Sample Chapter: Using references to check the camera solution

For all those who are eagerly waiting for the Track Match Blend DVD here is a sample chapter to make the waiting a bit easier. It describes how you can use manual undistortion to improve your camera solution and to trigger the refinement calculations of the solver.
After setting up your tracking scene you can use external references to check if your solution makes sense.

[@MaghoxFr]

Yeah, but your first comment was "guys [...] check Boujou". Which is cool, because you are saying that it is better. Fair statement. But, while all of us can check Blender right away, I would dare to say that the minority of us could check Boujou. Maybe a demo, but after the trial time is over, that's it. Blender is the most advanced open source video compositing/ 3D modeller out there.

[@multimediahelp1]

You don't have to put an emphasis on that it is free. I am making a statement that Boujou is more advanced in every way. (with tracking and reconstructing)
Trust me I Blender for 4 years now, first used Icarus, then I used Boujou, and now I use Blender's internal tracker.
Boujou get's better results, despite that I love the Tomato tracker more because of it's great compatibility with After Effects, And because of the flexibility it has with Blender self of course.
Check on of my vid's

[@IanHubert2]

This is absolutely great

[@multimediahelp1]

Guys, The tracker in Blender is cool. But check Boujou,the technique and power of this application is awesome. Compared to Boujou, Blender is nothing close to it.

[@tiagotiagot]

An issue with aerial/satellite photos is that somtimes they aren't shot straight down, you might get some weird distortions in buildings and things like that. And there is also the issue of stitched images, if you're unlucky enough to need aerial/satellite photos of a region that crosses the seam of two photos, they might not be perfectly stitched, and they might even be from different angles. Somtimes zooming in or out gets you other images with enough resolution, but don't count on it.

[@amatorif]

Great video. Really helped me refine my knowledge on camera tracking
I have one issue however and that is how to get a plane to only show shadows. Are you able to tell me how to do that? I know quite a bit about blender so you don't have to go into too much detail. I use blender 2.67.

[@pixifystudio]

Very clever using a Google maps as reference! - I wonder what kind of lenses they have in the sattellites :)
What build of Blender are you using? I noticed that you've got "Set wall" in your reconstruction options? Keep up the good work!

[@Dakakeisalie]

I think he is adding a 3D model to the video that behaves appropriately in correlation with the camera movement, so a static object (say a bench) would appear in a rendering as if it was present during the actual filming

[@Crazy_Diamond_75]

Yeah, well not all of us can shell out a few grand just for camera tracking. Blender takes a bit of time to tweak, but it's FREE which makes it infinitely more valuable to independent artists.

[@andywolan]

I'm confused: are you making a 3D model of an environment by simply using some video footage as the source material?

[@AvarusRex]

Boujou costs more than $4,000 for a single license. I'm sorry, but compared to free, Blender wins for a decent tracker. I'd compare it more to Syntheyes than Boujou.

[@VorpalForceField]

Am I understanding correctly that the camera data does more than help tracking, and lens distortion has been corrected in the final render?

[@MyMinecraftMail]

this video is 21 minutest and 3 seconds. no, when it's at 21:01 it goes straight to 21:03

[@mirageofmage]

When i saw blender could make 3D games my face was like this o0o yes.

[@DesignAreal]

Nice german internet explorer!
Very cool!
Blender... the best 3d programm ever!

[@verumsculptura]

Das mti dem Empty-Bild und mit der verzerrung im 3d View habe ich noch nicht gewusst- Danke ich bin wieder ein Stück schlauer. Alles gute aus Berlin.

[@Baegus]

Wow, what a clever idea and perfect result! Great video!

[@andreamilana_art]

this tutorial is simply great! thanks a lot for sharing!

[@spproplus]

@EquinoxParadox91
2,000,000,000,000,000 Thumbs UP !!!!!!
Amen :-)

[@sander-wit]

Awesome tutorial, very clear and thorough.

[@MyMinecraftMail]

many videos are like that.
btw: i know

[@mirageofmage]

Now I can make minecraft animations!

[@snipperbesfelixje]

Absolutely can't wait for the dvd

[@mishmashmush7750]

Watching this while Blender downloads :)

[@HFdemofilms]

I thought you ran blender on Ubuntu :|

[@Yazoocxi]

where did you get the footage from?

[@Hermoor]

Hahaha nice use of google maps :)

[@lucas77230del]

venez voir ma video blender space blend

[@DylanBates]

Just ordered :D

[@HiAdrian]

Very good!

[@coloremblem]

Und Gott sprach es werde Blender :)

[@EquinoxParadox91]

God, I love Blender.

[@hentermofilico]

very good

[@MrGeoffreyNL]

alzo tzen xD