2.4 Manual 3D Calibration
The manual calibration process for a 3D projection surface (for example, a cube) is only slightly different from the one described in section 2.3 Manual 2D Keystone Calibration. The main difference resides in the number of Calibration Points needed by TACHYON to achieve a geometric match between the real-world projector and projection surface with their virtual counterparts. If a 3D object is selected for calibration and a sufficient quantity of well-distributed Calibration Points are identified on its surface (with regard to width, height and depth), TACHYON will automatically perform a 3D calibration. There is no need to specify if a calibration is tridimensional or bidimensional.
A minimum of six Calibration Points will be needed to calibrate a projector for a 3D object. These Calibration Points correspond to some of the vertices of the 3D object acting as the Projection Surface.
The vertices selected for the calibration should be distributed along the 3D object’s three axes (X, Y and Z) in order to convey enough information about its volume and surface to TACHYON. For example, selecting all of the Calibration Points on the same surface of a 3D object will prevent the software from performing tridimensional calibration since coplanar vertices do not carry information about the 3D object’s volume.
A maximum of nine Calibration Points should be used when calibrating a 3D object. Using more Calibration Points is possible, but it might lead to an accumulation of small positioning errors, which will have a detrimental effect on the calibration.
2.4.1 Add a Projector in the 3D Scene
In order to start the calibration process, you will need a virtual representation of the real-world display. If you are attempting a manual 3D calibration, the appropriate Virtual Display type is a Projector.
Make sure the Virtual Video Output that corresponds to the Video Output Port was declared in the Settings module when you created your project’s Network Group. If this wasn’t done, please do so before continuing (see Section 1.6 Virtual Video Outputs Creation in Chapter 2 Setting Up a Show).
Automatic Virtual Output Creation
When a Virtual Video Output is declared in the Settings module, a confirmation box opens and displays the following message: “Do you want to create a display in the 3D Scene and link it to this output?” By clicking the [Create Projector] button you will automatically add a Projector in the 3D Scene linked to the new output.
Manual Projector Creation
If for any reason you created a Virtual Video Output but did not assign a Projector to it, you will have to follow these steps:
In the 3D Scene module, select {Primitive > Display > Projector} to create a new Projector. A new entry (named Projector) will appear in the Scene Primitives list. A pyramid, representing the light beam emitted by the Projector, will also be visible in the 3D Scene Preview.
In the Settings module, go to the TACHYON Selection list and select the server you want to use as an output for the video signal.
Beside each of the Virtual Video Outputs you created, you will find a dropdown menu with the {no output} option selected. Using the dropdown menu linked to the appropriate Virtual Video Output, select the Projector you created.
Renaming a Projector
Once a Projector in the 3D Scene is linked to a Virtual Video Output, you can rename it to make it easier to identify. (In complex projects involving many Displays, renaming Projectors is a must-do.)
Double-click on the Projector’s entry in the Scene Primitives list. A text field will appear allowing you to enter a new name for the Projector.
2.4.2 Add a 3D Object in the 3D Scene
For a manual 3D calibration the Projection Surface is necessarily a 3D object. This 3D object can represent a prop or the surface of a tridimensional set element onto which video will be projected. The 3D object can either be selected from the ready-made Default Objects in the Primitive dropdown menu or it can be a custom made model (.obj, .fbx, .blend or .xsi) imported through the File Manager module. The following subsections will use the cube corner model (listed as a {Cube}) from the Default Objects as an example.
To add a 3D object to the 3D Scene, select {Primitive > Default Objects > Cube} in the Primitive dropdown menu.
The cube corner will appear in the Scene Primitives list, and a visual representation of it will appear at the origin (0,0,0) of the 3D Scene Preview.
Many ready-to-use 3D objects are available in TACHYON. They can act as Projection Surfaces and simplify the construction of the virtual representation of your real-world stage space. 3D objects can be selected from the Primitive dropdown menu {Primitive > Default Objects}.
2.4.3 Scale, Translate and Rotate the 3D Object
It is possible to modify the shape of the cube corner in order to match the ratio of the real-world prop it represents. You can also position and rotate the cube corner in space to match the position and orientation of the real-world prop.
Why Apply 3D Transformations?
Scaling, positioning and orienting are crucial in stage contexts where many real-world projectors cover many Screen Surfaces. Under these circumstances, it is important to accurately represent the spatial relations between all objects in TACHYON’s virtual world. If the spatial relations between objects aren’t accurately represented it won’t be possible to complete the calibration process.
Scaling, positioning and orienting are not crucial in stage contexts involving single Displays linked to single Screen Surfaces that act as autonomous pairs. However, doing so is considered a best practice and will give you access to a realistic pre-visualization of the project.
Project pre-visualization is one of TACHYON’s key features. VYV’s software can create full 3D simulations of the real-world stage space. In the 3D Scene module Screen Surfaces (with their video content), Displays, cameras, lighting equipment, and set elements can be placed in a virtual space that provides a complete overview of a project.
Applying 3D Transformations
An object’s size, position or orientation (Decorative Objects as well as Projection Surfaces) in the 3D Scene can be modified using the Transformations Panel or Transformation Manipulators.
Transformations Panel
The Transformations Panel contains multiple sliders that allow the modification of the Scale, Translate and Rotate parameters for each axis (X, Y and Z) for any object previously created in the 3D Scene module.
Select the object you want to alter by clicking on its entry in the Scene Primitives list.
To open the Transformations Panel, press [T] on the keyboard or select {Options Panels > Transformation} in the 3D Scene’s main menu.
To change the geometric coordinates of an object, adjust the value of the sliders. You can adjust the value of a slider by manipulating it with a [Click+Drag], or you can [Double-click] on it to open a text field where you can enter a desired numeric value.
The effects of these transformations can be seen in the 3D Scene Preview. The graphic representation of the selected object will be modified as well.
Slider values differ depending on the parameters they represent. The Scale sliders are not dimension sliders; they act as scaling coefficients applied to the object’s original size. For example, if the scale value of a cube featuring edges of 2 meters is changed from 1 to 4 on all three axes, the cube will now have edges of 8 meters. The Translate sliders express a value in meters. The Rotate sliders express values in angles. And the Rotate Axis sliders are used to apply a rotation expressed in an angle that corresponds to specific vectors. For example, an angle is set with the first slider while the three other sliders represent vector values for each axis that will determine how the rotation will be applied to each.
Transformation Manipulators
The Transformation Manipulators facilitate direct modification of a 3D object’s parameters —Scale, Translate, Rotate — by manipulating your mouse in the 3D Scene Preview.
Enable the desired Transformations Manipulator using the following methods:
Scale Manipulator: Press [X] on the keyboard or click on the Scale button located in the top-right corner of the 3D Scene window.
Translate Manipulator: Press [V] on the keyboard or click on the Translate button located in the top-right corner of the 3D Scene window.
Rotate Manipulator: Press [C] on the keyboard or click on the Rotate button located in the top-right corner of the 3D Scene window.
The Transformation Manipulators will appear when a 3D object is selected.
TACHYON’s Manipulators feature a standard color-scheme for its 3D coordinate system: X is red, Y is green and Z is blue.
[Click+Drag] the handle of the axis parameter you want to modify (X, Y or Z). The handle will become yellow when selected.
The Scale and Translate Manipulators feature a yellow dot at the intersection of their axes. [Click+Drag] the yellow dot to simultaneously apply transformations to all axes.
Enabling a Manipulator will disable camera movements in the 3D Scene Preview. To switch back to camera control, press [S] on the keyboard or click the Camera button located at the top-right corner of the 3D Scene.
If you want to control the camera while a Manipulator is enabled, press and hold [S] on the keyboard. This will allow you to manipulate the camera. To switch back to Manipulator control, release the [S] key.
2.4.4 Map the 3D Object to the Display
Once the cube corner that acts as the Projection Surface has undergone the appropriate geometric transformations, you have to add it to the Mapped Objects list.
In order to calibrate a Display (find its position and orientation in the real world), TACHYON has to build geometric correspondences with at least one 3D object representing a physical structure in the real world. In this case, the cube corner will act both as a Projection Surface and a Mapped Object.
Select the 3D Scene module’s Calibration mode by pressing [2] or by clicking on the [Calibration] button located at the top-right corner of the 3D Scene window.
Once the Calibration mode is enabled, the 3D Scene Preview will turn red and the Calibration Tools Window will open in the lower part of the 3D Scene window.
Select the Display you want to calibrate by clicking on its entry in the Calibration Tools Window list. (If you haven’t renamed the Display, it will be listed as “Projector.”)
Make sure the Display Grid is enabled. By showing a representation of how the Display’s texture map is distributed (both in the 3D Scene Preview and in the real-world projection) the Display Grid will let you preview the amount of distortion affecting the projected image. Normally, you will try to limit distortion as much as possible by manipulating the Calibration Points.
In the Mapped Object window section (right of the Calibration Tools Window), select the {Cube} (which is in fact a cube corner) from the {Model Selection} dropdown menu.
Click on the [Map] button to add the cube corner as a Mapped Object.
The cube corner will be covered by green dots corresponding to its vertices in the 3D Scene Preview.
Multiple 3D objects can be added as Mapped Objects for the same Display. This allows the Display to simultaneously support multiple calibrations. For example, in a case where a single video projector covers two different Screen Surfaces, both Screen Surfaces would be represented by its own 3D object, and both 3D objects would have to be added as Mapped Objects to the same Display (representing the video projector).
A single 3D object can be added as a Mapped Object for multiple Displays. For example, in a situation where beams of light from multiple projectors fall on a single Projection Surface, the same 3D object (corresponding to the Projection Surface) would have to be added to each of the Displays (corresponding to the video projectors).
2.4.5 Calibration Point Creation and Manipulation
In order to calibrate the Display, you will have to create seven Calibration Points that match the corners of the cube corner. You will then manipulate these Calibration Points until the image being displayed isn’t distorted. (You can use the corner created by the junction of two straight walls and a floor to simulate an open cube if you don’t have access to such a prop.)
Calibration Point Creation
Calibrations Points are created by converting vertices: the green dots that correspond to the 3D object’s vertices. This is done through a [Ctrl+Double-click] applied to a vertex.
To perform a manual 3D calibration, you will have to create Calibration Points using the seven corners of the cube corner.
[Ctrl+Double-click] sequentially on the seven vertices that match the seven corners of the cube corner.
Whenever a vertex point is converted to a Calibration Point and is selected, it will double in size and turn white. An unselected Calibration Point will retain this doubling of size but will turn blue.
When you create a Calibration Point, move it to its new position before creating another one. Follow the remaining instructions to learn how to manipulate the Calibration Points.
Calibration Points, Crosses and Lines
Whenever a Calibration Point is created, a green cross will appear in the Calibration Tools Window Preview where it is positioned. The green cross will also be projected by the Display it is linked to. If the Calibration Point is moved, the cross will also move to reflect the change of position.
If the Calibration Point is selected, its corresponding green cross will feature elongated white lines that will extend until they reach the edge of the projected image.
These two features — green crosses and white lines — should help you calibrate the Display. Parameters for both the crosses and the lines are accessible in the Options menu. If you want to modify these parameters, click on the gear icon button to access the Options Panel and manipulate the following widgets:
Display Cross toggle: Click on the toggle to show/hide the green crosses.
Display Lines toggle: Click on the toggle to show/hide the white lines.
2D Point Size slider: [Click+Drag] the slider to change the size of the green crosses.
Line Width slider: [Click+Drag] the slider to change the width of the white lines.
Manipulating Calibration Points
If you have to apply 3D geometric corrections to the video output, you will have to manipulate the Calibration Points. By moving Calibration Points in TACHYON you will alter the projected image’s geometric coordinates and compensate for alignment differences between a Projector and its corresponding Projection Surface.
Calibration Points will have to be selected and moved one by one. This step has to be repeated with each of the declared Calibration Points. The final positions of the Calibration Points in the projected image (on the real-world Projection Surface) will make it possible to project an accurate (geometrically correct) image.
Calibration Points can be manipulated by using the keyboard on it’s own, or by using a combination of the mouse and keyboard.
Keyboard Calibration Point Manipulations
Select Previous/Next Calibration Point
[Page Up] selects the next Calibration Point.
[Page Down] selects the previous Calibration Point.
Move the Calibration Point that is Currently Selected
[Arrows] move the selected Calibration Point in any of the four directions represented by the arrows keys.
[Shift+Arrows] applies the same effect as above, only 10 times slower.
[Ctrl+Shift+Arrows] applies the same effect as above, only 100 times slower.
Move the Entire Calibration
[Alt+Arrows] moves all of the Calibration Points at the same time.
[Alt+Shift+Arrows] applies the same effect as above, only 10 times slower.
Add/Remove a Calibration Point
[-] removes the Calibration Point that is currently selected.
[+] adds a new Calibration Point corresponding to the vertex that is currently selected, or re-adds a previously deleted Calibration Point.
Mouse and Keyboard Calibration Point Manipulations
Select a Calibration Point from the Calibration Tools Window Preview
[Ctrl+Left-click] selects the Calibration Point that is closest to your cursor and moves it to where you have clicked.
Select a Calibration Point in the 3D Scene Preview
[Ctrl+Left-click] on a Calibration Point (blue dots) to select it (it will turn white).
Cycle Through Calibration Point Selection
[Mouse wheel]: Place the mouse over the Calibration Tools Window Preview and use the mouse wheel to cycle through the previously declared Calibration Points.
Move a Calibration Point
[Left-click] anywhere in the Calibration Tools Window Preview to move the selected Calibration Point to its new location.
[Left-click+Drag] anywhere in the Calibration Tools Window Preview to move the selected Calibration Point in the direction that you drag the mouse.
[Shift+Left-click+Drag] applies the same effect as above, only 10 times slower.
Add/Remove a Calibration Point
[Ctrl+Double-click] on a vertex (green dots) on the Mapped Object in the 3D Scene Preview to create a new Calibration Point.
[Ctrl+Right-click] on a Calibration Point to remove it.
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