Post 14: FULL COLOR 3D PROJECTION TEST

  I did a good bit of research on 3D projection in the last few days, and there seems to be  a number of different systems, both active and passive.
   Barco and Christie both have 3D projectors with built in polarizers that allows the use of passive glasses and as I understand it allow projection on anything. Actually, Barco has a very good primer on the subject of 3D in general on their site that is well worth reading.
  Another option that has been used mostly by home theatre enthusiasts involves using two identical projectors fitted with crossed polarizers, and passive polarized glasses, but it seems tat a special silver screen is necessary that preserves the polarization. There is also the issue of linear vs circular polarizers...Complicated.
  Anyhow, I decided to test the concept on the model of the building wrapped with fabric, and borrowed Ralph's Optoma HD1060P(identical to mine). I stacked the projectors, lined them up, and projected the left image with one and the right with the other using photographic linear polarizing filters in front of the lenses. Nothing happened, it just didn't work. And a simple test showed why: if I hold another polarizer in front of the projector lens fitted with a polarizer and cross them, the image goes dark, but if just I look at the projected image through the polarizer instead, it has no effect, showing that the image projected on regular fabric looses polarization. Back to square one, we can't do it "homemade", and just have to hope we can get a 3D Barco or Christie...

Post 13: 3D EXPERIMENTS

    Well, I have not posted on this blog for a while because I have been posting on another blog devoted specifically to 3D VIDEO. 
  Waiting for the powers to be at Alys Stephens to return from their summer vacations and decide what they want to do next year, I have been working both on the "SCAENA LUMINARIA" concept of a Stage Show, and on the idea of a FULL 3D ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTION. If we are going to try to better last year's LUX SOMNIA 2013, I feel 3D is the way to go for 2014. The new blog should bring you fully up to date on my 3D experiments, but for the lazy ones. I will sum it up here.
   Until now, After Effects CS6 has allowed me to move 2D objects in a 3D space, but not to create or import real 3D objects except for basic boxes. The new Cloud version After Effects CC includes a Lite version of Cinema 4D, and a new Cineware plugin which should allow me to use and create real 3D objects other than boxes. I have been trying to figure out how to use it for a few days, but am having a hard time figuring out how to use this very "nerdy" and counterintuitive interface. I will get it eventually!
   Besides 3D objects, I would like to incorporate 3D video footage, so I bought a little Toshiba Camileo Z100 3D camera to experiment with. It works quite well, but I am still having problems removing the green screen, which I hope to work out eventually.
  I have been experimenting with the existing footage created for Lux Somnia using the virtual stereo rig in After Effects, and getting very impressive results in 3D both on my big screen ACTIVE 3D TV(using expensive shutter glasses), and on a PASSIVE 3D LG Computer Monitor(using relatively cheap polarized glasses like you get at the movies). My hope is that the big 10K Projectors we used last year are 3D capable, and that we can do the next show in full scale 3D on the building. Now THAT would be exciting, and AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET...
   

   

Post 12: RGB LED'S STRIOS AND PROJECTORS

   Vero used LED's in her costume, and I would like to do the same with the multi purpose stage costumes.
   I was at the Lighting place the other day, and saw a 16ft  RGB LED strip that could be controlled with an Infra Red remote and make any color in the rainbow:

 They were selling it for $100, but I found exactly the same HitLights on Amazon for $30, and ordered 3 to play with:

 They come with a 110/12V transformer, a 44 keys remote, and a remote control box with an Infra Red sensor. They can easily be strung together or cut to shorter lengths.  I undressed my Virgin, and stuck the strip(which comes with self stick tape backing) up and down and around the armature before putting the muslin dress back on. Now, we can combine projection with LED costumes.
   I also ordered a $120 RGB 30 watts outdoor remote control flood on Amazon for $25:

and a small RGB  remote control 3 watt bulb to experiment on my "stage" for $12:

   Some of that RBB LED stuff is very expensive, but if you look, you can find good discount prices on Amazon or eBay.
   By the way, have you seen the new illuminated 18th Street underpass. It uses the same kind of equipment, but more powerful, about 160 RGB LED projector bars altogether. It does look nice:

      But is it really worth $200,000?

Post 11: TEST STAGE

     In order to visualize some of my ideas and experiment, I set up a minimalist stage set on my studio table, using a skirted Santo, a disk and a cylinder in front of a black background:

   Of course, I wish I could knock down the wall behind and set up a rear projection screen, but Rachel won't let me... Anyhow, this simple set up allows to make any of the three components look like anything I wish by projecting mapped images: