Fusion Camera Systems:
The Fusion Camera System’s invention as shown in Figure 35 was built upon the existing of 3D systems; the previous systems required the use of two cameras. From this point we've to mention the great
role of James Cameron and Pace who took the knowledge of how a brain could
translate and process a motion 3D picture and created a system that was able to put different components into one complete picture using one camera with two lenses that works together simulating the human eye.
So we can define the Fusion Camera System as one camera that is capable of processing multiple aspects at the same time.
Cament:
Cament is a thing that allows a network of different devices to work together. It is incorporated recording, playback options and images. The Fusion Camera System’s utilization of a cament created a smoother and more cohesive filming process than had ever been possible with other 3D systems. Directors became able to go back and edit filming in a more precise manner because all components of the video had been combined during the filming process. The use of a cament in the Fusion Camera System cut the editing process in half and enhanced the quality of filming.
Fusion camera is applied on many movies such as Avatar and Tron legacy:
Avatar:
The director (James Cameron) said that the film is a combination of a full live- action shoot with computer-generated characters and live environments (60% computer-generated elements and 40% live action), this live action was shot with the modified version of the digital 3D Fusion Camera System.
Avatar was done at 24 frames per second (HFR technology), Cameron used CGI technology as shown in Figure 36 and he used his virtual camera system, by using motion capture in filmmaking, which showed the actor's virtual counterparts in the time of filming, which allowed the director to direct the scenes as if he was
shooting a normal scene, but any other elements cannot be seen until the motion capture of the actors is complete.
From the challenges that faced the crew of the film: • The Avatars Look:
The director wanted to create nine-foot tall blue people as in Figure 37, but he didn't want to use makeup nor any
costume fittings to make them appear in that way, instead he used technology, he used motion capture but this time he didn't need a computer as he has the fusion camera which make them appear in
The actors trained a lot to deal with this technology from the motion capture suits as in Figure 38, to the skull caps as in Figure 39 fitted with a tiny camera positioned in front of the actors' face in order to collect their facial expressions and eyes then it is transmitted to the computers just as in Figure 40, the director did not need repeated cameras nor the lighting setups as it was only one camera shooting.
Figure 40: Translating the facial expressions Figure 38: Motion capture suits of Avatar
• Creating creatures in Avatar:
This challenge consists of two tough missions: the first was the look of the
creatures and the other was the movement of these creatures, the director believe in the team work, so he worked with scientists of different fields and different ways of thinking to figure out a solution for these challenges
To create the shape of the creatures they used advanced computer animation
techniques to develop the unique look and appearance as in Figure 41 so Computer animation artists spent hours creating these creatures and the other special features.
Concerning the movement of these animals they used the special technique of live action in which each movement of the creatures in the film was created using real movements of animals as shown in Figure 42 that were selected as models for the film’s creatures to form the creatures’ movements and special action-capturing techniques. They used special sensors that were placed on the animals which were used as models for the creatures in
Pandora, and then these movements were translated onto the computer that made it appear real and natural.
• Making Pandora real:
We know that floating mountains may not exist, but in Avatar it was possible as in Figure 43 advanced 3D filming also helped them in making actors' movements. The special effects and technology used to create the realistic world in Pandora were translated into the camera.
Cameron was able to look through his camera and see the whole world of Pandora surrounding it as shown in Figure 44 which can be modified easily. It allowed him also to create a better flow in filming and produce more realistic effect. In this film there were many innovations
including a new system for lighting of massive areas like Pandora's jungle, a motion capture stage or volume six times larger than any previously used to simulate the Pandora size.
Moving to another example…
Tron Legacy:
Earlier Technology used: At first the film was not in 3D so it was quite boring although the technology used wasn't bad, it was the first film that computer
animation studio was made especially for it, when the film began to develop it was named (Tron Legacy) it began to grade from the simplest technology like the Chroma keying which was used to allow more freedom in creating effects to the more complicated techniques.
This film has helped the pioneers to have more knowledge in the computer generated special effects of movies.
Cameras and shooting:
They decided to improve the cameras used in Avatar; that they developed the lenses and they improved the system as they made a breathless mix between live
The film was shot in dual camera 3D using Pace Fusion rigs like the one used in Avatar but not exactly the same, in which Avatar used Sony F950 cameras while Tron used F35s.
As they seem a like F35 have many benefits more than F950as it has a full 35mm sensor which gives that beautiful cinematic shadow depth of field.
It worth mentioning that the beginning of the film was shot in 2D, but 40 minutes of the film were enhanced for IMAX, all the scenes on the grid were shoot in 3D using camera that was developed mainly for that, while those scenes in the real world were shoot in 2D then they were finally altered by the three-dimensional elements.
Software used, design and effects:
The director faced two big challenges: the grid and the customs of the actors. • The first challenge was the grid as he wanted the audience to feel that the grid was real as in Figure 47.
Figure 47: The grid
so he tried to make the widest hyper bikes as in Figure 48 so he believed that he should co-operate with people who were out of the film industry field like architecture and automotive designers so the grid would look like an advanced version of cyberspace.
They wanted the place to be as dark silhouetted objects dipped in an atmosphere with clouds in-between, that's why lights were major of Tron look as in Figure 49 so the lighting was spread through every prop on the set.
Figure 49: Lighting of costumes
The second challenge was the design of the costumes so he made skintight lighted costumes as in Figure 51. It was very complicated to get the batteries for the
electroluminescent lights that they used, on the back of the suit was an illuminated disc that consists of 134 LED lights that attached to the costumes via a magnet as in Figure 50.
Visual effects
To make the visual effects happen ten companies participate, the production team blended several special effects techniques like Chroma keying (Blue background) and the micro cameras which they used as shown in Figure 52, but the most complicated part was to create a digital human.
Figure 52: Jeff Bridges wearing micro camera helmet – using Chroma Keying technique
The actor (Jeff Bridges) was in his sixties but they wanted him to appear in his thirties, this was named as CLU (Codified Likeness Utility) it was the first photo realistic 3D digital character based on living actor in the film history, they used four micro cameras with infrared sensors to capture all 134 dots on bridges face as in Figure 53