We are looking to put a project on Wooshii but need to know if anyone can use CGI to create Tilt Shift effect in a video. (see authentic tilt shift attached Youtube vid)
More specifically we need to know if you can create this effect and not tell the difference between your CGI version and an actual tilt shift video.
I would appreciate any discussion on this topic - either from tilt shift people, or CGI people - so that we can determine if we need to stick to authentic tilt shift or if it can be done with CGI to get a 99% look-alike. Also, what would the pro's con's be?
Lastly, we are serious about throwing a RATHER LARGE BUDGET at one of these options for about a 90 sec commercial video clip.
You can pull this off in After Effects with some blurs filters over your footage. It's one way of doing it, I'm not sure of any other way but I'm sure there is, but I believe the effect is mostly created on camera.
You can, I've done that before with straight footage and added the effect in After Effects. There are also camera add ons that can create the effect as you film it, but those can be expensive from what I've seen.
I've done both real Tilt-Shift and simulated. Actually, the effect is given by the Tilt capability of the lens. Rotating the lens in relation to the image plane will determine where the focus falls and it's a form of selective focus. The LensBabies(TM) achieve a similar effect by having the lens housing made out of a flexible material which allows the lens to be tilted at extreme angles. As far as I know the Shift effect has little or no impact on the selective focus given by the Tilt effect but is generally used for forcing perspective resulting in parallel lines not converging in an image. Now, for your question. The shift effect can be recreated to some point by using not very complicated CGI. Technically blurring the upper and lower zones of an image will usually pull the trick. This technique will fool about 90% of untrained eyes but some nit-picking maniacs may actually observe that the digital blur doesn't have the same texture and general feel as a real lens blur. Things CAN be taken further digitally but, most of the time it's easier to just grab a tilt shift lens. Now, this is where it comes to a series of decisions that must be taken. If the location you want to shoot at is remote and you cannot have someone there WITH a tilt shift lens then going digital would be the answer. Also a tilt shift lens can be a bit expensive. AFAIK, a good Nikon or Canon lens for Digital SLRS sits at aroun 1000 EUROS. For a single project it may not be worth buying one just to have it catch rust afterwards but you may be able to rent one for the duration of your shooting. The price for a digital (CGI) selective focus mock-up will vary in this case according to the length of your footage since the effect itself is not really rocket science for a professional. My advice? If you can go with the real thing, forget the digital. With a real tilt/shift lens you will have instant gratification, you'll cut the need for render times and if you believe that you may need it in the future then it's a good investment. Here's some pieces of (creative) advice for tilt shift photography. The miniature effect is greatly enhanced if you're shooting a colorful and vibrant image. If you're planning a tilt shift time lapse, look for a vantage position that would give you lots of interesting motion in the frame. (The example you've posted is very good and I actually went through that one when I worked on some tilt shift TV idents). Finally and obviously, always pick a place well above your subject so as to boost the miniature effect.
Well Id' say that whenever shooting is involved getting good shots is the first and most important aspect. Fixing problems in post production is very unproductive when one could invest that time to further improve a good footage. But, I digress (love this word). Yes, if a Tilt/Shift lens is unavailable then getting a good shot and applying the simulated shift effect in post production will do the trick and be good enough for at least 90% of the cases. And in case I didn't put enough emphasis on the quality of the shooting. It is paramount. Good shooting means not only less work but it also means that whomever will work on the footage will be creatively persuaded to match the quality of his or her digital work to the quality of the shots.
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More specifically we need to know if you can create this effect and not tell the difference between your CGI version and an actual tilt shift video.
I would appreciate any discussion on this topic - either from tilt shift people, or CGI people - so that we can determine if we need to stick to authentic tilt shift or if it can be done with CGI to get a 99% look-alike. Also, what would the pro's con's be?
Lastly, we are serious about throwing a RATHER LARGE BUDGET at one of these options for about a 90 sec commercial video clip.
Look forward to a some input
Cheers,
Can you give any details re-specific shots that may cause issues or give any more detail on the script you have in mind with out giving the game away?
Are there specific shots that work better
As far as I know the Shift effect has little or no impact on the selective focus given by the Tilt effect but is generally used for forcing perspective resulting in parallel lines not converging in an image.
Now, for your question.
The shift effect can be recreated to some point by using not very complicated CGI. Technically blurring the upper and lower zones of an image will usually pull the trick. This technique will fool about 90% of untrained eyes but some nit-picking maniacs may actually observe that the digital blur doesn't have the same texture and general feel as a real lens blur. Things CAN be taken further digitally but, most of the time it's easier to just grab a tilt shift lens.
Now, this is where it comes to a series of decisions that must be taken.
If the location you want to shoot at is remote and you cannot have someone there WITH a tilt shift lens then going digital would be the answer.
Also a tilt shift lens can be a bit expensive. AFAIK, a good Nikon or Canon lens for Digital SLRS sits at aroun 1000 EUROS. For a single project it may not be worth buying one just to have it catch rust afterwards but you may be able to rent one for the duration of your shooting.
The price for a digital (CGI) selective focus mock-up will vary in this case according to the length of your footage since the effect itself is not really rocket science for a professional.
My advice? If you can go with the real thing, forget the digital. With a real tilt/shift lens you will have instant gratification, you'll cut the need for render times and if you believe that you may need it in the future then it's a good investment.
Here's some pieces of (creative) advice for tilt shift photography.
The miniature effect is greatly enhanced if you're shooting a colorful and vibrant image.
If you're planning a tilt shift time lapse, look for a vantage position that would give you lots of interesting motion in the frame. (The example you've posted is very good and I actually went through that one when I worked on some tilt shift TV idents).
Finally and obviously, always pick a place well above your subject so as to boost the miniature effect.
Hope this helps
But, I digress (love this word). Yes, if a Tilt/Shift lens is unavailable then getting a good shot and applying the simulated shift effect in post production will do the trick and be good enough for at least 90% of the cases.
And in case I didn't put enough emphasis on the quality of the shooting. It is paramount. Good shooting means not only less work but it also means that whomever will work on the footage will be creatively persuaded to match the quality of his or her digital work to the quality of the shots.