3D Camera Tracking for Low-budget Production
Teemu Ylänne · Theseus (Ammattikorkeakoulujen) · 2011
The purpose of the thesis was to find out if there is a free tool for 3D camera tracking and if such exists, to compare it with a commercial counterpart. Additionally, it was investigated whether the chosen tool is suitable for a low-budget production. To investigate this, a short film was made where a 3D creature created in 3D modelling software was composited with previously filmed live-action footage. To composite the creature with the footage, the footage was analysed with a 3D camera tracking software. An estimation of camera parameters and its movement were the result of the tracking process. The results were exported to 3D modelling software where a virtual camera for animation was created based on the results. Animation created in the 3D modelling software was exported to a video editing software for the final compositing process. A suitable 3D camera tracking tool was found for low-budget productions. It was competitive compared to a commercial software. It performed well in a normal desktop computer. There were still many problems with the camera tracking process. Many of them can be avoided with proper preparation before the shooting. Solution to some problems would require a bigger crew which is not always possible with low-budget productions.