Compositing in Halo 3

[HaLo2FrEeEk]

Compositing is the process of adding something into an image or video that wasn't there originally. Most commonly used in Hollywood movies where things in the movie would obviously not exist in real life. They use computer graphics to insert that object into the scene. I went ahead and tried my hand at this with some screenshots from Halo 3 and I think the result turned out really well, although it took a long time:


http://infectionist.com/images/halo_3/c ... osite1.jpg


http://infectionist.com/images/halo_3/c ... osite2.jpg


http://infectionist.com/images/halo_3/c ... osite3.jpg

Well, whaddya think? I could probably do something like this for a video, it'd take longer but I think the effect could be really cool.

EDIT: I updated the last 2 and made the text reflective. I like the effect:


http://infectionist.com/images/halo_3/c ... osite4.jpg


http://infectionist.com/images/halo_3/c ... osite5.jpg

[JK-47]

Looks pretty good. The first one is definitely the best.
The second one is at too sharp of an angle, and to small to really see what it says.

[JacksonCougAr]

Cool stuffs.

[HaLo2FrEeEk]

I personally think the first one is the worst. Look at the perspective of the wall it's on, then the perspective of the text, they don't match up. The second and third match that perspective much better. Of all of them I like the 3rd one the best, it's the one I spent the most time on.

I hope to use this effect in a movie. Nothing fancy, just have some text on a wall as the camera moves past it. Shouldn't be difficult, just have to map where the camera starts and ends and move the text and plane accordingly.

[JK-47]

The angle on the first is a bit off, but nothing that can't be fixed with a little editing. I just think the shading on it is much more appealing.
The third one indeed has the best perspective and lighting out of all three, though.

[HaLo2FrEeEk]

Check the edit, I updated 2 of them.

[ScottyGEE]

http://infectionist.com/images/halo_3/c ... te4_sm.jpg
Can't read it.

[Tural]

First one's shading and overall look is the best. Perspective just needs fixed to be going inwards, not outwards.
Reflective text on the first image doesn't look very good, it takes away from the simplicity and clarity that would be desirable in this sort of imagery, especially in the location chosen for the text. Last image reflective text is alright.

[HaLo2FrEeEk]

Yeah I don't really like how the reflections turned out in the second one, but it took long enough to render that I didn't want to waste it. I had reflection dispersion set to 17.5% with 128 min samples and 256 max samples (default is 8 and 64) and accuracy up to 100% (default is 50%). That and the ambient occlusion made rendering take a long time.

And scotty, click the link under the picture, it'll take you to the full 1920x1080 version.

[ScottyGEE]

Still isn't easy to read. I would say to take another shot where the angle is better for text reading.

[mxrider108]

This is much harder to do in video because you have to properly position the text in spite of camera movement. If the camera is moving at a constant speed (or not at all) it's not too bad, but when it is shaky or something (think Cloverfield) you have to use computer algorithms to track the camera movement. I have done stuff like this before using Apple Motion and it's pretty awesome.

[HaLo2FrEeEk]

Scotty, it's supposed to go off into the distance making it harder to read. They all say the same thing, or a variation on it: Infectionist Machinima.

mxrider, my plan is to have the camera slowly move forward through those hallways or along a wall, and attach the text to that wall. It'll move in one direction with no shakiness or anything so it shouldn't be too hard. I have Adobe AE though so if I need to do some motion tracking it shouldn't be TOO difficult.

[Cuda]

3. The first one is kinda like the opening credit sequencing for GTA IV.

[JacksonCougAr]

I'm thinking Fringe.

[JK-47]

I'm thinking Fringe.

Indeed.