A New Adventure

[rcallicotte]

It's been a long time, so here's a small image made in Terragen 3 for the first frame of a 230 frame animation. It took about 2 1/2 hours and was tonemapped in Photmatix.

http://galacticportals.com/beginning_adventure_test.tif

[Oshyan]

Man, why make it available as a tif? I had to download to view it. :-p

The frame looks quite promising, though motion blur (I am guessing) is making it noisy. It might look fine in motion, or you might consider trying the 2D motion blur...

- Oshyan

[rcallicotte]

Oh, sorry, Oshyan. It's the default out of Photomatix. 

Yes, I'm using motion blur, which would make it look cool if I can get the money to have it rendered.  It's about 575 hours worth on my i7, so I have decided to put it on hold.  I sort of like the look and have layers, too, if I ever do have it done.

[TheBadger]

It's about 575 hours worth on my i7

Im guessing your talking about one long continues shot at 30fps?
24fps at 6 seconds is 144 frames. And 6 seconds is a long time in an edit. So why not cut this up into an edited sequence which would almost certainly be more fun to watch than one long shot? Even at 30fps were only talking 188 frames.

Also, just my thought, but I would do motion blur in post. I recently learned of some powerful tools that are much more affordable than any render farm anywhere. And the look you can get can be even better than in app blur, due to the ability to style.

I like the OP image. I would like to see the video made. Looks like fun.

[rcallicotte]

Thanks so much, Badger.

I did think about that and had plans to break up the shot to make it longer.  Now, you've got me thinking again and I appreciate it.

Why do you think post for the motion blur? I had thought motion blur in its native form would work more realistically.

[Upon Infinity]

Is it not possible to render out just part of the sequence at a time, as in, just a select amount of frames on 1 day and then do the next few on a different day?

[rcallicotte]

575 hours == nearly 24 days straight. However I did it, it would tie up my PC for too many hours. I'm considering the phasing Badger mentioned, though, where I only render key views.  However I do it, using a renderfarm might really be best.

Is it not possible to render out just part of the sequence at a time, as in, just a select amount of frames on 1 day and then do the next few on a different day?

[Upon Infinity]

575 hours == nearly 24 days straight. However I did it, it would tie up my PC for too many hours. I'm considering the phasing Badger mentioned, though, where I only render key views.  However I do it, using a renderfarm might really be best.

Is it not possible to render out just part of the sequence at a time, as in, just a select amount of frames on 1 day and then do the next few on a different day?

Nah, just render in your off hours.  No need to "tie-up" your PC.  Just use some remote desktop software to control and monitor the render flow.  Unless you need it right away, or otherwise are flush with cash (although didn't we all get render farm credits for Terragen 3?).

[Oshyan]

You do have some render credits at Ranch Computing if you bought TG3. Just contact them with your order number.

Regarding motion blur, it's *technically* more accuracy and "correct" to do in 3D, at render-time, but 2D post-work motion blur (based on motion vector output) can work well in many cases. You could try TG's own built-in 2D motion blur on a small sample of frames (say 1-2 seconds worth) just to get an idea...

- Oshyan

[TheBadger]

You do have some render credits at Ranch Computing if you bought TG3. Just contact them with your order number.

I completely forgot that!

@rcallicotte,
Thanks. I like to talk with you guys about all aspects of these things.

I wanted to clarify my meaning on something.
I did not want to say that you should just break up your rendering into several render sessions. I meant that it should be rendered from different views.

So 3-4 seconds the camera is wide and following behind. Then 3-4 seconds the camera is mid far, and following from the left side of the ship. And then 3-4 seconds the camera is in another position.

THe obvious benefit is that you now have cuts to edit. And also you would much sooner have 3-4 seconds to show us here!
But really, there is no reason for people to make these super long continuous shots. Editing is one of the most creative parts of making something! Editing is really where and how a story is told.

And its pretty easy to do with TG. JUst copy your project file 3 times and call them "title"_Shot_1-3, and move your camera in each one. Render the one you think is the most useful to you first.

Pretty much all the ideas is in this thread are good things to think about though.

I don't agree that the in app blur will necessarily look more real. It could, or maybe it wont. But no mater what you will be stuck with it. And it will make your render times longer.

The only people who should render with the in app blur are those very sure of what they want, and that they have set it up correctly, to get exactly what they want. Where there is certainty that nothing will or should be changed later.
Adding the blur will also give you more chances to play with your render, and explore more opportunities to be creative.

Although, probably explore this 2D blur Oshyan brought up too.

On editing theory. THis book is one of the most useful I have ever read: http://www.amazon.com/Blink-Eye-Revised-2nd-Edition/dp/1879505622

[Oshyan]

In-app blur *is* more accurate, that's just simple reality. And it will "look better" as long as you have enough samples. But using enough samples to remove noise is the challenge, while keeping render times reasonable. It is often better just to do motion blur in post for this reason.

- Oshyan

[TheBadger]

^^ Yes, thats a better way to say what I wanted.
Still even if I was sure it would come out exactly right, with low render times, I think I would want to add it later. Just so I could change it if I needed/wanted too.

Probably there are examples where adding blur would never look good. So then render it. But like I said, you should be sure.

[TheBadger]

Baa! Oshyan, I was thinking about DOF partly! Oh man. But still, I meant what I said except for the thing about fake *Motion blur* looking more real (or implying it). Even so. The fake stuff can be more than good, and does allow for creative style. There is some thread here in the forum with good talk and links on the subject. Its in one of Hannes' threads.

[rcallicotte]

I'm supposing AE would help me with motion blur, since it sounds like that is one of the reasons for a 2 1/2 hour render for a frame. 

Thanks for all of the help. This has been great. I might try 2D motion blur or see what the difference is with none at all. I, of course, like the idea of shooting various points of view.  But, the biggest issue I have now is time to render. The render times for animation make render times go way up.

[Upon Infinity]

But, the biggest issue I have now is time to render. The render times for animation make render times go way up.

http://www.planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,15703.msg152644.html#msg152644