Legends of Flight

[fxdesigner]

As with a previous sample we provided (Reaches of Space),

we utilize PTE (7+) to create our rough cuts and storyboard

animations complete with 1st draft narration clips to visually comp

our projects prior to final approval and output as full rendered video clips.

Please bear in mind these clips are NOT final renders, they are

in essence placement holders to gauge the ultimate project 'look

and feel' prior to committing to the project cost and labor

considerations.

Generally the finished project is output to HD with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Our storyboard concept cuts are output to 1024 x 768 SD with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

PTE has proved to be a valued tool in our arsenal of creative

applications in completing our projects on time and more

importantly, within a specified budget.

This example is for a project called 'Legends of Flight'

documenting some pivotal aircraft designs in the 1920's - 1940's

by various U.S. Military Contractors.

This piece is about 2 minutes in length with computerized (draft)

narration, background soundtrack and animation. All for the purpose

of finalizing this sequenced segment into the overall project scheme.

Legends of Flight Excerpt

Just a little insight into the process.

Aircraft frames (outlines) are drawn in Illustrator, ported to Phototshop

painted (within Photoshop)- ported to Flash, animated, ported to video (rough)

output including any background video / animation mattes / detail - brought into

PTE additional text, audio and effects added, finally out as a 'published' sequence

for initial review and analysis.

FX Designer

[Guest Yachtsman1]

Tried to download your clip & got the attached error.

Yachtsman1

[goddi]

As with a previous sample we provided (Reaches of Space),

we utilize PTE (7+) to create our rough cuts and storyboard

animations complete with 1st draft narration clips to visually comp

our projects prior to final approval and output as full rendered video clips.

Legends of Flight Excerpt

=======================

I got a somewhat similar error message when trying to unzip the file. See attached.

Gary

[fxdesigner]

Don't know what happened**. I re-compressed the file and am uploading now.

Should work the second time around.

Try again, if you like. (link in 1st post)

**probably operator (me) error...

regards,

FX Designer

[goddi]

Don't know what happened**. I re-compressed the file and am uploading now.

Should work the second time around.

Try again, if you like. (link in 1st post)

**probably operator (me) error...

regards,

FX Designer

=====================

Yes, it works now. Cool, interesting. The audio has a bit of a problem...seems to jump slightly at times. But it is nice to see different uses of PTE.

Gary

[fxdesigner]

=====================

The audio has a bit of a problem...seems to jump slightly at times. But it is nice to see different uses of PTE.

Gary

As mentioned previously: TWO Things...

ONE > audio is computer generated (to save time and initial expense) for these conceptual drafts. "Real Narrators" are eventually used, but not during the conceptual phase. These are prototypes and not polished out the door production pieces. Their purpose to visually present content and cue points prior to committing to film and/or video output.

TWO > The premise for sharing this content was to highlight an internal production use of the PTE product as opposed to just being a standalone slideshow. We wanted to emphasize the inherent value to a new style of pre-production storyboarding as opposed to the classic form of storyboarding. The intent to give a broad brush approach to solidifying timing details as it relates to narration, imagery and animation without a major impact to the bottomline of the given project. These are NOT final production renderings, but rather pre-production ones.

Typically with classic storyboarding no narration is used, just text bubbles.

Thanks for your comments.

regards,

FX Designer

[Lin Evans]

Hi,

It looks like PTE has a useful place in the pre-production phase of your operation. I'm curious about the animation phase done in Flash. Was it the cloud movement, aircraft motion, propeller motion or all of the above which was Flash generated? All these are also possible to achieve fairly easily within PTE along with perhaps some additional realistic motion along the pitch, roll and yaw axis. Not knowing the eventual realism required this may or may not be relevant as pertains to costing.

Best regards,

Lin

As mentioned previously: TWO Things...

ONE > audio is computer generated (to save time and initial expense) for these conceptual drafts. "Real Narrators" are eventually used, but not during the conceptual phase. These are prototypes and not polished out the door production pieces. Their purpose to visually present content and cue points prior to committing to film and/or video output.

TWO > The premise for sharing this content was to highlight an internal production use of the PTE product as opposed to just being a standalone slideshow. We wanted to emphasize the inherent value to a new style of pre-production storyboarding as opposed to the classic form of storyboarding. The intent to give a broad brush approach to solidifying timing details as it relates to narration, imagery and animation without a major impact to the bottomline of the given project. These are NOT final production renderings, but rather pre-production ones.

Typically with classic storyboarding no narration is used, just text bubbles.

Thanks for your comments.

regards,

FX Designer

[fxdesigner]

Hi,

It looks like PTE has a useful place in the pre-production phase of your operation. I'm curious about the animation phase done in Flash. Was it the cloud movement, aircraft motion, propeller motion or all of the above which was Flash generated? All these are also possible to achieve fairly easily within PTE along with perhaps some additional realistic motion along the pitch, roll and yaw axis. Not knowing the eventual realism required this may or may not be relevant as pertains to costing.

Best regards,

Lin

Lin,

Thanks for your interest and comments.

Regarding the Flash™ component (we actually like SwishMAX®).

After the 'aircraft' is rendered in Photoshop** (**Lots of options here - 3d MAX, MAYA, etc., in some instances we will render to 3D in most however we only need 2D (top, front and side)) we weigh the objective against the amount of 'realism' required for the subjected piece. In most instances we can get by with minimal motion sequences as these are not meant to be battle or video action displays but rather points of interest that allows the eye to reasonably 'settle' on the item (aircraft) while lending a sense of what it might have been like to see one of these aircraft in motion. Pitch, roll and yaw characteristics aren't usually required as we aren't trying to mimic a flight simulator.

The cloud sequence is comprised of two elements a background video track and a foreground layer of individual clouds to lend a sense of z-depth to the 2-D imagery. Again the level of realism is based partially on the targeted audience. These aircraft sequences are part of a DVD package for an mid-west air museum. They will be projected within the museum hanger amongst the static aircraft displays on a hanger wall.

The pieces involved: (the simplier, the better)

Main Aircraft (developed from 2D line art [attached]) converted to transparent alpha PNG

Wheels, nav lights, flaps animated individually as needed

propeller motion is just a motion blur from photoshop

background cloud matte from actual video footage

foreground clouds (PNG alpha Files)

Again, I have to stress you are looking at what amounts to pre, 1st and 2nd DRAFT layout components not finished elements. We simply use PTE as a preliminary layout testing environment (storyboarding concepts primarily for internal use and timing and when required sharing the concept with the client).

In the case of this project, it was not so vital to include realistic flight characteristics as it was to show the profile of each aircraft in a typical flight mode. In this case there will be ultimately references made to components about the aircraft that the side profile worked best for the presentation of these elements. By the time we get to PTE we already rendered the backgrounds, the foreground and the subject. PTE allows us to cobble these elements into a work-in-progress presentation, inexpensively and effectively.

The entire idea of sharing this content was to present a different perspective as to versatility of PTE and what a great product it is. Igor is to be commended.

regards,

FX Designer

[fxdesigner]

Hi,

...Not knowing the eventual realism required this may or may not be relevant as pertains to costing...

Best regards,

Lin

Hi Lin,

Just wanted to share these two images that give a descent idea of a starting and ending point regarding rendering.

We go from a 2-color wire frame to a full color image. In this case a U.S. Made Boeing MB-3B bi-plane fighter used

by both the Army (initially) and then the U.S. Navy. 200 plus aircraft were built. U.S. Cost to build $7,240.00 each. Attached image will toggle.

Regards,

FX Designer

[Lin Evans]

Thanks! Nice way to prototype the show then provide the details!

Best regards,

LIn

Hi Lin,

Just wanted to share these two images that give a descent idea of a starting and ending point regarding rendering.

We go from a 2-color wire frame to a full color image. In this case a U.S. Made Boeing MB-3B bi-plane fighter used

by both the Army (initially) and then the U.S. Navy. 200 plus aircraft were built. U.S. Cost to build $7,240.00 each. Attached image will toggle.

Regards,

FX Designer