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By JasonWynngard - 4 Years Ago
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I'd like to see Reallusion seriously consider incorporating virtual video sets for iClone. Yes, there are some called Motion Montage, I believe, but I'd like to see this feature go further. Around 2004 or 2006, I spent $700+ for a program called Serious Magic and its collection of add-on virtual set suites.Adobe bought it with the promise of providing continued support for original buyers. For a while they did. Now, they don't and your installed copy is deactivated. They did the same with Adobe CS3 Production as well. So, instead of assisting you, they try to trap you into renting (they call it subscribing) their alternative, and I think inferior product. I think iClone is well-suited for including virtual studio sets. Not just static backgrounds, but those that have some limited degrees of animation. Say, perhaps distant to close up shots, Wandering camera to frontal shots. Fly-ins from outside to inside shots or room to room fl-ins. Indoor and outdoor backgrounds. You get the idea. And finally, if (may it never happen) Reallusion or just iClone gets sold, make sure original purchasers can always reinstall and use what they paid for. Those buying under the new business, I can understand selling it as a subscription service as a business decision. But original buyers should not be forced to abandon what they for and made to bleed for it.
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By Peter (RL) - 4 Years Ago
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Hi Jason
Thank you for the feedback. I will pass this on for consideration.
In the meantime do check out the virtual showrooms available in the Content Store. You may find something you need in this list.
https://www.reallusion.com/ContentStore/index.html?QKeyword=virtual%20showroom&QCase=1&CategoryID=ic&Qpage=Top-Nav-Keyword-IC
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By JasonWynngard - 4 Years Ago
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Thanks, Peter. I bought a few and found they weren't what I thought they were. I had the impression they were ready to go virtual studios, they aren't. They require too much fiddling with and nothing like what I expected. OK, what I really was hoping is that Reallusion would add a virtual studio feature that took you straight to the talent (live person inserted via chroma key) and stopped there. Rather than weary you with a long text message, here are some video links that illustrate exactly what I'm asking for.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZLsNKPcGRk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6N61cfPnPw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fbBmDUVp7M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt2y-RzQvKA
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By animagic - 4 Years Ago
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Looks interesting and might be a line for RL to pursue.
Unfortunately, this is what big companies do. They buy a product and then mess it up completely or violate the conditions under which you originally bought the software.
The latest Adobe victim is Substance. It is sort of corporate piracy and consumers are not protected against it.
Over the years, I have lost a series of great products from small companies that way.
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By JasonWynngard - 4 Years Ago
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animagic (9/14/2021)
Looks interesting and might be a line for RL to pursue.
Unfortunately, this is what big companies do. They buy a product and then mess it up completely or violate the conditions under which you originally bought the software.
The latest Adobe victim is Substance. It is sort of corporate piracy and consumers are not protected against it.
Over the years, I have lost a series of great products from small companies that way.
Animagic, this behavior if not already, will be a driving force for people either look for, create, or pirate alternate ways to have software access. I didn't like it but fully understood subscription of software and even respect it as long as the company isn't insisting on exorbitant fees, thus wallet leeching. I suspect many other customers see it the same way. But when you remotely turn off software or remove a patch file for software you purchased outright just to be forced into a subscription service, there's the line. They may not see it now, but it's going to cost them as I'm seeing some types of alternative software like Affinity for example as PS substitute. It's sort of in its infancy still, but they'll improve it over time. The real worry will hackers and pirates who feel forced into that direction.
As for the virtual screens, at this time, I'm experimenting with what iClone provided with the 5 and 6 versions and looking perhaps reasonably priced and public domain options.
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By Terry Miller - 4 Years Ago
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Check this one out from DirtRock; it is a virtual TV studio, and it is made for iClone. I have used it with a lot of success over the past few months (I do a lot of animation for my job).
https://www.dirtrock.co.uk/items
It is about the second one down from the top; best part is that it is free!
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By JasonWynngard - 4 Years Ago
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Terry Miller (9/15/2021)
Check this one out from DirtRock; it is a virtual TV studio, and it is made for iClone. I have used it with a lot of success over the past few months (I do a lot of animation for my job). https://www.dirtrock.co.uk/items
It is about the second one down from the top; best part is that it is free!
They look nice. I will likely come back later and try one of your freebies. I just purchased several so-called virtual studios that looked fantastic demonstrationally. When I loaded them into iClone, they proved to be nothing more props, mainly. And in black and white to boot. They'd require too much time to color shade etc.
I do have some legacy studios from iC5/6, including a few that are animated. Experimenting, I edited them into vid clips suitable for my intents, went into Camtasia Studio to chroma key and insert a small live actor clip. I scaled it to and ended up with a reasonable result.Now, testing to see how the same as a captured image tacked on after the animated segment stops works as a regular backdrop for the remainder of the video clip. I think tomorrow I will download one of your freebies to see if it is what it seems to be and not what I got today from the Barking Dog studio samples. Thanks for taking the time ti talk with me about and sharing your work with virtual studios.
Update, the distraction I expected didn't materialize, so I went back your site to grab one of the free samples. Download failed, response from the website when i tried to pick the iClone download option.
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By michaelrbarton - 4 Years Ago
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Here are some links for you for iClone virtual studio.
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By JasonWynngard - 4 Years Ago
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OK, I managed to create some virtual studios using iClone assets. Now, I have a new request. I want to place live talent (a real person) behind a desk. I did manage to fake this by scaling the video clip and maker it seem as if the talent was behind the desk. Is there a more realistic means of doing this? If so, how is t done?
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By Peter (RL) - 4 Years Ago
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Hi Jason
Thank you for explaining more about your requirements. From the videos you linked I think a lot of what is shown is done using video layers in software like Adobe After Effects rather than in actual 3D.
If you are looking for pre-made studio sets, I take it you have already seen or used the 3D FX Virtual Studio packs we released many years ago. While quite old now these feature several pre-made sets which you can begin using immediately but you can also customise them to your specific needs. If you haven't checked them out before please take a look.
3D FX Virtual Studio Vol.1 & 2
https://www.reallusion.com/ContentStore/csproduct.aspx?contentid=AIC400DIENU050120091103001
https://www.reallusion.com/ContentStore/csproduct.aspx?contentid=AIC410DIENU050120100517001
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By Peter (RL) - 4 Years Ago
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JasonWynngard (9/16/2021)
OK, I managed to create some virtual studios using iClone assets. Now, I have a new request. I want to place live talent (a real person) behind a desk. I did manage to fake this by scaling the video clip and maker it seem as if the talent was behind the desk. Is there a more realistic means of doing this? If so, how is t done?
If you brought in your real person video as a plane or billboard you can simply place the plane or billboard prop behind the 3D desk like the scene below.
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By JasonWynngard - 4 Years Ago
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I have the items you list above, plus some of my DIY via modifying some RL animated scene and props. Now, I want to be able to put live talent behind a desk. As for Adobe After Effects, after what they did with Serious Magic and CS3 which had it after they bought it, plus their attitude when I asked about getting access to what I bought ($$$$$), I won't buy, excuse me, rent anything they make or sell again. The only thing I need now is a process for placing live talent behind or even on an iClone prop.
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By Am7add9 - 4 Years Ago
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well you could just use OBS (live stream software)which is free, has green screen capability
and use 2 stills for your set, one for background and one for desk
and buy some green fabric and a couple lights from walmart
any cell, camera or webcam will work fine
download OBS
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By JasonWynngard - 4 Years Ago
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Am7add9 (9/16/2021)
well you could just use OBS (live stream software)which is free, has green screen capability and use 2 stills for your set, one for background and one for desk and buy some green fabric and a couple lights from walmart any cell, camera or webcam will work fine download OBS
I'm familiar with chroma keying and video overlay. I have Camtasia Studio and Hitfilm, both of which are good at that. I decided to download OBS anyway, so thank you for the link. I also have light stands, and fabric of various material and colors I got from a crafts and sewing store years back, so I'm good for the stuff you mentioned. The iClone newsroom has screens to run images and video on them, plus their own backdrop simulating an actual newsroom. I may be just be spoiled by what Serious Magic allowed me to do with live talent and animated props. I'll keep experimenting until I'm convinced it's futile, but genuinely appreciate your taking the time to drop by help.
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By Am7add9 - 4 Years Ago
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JasonWynngard (9/16/2021)
Am7add9 (9/16/2021)
well you could just use OBS (live stream software)which is free, has green screen capability and use 2 stills for your set, one for background and one for desk and buy some green fabric and a couple lights from walmart any cell, camera or webcam will work fine download OBS I'm familiar with chroma keying and video overlay. I have Camtasia Studio and Hitfilm, both of which are good at that. I decided to download OBS anyway, so thank you for the link. I also have light stands, and fabric of various material and colors I got from a crafts and sewing store years back, so I'm good for the stuff you mentioned. The iClone newsroom has screens to run images and video on them, plus their own backdrop simulating an actual newsroom. I may be just be spoiled by what Serious Magic allowed me to do with live talent and animated props. I'll keep experimenting until I'm convinced it's futile, but genuinely appreciate your taking the time to drop by help.
you can use a iclone backdrop and place videos into the windows, but the difference between the other programs and obs is
being able to do it live streaming
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By JasonWynngard - 4 Years Ago
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Am7add9 (9/16/2021)
[quote] JasonWynngard (9/16/2021)
[quote] Am7add9 (9/16/2021)
well you could just use OBS (live stream software)which is free, has green screen capability and use 2 stills for your set, one for background and one for desk and buy some green fabric and a couple lights from walmart any cell, camera or webcam will work fine download OBS
All you folks who reached out to help on this virtual studio thing, THANK YOU! I'm a NITWIT. What I want to do in terms of placing live talent into an animated iClone setting was staring at me in the face and shouting, "Here I am! I'm right here!" I want the live talent behind a newsroom desk. I was so hung up on the super cool futuristic backdrop room, common sense left and told me, "You're on your own, I've had it!" All I have to do is take the modified backdrop which I added hanging monitors with short video clips running in them. Save it as a looping video. Chroma key my live talent into the scene. As for the desk with its display panel running either a slide show or video clip, use the Project feature to put a green back screen on it. Then chroma key that in front the fore mentioned live talent. I should have listened more carefully when Peter mentioned the words "video layering." Camtasia Studio allows me to scale things and lengthen short shots to get just the fit I want (well, usually) so I think I got this, and Thank You folks for reaching out to a total nitwit.
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