'show' and create a scan.
This then gives you an image file that you can import into after effects etc etc and create your content over the top of that.
You then go back to venue for show set-up as you did before, load up your file and with a few minor tweaks boom you're good to go.
Example of here
School mapping

Madmapper can take input from any syphon source so that coould be a way to hijack a lzx feed.

Most other VJ software will allow you to use a capture from a card, each software is different you just need to locate the area where you can choose sources.

If you're just mapping flat objects there are again various methods, the trickiest thing unless your video is prerendered as say a circle then some kind of masking will be required. This can be quite hard as usually you only get a global mask which more often than not is the top layeer of the stack (your content videos lie beneath this)
You can create a mask using photoshop -
set up projector, put your photoshop workspace onto the projector, make full screen and then just draw where you want the masks.

This technique can also be used within modul8 as well using the canvas.
Resolume arena also has in built mapping functionality.

If it's just rectangle shapes than most recent vj software will allow multiple layers and allow you to position and resize these within your projector throw

again here or some links to some things, though unfortunately I haven't done any tutorial vids

club night, not spatial scanned mapped on day
testing on odd shapes modul8 and madmapper
Boxes testing#

you get the idea

Edit...
3D mapping is generally done with a different workflow as I mentioned in my earlier post, all about focal lengths, projector angle and ability to recreate your space in a 3D environment at which point I fail.

I'll be happy to answer any questions if I'm able to...

mr_coops · Post by **mr_coops** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:27 am

oops, for capture I weither use a
pinnacle usb or an easycap something or other.
There is a little lag but I have'nt got money for a better one

wcfields · Post by **wcfields** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:13 pm

mr_coops wrote: wcfields - madmapper does circles, squares, triangles and masking, with meshwarping.
Also the spatial scanner is used to create content off site. So you'd go to the space, setup projector where it will be for the 'show' and create a scan.
This then gives you an image file that you can import into after effects etc etc and create your content over the top of that.
You then go back to venue for show set-up as you did before, load up your file and with a few minor tweaks boom you're good to go.
Example of here
School mapping

I've used both and have to say the meshwarping takes a lot of time for something that could be a pre-built in shape. Also, good luck trying to get a nice round circle from meshwarping.... Not that I'm knocking that its an amazing piece of software, but c'mon, give us circles/ovals!

The spatial scanner is adequate, I used it for the image I posted, but ultimately just created a transparent PNG and layered video underneath. Burned it off to a DVD and set it to loop for the installation. Still needed to tweak the ultimate output of the scanner and do some things like hang black fabric behind the sculptures to make them more distinct from the background.

mr_coops · Post by **mr_coops** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:01 am

Hi a fields,
Just done a quick vid of making ovals, I agree it is hard to get the oval spot on, your installation sculptures didn't have clean lines as such so maybe would've needed mesh warping. For hat I'd relate my quads a little larger Han needed and hen used a mesh warp to bring it in tight. Like any software or technique there are always pros and cons I agree.
Perhaps the method I suggested using photoshop would've been a way to go. Drawing each shape individually as a layer in photoshop theming these layers to create your content...

Mad mapper ovals

Arturo00 · Post by **Arturo00** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:50 pm

nickciontea wrote:Im looking to work on projection mapping as a personal project in February.

My hope is to run the LZX as teh source with really simple maps.. SO.. I need to use a capture device running into resolume/modul8 to get it over to a program like madmapper?

any thoughts on best way to do this would be great. especially if different than I am thinking above.

I have a matrox mx02 mini that I currently use for capture. But have never messed with syncing that into a VJ program

Hey Nick, did you end up getting this going?

A friend of mine is into mapping and we really want to try feeding my video synth into his Macbook to map my synth live! I'm not sure if all we need is a capture device to input the signal or what? Will the HDMI/DP output on the Macbook still be available if we use an outboard video I/O device?

The plan is to use Modul8 into MadMapper.

I've done some searches with no luck and my friend is definitely not technical, sooooo.... Maybe I'm not using the right search terms...

mr coops, you have any knowledge of this?

mr_coops · Post by **mr_coops** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 6:02 am

We alwys have multiple sytem in place, my buddy has a Macpro with a Black Magic Intensity card (if memory serves) this can take hdmi/composite input... this enables us to route in different ways depending on what texch we take with us. If I take my mini mac then the HDMI output goes straight into his machine, other than that it composite all the way -
V4, LZX, Korg stuff, cameras, DVD, laptop etc. Sometimes I'll capture to my mac taking the feed into VJ program of choice then out put that to my buddy.
I only have cheap scan convertors something like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Super-PC-VGA- ... 2201wt_904
Which do the job, obvioulsy quality improves with the more money spent generally.
Though no direct knowledge of outboard i/o devices Macs are generally quite friendly when it comes to using different devices and multiple screens, I imagine that your mx02 will handle both jobs, capture and then output.
mx02 capture
You'd only need to output to your friend, he can route internally from Modul8 - madmapper using syphon, he'll then route the output from madmapper to your projector.
Heres a really badly shot video I did sometime ago showing a test setup.
Set-up vid you only need the first min or so
Hope this makes sense. you're welcome to PM me.

blz · Post by **blz** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 9:38 pm

Here's something projection maapy I did for kero

Arturo00 · Post by **Arturo00** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 1:01 pm

Just noticed the response. Thanks for the info mr_coops

blz
Cool vid!

bentoncbainbridge · Post by **bentoncbainbridge** » Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:12 pm

blz wrote:Here's something projection maapy I did for kero

very nice! great concept & execution

MOD WIGGLER

MOD WIGGLER

Projection Mapping

Projection Mapping