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Motion capture or MoCap

Title: MoCap for Artists: Workflow and Techniques for Motion Capture
AUTHOR Kitagawa, Midori
PUBLISHER Focal Press
ISBN 0240810007
PUBDATE 3/28/2008
CATEGORY Image processing: computer animation
KEYWORDS mocap, motioncapture
PAGES 224
VALUE $29.16
Link : http://www.danouma.com/danoumablog/2008/09/17/motion-capture-or-mocap/

Book Review:

Authors Midori Kitagawa and Brian Windsor start their introduction in the book "MoCap for Artists: Workflow and Techniques for Motion Capture" with ….. Is a book written for artist, educators, and students who want to create 3D animation for film and games using mocap technology.
In 230 pages they cover the mature and intricate field of motion capture Starting with an overview and history from the late 19th century to the present day, with a description of motion capture types (optical, magnetic and mechanical). Then they explain the various steps required for pre-production, production and post production of the Mocap process. A pipeline is defined that includes:

* Setting up a skeleton for a 3D character
* System and subject calibration
* Capture session
* Cleaning and editing the data
* Applying the data to the 3D character
* Rendering the animation and post production

Various chapters cover in detail the above steps. Then hand and facial motion capture is covered along with a full chapter on Puppetry capture. There is a chapter on mocap data and math that look at mocap data generation, data types and formats commonly used in (motion capture C3D, ASF/AMC,BVH,FBX), and mathematical definitions and concepts that frequently appear in mocap and other areas of 3D computer graphics and animation. Mathematical topics covered in this chapter are coordinates and coordinate systems, order of transformation, Euler angles, gimbals lock, and quaternion's.

I wish the book included a brief description of the tools and commercial software available out there like: 3D Studio Max Biped, Motion Builder, Life forms, Diva, Endorphin Gypsy and Massive, not to mention the vast array of LipSync software for lips movement and speech synchronization. And since it is a book for artists and the mimicking of human motion and applying the Mocap data on 3D characters (mostly Human 3D models).I would have liked to read about " the uncanny valley" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley. I leave it to the reader to discover what" the uncanny valley" is.

All in all "MoCap for Artists: Workflow and Techniques for Motion Capture" is a great book for anyone interested in learning about the ins and outs of mocap. After all there are not many books on Mocap and this one is a real life saver.

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