Motion-capture camera system hardware (continuation).
Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for motion capture to generate content (e.g., motion pictures, television programming, videos, etc.). An actor or other performing being can have multiple markers on his or her face that are essentially invisible to the human eye, but that can be clearly captured by camera systems of the present disclosure. Embodiments can capture the performance using two different camera systems, each of which can observe the same performance but capture different images of that performance. For instance, a first camera system can capture the performance within a first light wavelength spectrum (e.g., visible light spectrum), and a second camera system can simultaneously capture the performance in a second light wavelength spectrum different from the first spectrum (e.g., invisible light spectrum such as the IR light spectrum). The images captured by the first and second camera systems can be combined to generate content.
(1) Computer animation is the process of generating animated images of objects in a computer environment. In the film industry, computer animation is often used to animate the natural movement of humans for creating realistic characters in a film that have humanoid features and mannerisms. This type of animation is known in the film industry as motion-capture or performance capture. To capture the natural movements of a human, an actor is equipped with a number of markers, and a number of cameras track the positions of the markers in space as the actor moves. This technique allows the actor's movements and expressions to be captured, and the captured movements and expressions can then be manipulated in a digital environment to produce content, e.g., footage for a motion picture.(2) Such motion capture systems however have shortcomings. For instance, some such systems may include additional equipment and markers that interfere with the performance of the actor. Accordingly, improved systems and methods for motion capture are desired.SUMMARY(3) Embodiments provide systems and methods for motion capture to generate content (e.g., motion pictures, television programming, videos, etc.). In some embodiments, an actor or other performing being can have multiple markers on his or her face that are essentially invisible to the human eye, but that can be clearly captured by camera systems of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the disclosure can capture the performance using two dif
1. A computer-implemented method of capturing motion with a motion capture system, the method comprising: emitting first light at wavelengths within a first spectrum towards an actor in a performance area; capturing a first plurality of images of a performance using a first set of one or more cameras operable to capture the first light at wavelengths in the first spectrum, the first plurality of images representing captured emitted first light that has been reflected off of at least one marker applied to a face of the actor, wherein the first plurality of images is captured by two witness cameras of the first set of one or more cameras laterally positioned on opposite sides of a taking camera of a second set of one or more cameras attached to a moveable rig; identifying locations of at least one marker applied to the face of the actor by analyzing at least some of the first plurality of images captured by at least one camera from the first set of one or more cameras; generating position and motion data for a digital character based on the identified locations of the at least one marker applied to the face of the actor, wherein the at least one marker is a gel-based marker that reflects the first light at wavelengths in the first spectrum that is substantially invisible to a human eye and is detected by at least one camera of the first set of the one or more cameras; capturing a second plurality of images of the performance using a second set of one or more cameras operable to capture second light at wavelengths in a second spectrum different from the first spectrum, the second plurality of images representing at least a portion of a body of the actor and the performance area; and generating content based on the generated position and motion data for the digital character and the second plurality of images.
10. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed control a device including one or more processors, the instructions comprising: emitting light at wavelengths within a first spectrum towards an actor in a performance area; capturing a first plurality of images of a performance using a first set of one or more cameras operable to capture first light at wavelengths in the first spectrum, the first plurality of images representing captured emitted first light that has been reflected off of at least one marker applied to a face of the actor, wherein the first plurality of images is captured by two witness cameras of the first set of one or more cameras laterally positioned on opposite sides of a taking camera of a second set of one or more cameras attached to a moveable rig; identifying locations of at least one marker applied to the face of the actor by analyzing at least some of the first plurality of images captured by at least one camera from the first set of one or more cameras; generating position and motion data for a digital character based on the identified locations of the at least one marker applied to the face of the actor, wherein the at least one marker is a gel-based marker that reflects the first light at wavelengths in the first spectrum that is substantially invisible to a human eye and is detected by at least one camera of the first set of the one or more cameras; capturing a second plurality of images of the performance using a second set of one or more cameras operable to capture second light at wavelengths in a second spectrum different from the first spectrum, the second plurality of images representing at least a portion of a body of the actor and the performance area; and generating content based on the generated position and motion data for the digital character and the second plurality of images.
16. A computer system for a motion capture system, the computer system comprising: one or more processors; and memory containing code for instructing the one or more processors to: emit light at wavelengths within a first spectrum towards an actor in a performance area; capture a first plurality of images of a performance using a first set of one or more cameras operable to capture light at wavelengths in the first spectrum, the first plurality of images representing captured emitted light that has been reflected off of at least one marker applied to a face of the actor, wherein the first plurality of images is captured by two witness cameras of the first set of one or more cameras laterally positioned on opposite sides of a taking camera of a second set of one or more cameras attached to a moveable rig; identify locations of at least one marker applied to the face of the actor by analyzing at least some of the first plurality of images captured by at least one camera from the first set of one or more cameras; generate position and motion data for a digital character based on the identified locations of the at least one marker applied to the face of the actor, wherein the at least one marker is a gel-based marker that reflects the first light at wavelengths in the first spectrum that is substantially invisible to a human eye and is detected by at least one camera of the first set of the one or more cameras; capture a second plurality of images of the performance using a second set of one or more cameras operable to capture light at wavelengths in a second spectrum different from the first spectrum, the second plurality of images representing at least a portion of a body of the actor and the performance area; and generate content based on the generated position and motion data for the digital character and the second plurality of images.