Hi, dear readers,

only 8 days to go until "The Black Robe" animation deadline (at 
tc-rtc.co.uk ) is upon us.

Alright, with that out of the way, i've dug through the irtc.stills 
newsgroup and found some info on the new voting procedure, which i'd 
like to ask St. to confirm...

Is the following correct?

a) Uploads are possible until the deadline
b) Voting is possible until the deadline, AND for a week thereafter
c) Only those that entered can vote
d) Commenting is not (yet) automated

[e) Are these in the FAQs already, and i've been too daft to find?]

-Markus

--

Current occupation: Keyframing, previewing, cussing, keyframing...

WiP Snapshots-of-the-day:
"Crush" goes the wall... (actual video frame)
http://wip.anthrosphinx.de/episode010/20070823_122540_preview.jpg

... and in case anyone was wondering how/if i'd introduce any of my 
regular characters into my "The Black Robe" story... :)
http://wip.anthrosphinx.de/episode010/20070821_204401_snap_74640.jpg

Post a reply to this message

"Markus Altendorff" <maa### [at] panoramasde> wrote in message 
news:46cd61ea@news.povray.org...
> Hi, dear readers,

     Heh...    :o)


>
> only 8 days to go until "The Black Robe" animation deadline (at 
> tc-rtc.co.uk ) is upon us.

    OMG... really? (SELF: No, not really, it's 6 days to go as of typing 
this..!)

     normal{eek 1 scale 1}}



       ;)



>
> Alright, with that out of the way, i've dug through the irtc.stills 
> newsgroup and found some info on the new voting procedure, which i'd like 
> to ask St. to confirm...

     Hmm.. ok...


>
> Is the following correct?


      Let's see now... <taps fingers>


>
> a) Uploads are possible until the deadline

        Yes, although, I don't know what would happen if someone uploaded an 
image or animation let's say, 1 minute before the deadline. I'll look into 
this.


> b) Voting is possible until the deadline, AND for a week thereafter

          I've got a feeling I may have said that as an idea here somewhere, 
but as yet, I don't think it's implimented.


> c) Only those that entered can vote

         No, as far as I know, other members can vote too, even though they 
didn't enter. I'll check that too.


> d) Commenting is not (yet) automated

        Should be, seems to be working ok from what I've seen.

>
> [e) Are these in the FAQs already, and i've been too daft to find?]

   Dang. Now you've found the dent in my armour... :o)

     The FAQS are due to be updated soon Markus, no, you're not "too daft". 
:)


>
> -Markus
>
> --
>
> Current occupation: Keyframing, previewing, cussing, keyframing...
>
> WiP Snapshots-of-the-day:
> "Crush" goes the wall... (actual video frame)
> http://wip.anthrosphinx.de/episode010/20070823_122540_preview.jpg
>
> ... and in case anyone was wondering how/if i'd introduce any of my 
> regular characters into my "The Black Robe" story... :)
> http://wip.anthrosphinx.de/episode010/20070821_204401_snap_74640.jpg


        Heck, they're good! It's working for me.   :o)

         ~Steve~

Post a reply to this message

St. wrote:
> 
>     OMG... really? (SELF: No, not really, it's 6 days to go as of typing 
> this..!)

Four days... but who's counting? (ME! (runs around screaming and waving 
arms - "aaargh! Needtofinishneedtofinishneedtofinish...") ;)

There's a second entry online! Looks like a motion cycle, interesting 
concept. A bit cryptic, was hoping for the description to clear it up.

Oh, by the way: I get lots of "undefined" characters (UTF-8 charset 
markers in my browser, should be apostrophes) when viewing the page. 
Might want to do a ' to "&39;" translation on the output side of things, 
maybe?
Oh, the template says "JPG: something.MPG" :) but that's just nitpicking. :)

Also, there's an URL in the description that looks pretty beat up, but 
mostly because it's a newsgroup web interface pointer, i guess. Little 
that can be done about that.

>> a) Uploads are possible until the deadline
> 
>         Yes, although, I don't know what would happen if someone uploaded an 
> image or animation let's say, 1 minute before the deadline. I'll look into 
> this.
> 

Depends on when the script checks the date/time. After pressing the 
submit button in the browser, either the recipient script is immediately 
invoked on the server and remains active during the transfer, or the 
server buffers the upload and only afterwards calls the script to handle 
the data. It's safer to assume all must be completed before the deadline 
(and it's the servers' clock setting that determins this, not the local 
one).

>> b) Voting is possible until the deadline, AND for a week thereafter
> 
>           I've got a feeling I may have said that as an idea here somewhere, 
> but as yet, I don't think it's implimented.
> 
Ah, OK. Um. (starts running/screaming again "three days! three days! OMFG!")

>> c) Only those that entered can vote
> 
>          No, as far as I know, other members can vote too, even though they 
> didn't enter. I'll check that too.
> 

Heh, i voted on a still image recently. So i guess it's a membership 
thing, not an entering thing.

>> d) Commenting is not (yet) automated
> 
>         Should be, seems to be working ok from what I've seen.

Ah, fine. Does commenting still work after the deadline? (does one get a 
  mail or something, if a comment was added to one's entries?)

>> [e) Are these in the FAQs already, and i've been too daft to find?]
> 
>    Dang. Now you've found the dent in my armour... :o)
> 
>      The FAQS are due to be updated soon Markus, no, you're not "too daft". 

The court is still out on this... judging from the amount of things i've 
learned about my tools and abilities during this round, i'm afraid 
there's still plenty of daft left in me :)

e.g. i completely forgot that C4D's automated hair guides can be "tied" 
to polygonal surfaces. Yay! Now, even though the character accelerates 
at 5 m/s/s, the hairdo doesn't go "sproink"! Of course, i remembered 
this feature ... yesterday. (sound of head pounding on table)

Ah well, the "core" storyline is rendered! All that's left it one minute 
of "talking heads and a few gestures" to wrap things up. This should be 
manageable (render time permitting)...

-M

--
Now this wouldn't be complete without some more WiP shots, would it?

The apprentice is "a bit" overwhelmed by how things are progressing...
http://wip.anthrosphinx.de/episode010/20070824_215327_snap_78807.jpg
(just editor pre-render, lacking pillar-of-fire lighting because the 


... and that sight's going to be detrimental to his ease of mind, too...
http://wip.anthrosphinx.de/episode010/20070826_032453_snap_12293.jpg
(light setup incomplete, reason: see above)

Whoops, there goes the grimoire...
http://wip.anthrosphinx.de/episode010/20070826_110029_snap_2096.jpg
(that's actual output size 720x360, from the final)

Post a reply to this message

Markus Altendorff <maa### [at] panoramasde> wrote:
> St. wrote:
> >
> >     OMG... really? (SELF: No, not really, it's 6 days to go as of typing
> > this..!)
>
> Four days... but who's counting? (ME! (runs around screaming and waving
> arms - "aaargh! Needtofinishneedtofinishneedtofinish...") ;)
>
> There's a second entry online! Looks like a motion cycle, interesting
> concept. A bit cryptic, was hoping for the description to clear it up.

That must be mine. I was in a rush to get it posted and hassled by lack of
time and bad traveling experiences at the weekend.



As for the image it is a traditional cyclic doodle. I would have liked to
put more moving elements but was limited by the modeler in its present
state.
What can I say about the scene? Well obviously we are looking at someone in
a Black Robe with two companions but why is one of them unclothed and the
other looking pensive? What entity, streams bodies from one place to
another in a surreal environment?
Questions, questions and I have no answers, only a viewport to this sphere
of existence.


Stephen

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:
> 
> That must be mine. I was in a rush to get it posted and hassled by lack of
> time and bad traveling experiences at the weekend.

Yes, it is. Well, with two to choose from, the chance was about 50% ;)




> As for the image it is a traditional cyclic doodle. I would have liked to
> put more moving elements but was limited by the modeler in its present
> state.

Don't i know that... though i must admit, playing with my new toys 
(Cinema 10.1 + new computer) has broadend my toolchest and options to 
create scenes in 3D significantly. :)

> What can I say about the scene? Well obviously we are looking at someone in
> a Black Robe with two companions but why is one of them unclothed and the
> other looking pensive? What entity, streams bodies from one place to
> another in a surreal environment?

Oops. I was actually hoping for answers to those :)

> Questions, questions and I have no answers, only a viewport to this sphere
> of existence.

Ah, it's sort of "bringing alive a mental image" or doing a "living 
freeze-frame". This is something i've not even thought about. Inspiring! 
Leaves the viewer with a lot to think and wonder about. Me, i'm somehow 
stuck in the less artistic, more manufactural "getting that inner 
movie/script thing on the screen" mode... :S

Your scene brought (for me) quite a lot of associations, most from 
dystopian Sci-Fi films, i'll readily admit. "Ambulance", "Minority 
Report", even the multimedia elements of Mike Oldfield's "Songs of 
Distant Earth" ("Hibernaculum") or maybe something like the "decanting" 
plant described in Huxley's Brave New World...

-M

Post a reply to this message

Markus Altendorff <maa### [at] panoramasde> wrote:
> Stephen wrote:
> >
> > That must be mine. I was in a rush to get it posted and hassled by lack of
> > time and bad traveling experiences at the weekend.
>
> Yes, it is. Well, with two to choose from, the chance was about 50% ;)






> > As for the image it is a traditional cyclic doodle. I would have liked to
> > put more moving elements but was limited by the modeler in its present
> > state.
>
> Don't i know that... though i must admit, playing with my new toys
> (Cinema 10.1 + new computer) has broadend my toolchest and options to
> create scenes in 3D significantly. :)
>
Well one of the good things about Beta testing software is the opportunity
to influence the final product. One of the bad things was entering values
for every Keyframe as a linear spline had not been implemented (it has now
in a new release).

> > What can I say about the scene? Well obviously we are looking at someone in
> > a Black Robe with two companions but why is one of them unclothed and the
> > other looking pensive? What entity, streams bodies from one place to
> > another in a surreal environment?
>
> Oops. I was actually hoping for answers to those :)

I could have told you but then I would have had to transmogrify you :-)

> > Questions, questions and I have no answers, only a viewport to this sphere
> > of existence.
>
> Ah, it's sort of "bringing alive a mental image" or doing a "living
> freeze-frame". This is something i've not even thought about. Inspiring!
> Leaves the viewer with a lot to think and wonder about. Me, i'm somehow
> stuck in the less artistic, more manufactural "getting that inner
> movie/script thing on the screen" mode... :S

I would not say that it is less artistic to create characters, plot,
storyboard etc. Doing a "living freeze-frame" (I like that term, I think of
it as Masque-like) is simple in most cases, but like a short SF story it
must have a twist. For me the twist is wondering what is going to happen to
the lady in the arch.
Did you notice the stars twinkling? It is quite subtle.


> Your scene brought (for me) quite a lot of associations, most from
> dystopian Sci-Fi films, i'll readily admit. "Ambulance", "Minority
> Report", even the multimedia elements of Mike Oldfield's "Songs of
> Distant Earth" ("Hibernaculum") or maybe something like the "decanting"
> plant described in Huxley's Brave New World...
>
> -M

Well I read a lot of SF but seldom watch any films and as I said I stole the
idea from Gail. I think that I must reread Brave New World as I cannot
remember the decanting" plant. Dystopian is right but maybe it is not and
these are souls in the process of being sent to their lives. Hmm I just



I always look forward to seeing yours

Stephen

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:

> Well one of the good things about Beta testing software is the opportunity
> to influence the final product. One of the bad things was entering values
> for every Keyframe as a linear spline had not been implemented (it has now
> in a new release).

Ouch. Hey, you realize that by entering values for every frame by hand 
you're now in the same league as the creators of "Tron"? :)

> I could have told you but then I would have had to transmogrify you :-)

"Calvin & Hobbes" reference? :)

> I would not say that it is less artistic to create characters, plot,
> storyboard etc. Doing a "living freeze-frame" (I like that term, I think of
> it as Masque-like) is simple in most cases, but like a short SF story it
> must have a twist. For me the twist is wondering what is going to happen to
> the lady in the arch.
> Did you notice the stars twinkling? It is quite subtle.

Been watching it on my side-notebook at work, and that doesn't do 
"subtle" ;) will have to check again at home.

> Well I read a lot of SF but seldom watch any films and as I said I stole the
> idea from Gail. I think that I must reread Brave New World as I cannot
> remember the decanting" plant. Dystopian is right but maybe it is not and
> these are souls in the process of being sent to their lives. Hmm I just

The "decanting" is just mentioned, not described in detail, i think, as 
the process when the New World (clone?) children are "born", i.e. 
removed from their nurturing containers. Isn't Huxley's Lenina character 
working in such a factory, or something? Reading it has been a while... 
Usually i'm more into TPratchett, Asimov, Lem, if i'm not wasting time 
on the intertubes ;)
I've just finished the brothers Strugatzki's "Roadside picnic" 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadside_Picnic - interesting idea for a book.




Have to check that one, i might have missed it the first time.
(Update: maybe because it kills my browser if i try to open it directly 
;) will have to download and try again...

> I always look forward to seeing yours

Me too :) i'm even more looking forward to the comments... it's been cut 
to quite a fast pace, which might be too much for working with 
subtitles. If only i had some decent voice actors :)

-M

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I've picked up blender again, and interested in seeing if I can produce
something with it.

Also just now I came up with a wonderful idea for an animation in povray:
I'm hoping my new idea will somehow mesh with the randomly chosen new
topic.

Post a reply to this message

Markus Altendorff <maa### [at] panoramasde> wrote:
> Stephen wrote:
>

>
> Ouch. Hey, you realize that by entering values for every frame by hand
> you're now in the same league as the creators of "Tron"? :)


that kept throwing the smoothness of the motion out.

> > I could have told you but then I would have had to transmogrify you :-)
>
> "Calvin & Hobbes" reference? :)

Oh! I thought that it had passed into common usage. Yes a "Calvin & Hobbes"
reference. :-)

>
> Been watching it on my side-notebook at work, and that doesn't do
> "subtle" ;) will have to check again at home.


find the correct material settings.


> The "decanting" is just mentioned, not described in detail, i think, as
> the process when the New World (clone?) children are "born", i.e.
> removed from their nurturing containers. Isn't Huxley's Lenina character
> working in such a factory, or something? Reading it has been a while...
> Usually i'm more into TPratchett, Asimov, Lem, if i'm not wasting time
> on the intertubes ;)
> I've just finished the brothers Strugatzki's "Roadside picnic"
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadside_Picnic - interesting idea for a book.

You remember Brave New World better than I do but I think that you are
right, I do remember something about a factory being mentioned.
Here and now!
Here and now!

years.
"Roadside picnic" again it was years ago but the Wikipedia article refreshed
my memory. An excellent idea, unfortunately I found that style of writing
too literary for my poor dyslectic brain.

>>
> > I always look forward to seeing yours
>
> Me too :)
LOL
>i'm even more looking forward to the comments... it's been cut
> to quite a fast pace, which might be too much for working with
> subtitles. If only i had some decent voice actors :)

That is a problem but it is one I ignore by making silent moving pictures
:-)


Stephen

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gregjohn wrote:
> I've picked up blender again, and interested in seeing if I can produce
> something with it.

Good luck! I'm eager to see the results!
I've tried Blender (in fact, i download a new version every now and 
then), but i'm already so settled in my "Cinema4D" ways that i'm finding 
it hard to adjust to the entirely different user interface of Blender.

> Also just now I came up with a wonderful idea for an animation in povray:
> I'm hoping my new idea will somehow mesh with the randomly chosen new
> topic.

"Wherever there's a will, there's a way" ;)
Another video to look forward to! We're slowly making inroads in terms 
of participation. I've mentioned the tc-rtc over at the Cinema4d forum, 
because there are a few other hobbyists that seemed interested to join, 
too. I think such a fun, collaborative, hobbyist arena isn't represented 
enough on the web (yet). Most of the 3D video websites i find or am 
pointed to by friends seem to be of the "pro-for-hire" or 
"woowee-i've-graduated-from-moviemaking-university" kind ;) (at least 
that's what it looks to me, maybe i'm using google wrong)... excellent 
works, of course, but not everyone has a chance to work in a team of 
three or four people full time for half a year with 12-hour-days on a 
sixty seconds masterpiece... (besides, most of the time, i just don't 
"get" those stories...) ;)

In a way, 3D is my substitue for tinkering with model railways ;)

-M
--
"Black Robe" video now in the home stretch... no more time for WiPs now.

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