Virtual 3D camera composition from frame constraints

We have designed a graphical interface that enables 3D visual artists or developers of interactive 3D virtual environments to efficiently define sophisticated camera compositions by creating storyboard frames, indicating how a desired shot should appear. These storyboard frames are then automatically encoded into an extensive set of virtual camera constraints that capture the key visual composition elements of the storyboard frame. Visual composition elements include the size and position of a subject appearing in a camera shot. A recursive heuristic constraint solver then analyzes the space of a given 3D virtual environment to determine camera parameters which produce a shot closely matching the shot in the given storyboard frame. For example, developers of interactive 3D virtual environments can create storyboard frames that visually express how the virtual camera should film a given set of objects. Our heuristic constraint solver takes a given storyboard frame, analyzes the current...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2000
• Where: MM
• Authors: William H. Bares, Scott McDermott, Christina Boudreaux, Somying Thainimit
• Keywords: Camera, MM 2000, Multimedia, Storyboard Frame, Virtual Environments