Day 18 -- 30/6/2011 Thursday

We had lesson from Zack, intern in SESI. He was more into lighting/rendering so he was appointed to teach us. He taught us the fundamental of rendering in Houdini. Before he began, I thought to myself, hmm, "I know something about rendering, it should be easy". He went through the trouble of explaining each steps in detail. I learned quite a lot of stuff along the way.

Basic stuff like saving rendered image: $HIP/filename/imagename.png (whatever file extension)

Depending on what extension, each hold different types of channel. 

.TIFF has RGB channel + alpha channel

.PNG has alpha channel

.EXR has all channel

.RAT is default Houdini texture file format

When rendering passes, best to use open EXR or Houdini.pic format. 

Some basic information in saving image and what type of format to use. Next was how each rendering engine works and how to optimize each engine to get nice rendering result. There are few steps to take note when rendering a scene. The first step of rendering is geometry refinement. In a scene, the user need to decide which rendering engine is more suitable, MicroPolygon or Ray-tracing engine. The concept of Micropolygons was developed within the Reyes Algorithm, in which geometric primitives are tessellated at render time into a rectangular grid of tiny, four-sided polygons. For faster rendering time, use Micropolygon but it might produce less quality motion blur. Ray-tracing will take much longer but better image produced and less noisy motion blur.

To optimize MicroPolygon rendering
Mantra-Node>properties>sampling> Min ray/ Max ray
Mantra-Node>properties>dicing> Shading quality
Pixel Sample for the last resort.

To optimize Ray-tracing rendering
Mantra-Node>properties>dicing> Ray-tracing shading quality
Mantra-Node>properties>render> ray-tracing accelerator
Pixel Sample for the last resort.

To optimize MicroPolygon Physically Based Rendering
Mantra-Node>properties>sampling> Min ray/Max ray
Mantra-Node>properties>PBR> Color limit, lower number to remove white dots
Mantra-Node>properties>dicing> Shading quality
Volume step size for rendering volume like fluid/fog

Sampling quality in light sop varies to mantra pixel sample. In order to get more accurate sampling quality, adjust mantra pixel sample then the light sample quality. He also talk about how to render wireframe.

Wire Frame render> Create any geometry (polygon/polygon mesh), put down a facet sop with unique points checked, go to OUT in the operation level gadet and tab in a "wren" sop, equip with a camera and hit render with the "wren" sop.

I continued with my own stuff for the rest of the day.

Day 17 -- 29/6/2011 Wednesday

Based on last Wednesday and today's schedule, it seems like there will be a weekly Houdini topic discussion with Jeff Wagner on every Wednesday. Like before, I couldn't disclose much, even so, I kind of don't really understand what they were discussing until it comes to constraining and little into Rigid Body Dynamics (RBD). Shattering pattern in RBD can be change using other geometry object as a mold to cast on. For example, normal shelf-tool shattering will have this voronoi pattern, otherwise, organic circle-like cracks but you can add a grid to change its crack pattern to grid-like squares.

About 11am, the session ended. Back to continue refining my previs. While on that, I realized that the previs was in non-commercial version. Thinking should I continue, I carried on for awhile. However, I saw that other shots of previs had already been rendered out in commercial version (without water-mark) I stopped what I'm doing now and went back to the previous save file, which was still in commercial and worked from there. I probably copy and paste nodes from a non-commercial version and did not notice that. Since I am doing from the previous version, I decided to redo part of my previs. I applied the knowledge from the "Torus to Statue of Liberty" into the new shot 4 for previs.

I was stuck at one point where I wanted the transfering sequence at a certain frame. I tried a "if" statement but to no avail. I consulted Ziggy on how to solve the problem. Not only solving solving the expression, he explained to me the breakdown of the expression. Also, there are another way of doing without the use of expression. Time shift node of $F-(frame number define by user). I know about the time shift node but slipped off my mind.

After solving that, I proceeded on but encounter another issue, camera movement/angle. I struggled and stuck for quite some time at this point, wasting time trying to find a good way of doing.

We went back early as there will be a lesson conducted at 6:30pm. They got to prepare for that and we don't want to interrupt.


Fun

I picked up a new skill today, SKATING!!! It was fun and dangerous at the same time. We went to Ralph's to get some groceries before heading home.

Day 16 -- 28/6/2011 Tuesday

I checked my mail, kind of like the first thing I would do went I settled down in the office. I received a email form Steven about toon shader on Houdini mailing list. "What is a Houdini mailing list?" I thought. I replied asking where can i find this Houdini mailing list, only to be given the task to find out what is it. The first thing in my mind was somewhere in Odforce or in Sidefx website itself. I couldn't find the Houdini mailing list but found some threads on toon shading on Sidefx forum though. I downloaded some of the hip file provided and played with it. Most of them has the outline of the geometry darken/thicken, with layer of color ramp to mimic shading technique.

While at it trying to test the Vex network, Zack, a intern, began his lesson on basic rendering/lighting. The speed of the lesson was just nice and covered all the basics with great detail.

These are some of the things I learned ; 

>Hold alt key to set the height of the light when click on the shelf tool.

>Use a null node to control the translate of the light with its look at option set to the null node.

> Hold shift+drag on an area in render view for render region.

>Cone delta, cone angle & cone roll-off is similar to the lighting decay of spotlight in Maya.

>Area lights like the disk & grid light option have more light sample thus having softer shadows.

>How and when to use geometry light.

>In render view, hit the render button to regenerate depth-map shadow(if using).

>Using three point light to light a single object with variation of light intensity.

>Spotlight as key-light, Environment light as fill-light and another spotlight(place opposite key-light) as rim-light.

>sample quality to remove noise, larger = less noise + longer calculation.

These are some of the things, there is more but I don't want to go on. Overall, I learned how to do basic lighting after this lesson, did not know how to do this previously. After that, I continued on refining the previs. Jiabao showed me how Daniel, the previous batch intern, did a formation of object. I did it and applied what I learned from the lighting class into this scene.

Trans-former from Tanner Caelum on Vimeo.

Fun

After work, we get off early by 10 minutes to follow Lu Sheng to get his cough syrup at CVS pharmacy, if I'm not wrong, its at 7th street. While he is at it, Bryan and I checked out the same comic store we went a week ago. The store was beside the pharmacy. After spending some time looking for a good comic book to buy, couldn't get any as it was quite expensive. We went next door to get our dinner at Jack-in-the-box, a Mexican burger fast food outlet.

Day 15 -- 27/6/2011 Monday

I guess everybody was exhausted from the long yesterday. Today continued like any other ordinary Monday. We went to work early and reach SESI about 9:10am. I began by looking at reference regarding Liberty Island. I wanted to check out the surrounding environment like how small was that island, how calm was the water around it. All this research was to cater to one of my shot which I may include in. I am trying to mimic the ups and downs of water wave around the island. I got a wave generator from Houdini exchange. Although it was easy to use, I decided to do it myself from scratch. I dive into the otl and see how they do it. The rest of the steps are easy with just using boxes to copy on every points on the grid.

Using expression in point sop:

Playing with scale of box, to test if more boxes give greater details on the movement of wave.

Test Renders
Normal Size Boxes -- http://vimeo.com/25686336

Normal Box Wave from Tanner Caelum on Vimeo.

Smaller Size Boxes -- http://vimeo.com/25686378

Smaller Boxes from Tanner Caelum on Vimeo.

More smaller size boxes -- http://vimeo.com/25701207

More Smaller Boxes from Tanner Caelum on Vimeo.

I also went to polish my other shot. The shot has a camera that goes around the object in a upwards spiral movement. To do that, I need a helix-shaped curve or line then used it as a path object for the camera. However, I struggled a for awhile at this point and take up some time. After a while, I gave up drawing the curve and use an expression instead. It was fast and accurate. I spend some time adjusting and tweaking the animation and camera movement. It was a little tedious. While doing that, I side tracked a bit and ask Steven which number of Frames per second was better to used, 25 fps was more suitable as these will be used in demo reel and DVD and Singapore mainly uses PAL.

New shot4 -- http://vimeo.com/25701777
 

Shot 4 New S.O.L from Tanner Caelum on Vimeo.

Day 14 -- 26/6/2011 Sunday

Fun

As planned on Thursday with Steven and his wife that they are bringing us to the Premium Outlets in Desert Hill, where everyone can find their cheap bargains. The day started when Steven and his wife arrived at 9am in his car. We took the expressway/freeway to the destination. About 30 mins, we reached the first pit stop. The pit stop was located somewhere in an asian-populated town. Some of us went to the Vietnamese deli store (that explains the asian) to pick up Vietnamese sandwich, commonly known as Bánh mì
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A1nh_m%C3%AC
while some of us when to get Starbucks coffee just next door. After awhile, we continued our journey. During the journey, Shih Peng, Steven's wife, told us some facts about the do's and dont's on what to do on the road. They were quite strict about road rules. I could feel the speed picking up as he cruises the road. I saw familiar trees along the highway, it was the walking spirit trees in thw movie, Rango. Mountains can be seen through the car window. We then joked about Houdini's mountain sop in relate to the mountains.

About an hour and 45 minutes, we reached the premium outlets. We acquired some discount coupon booklet. Steven then handed us a spare phone to contact each other as we split into 2 groups.

 http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/store_listing.asp?id=6

Above is the link to the premium outlet. The place was kind of smaller than expected. There are many high-end brands like Prada, Gucci, Coach, Armani, Hugo Boss etc. The day past quickly as we walked into the store we fancied. I didnt buy much stuff as the things there doesn't really appeal to me in a way but bought a few pieces though. In contrast, the rest bought alot of stuff, practically from head to toe.

At 4:30pm, we met up with Steven and his wife. We then went for dinner at Penang, a eating place at another asian-populated area. It has all kinds of Malaysian fare and a little of Singapore fare. For this dinner, we got a treat from Steven (NICE !!!!). Then some groceries shopping at a Hong Kong supermarket. Bought some stuff and went home after that.

Day 13 -- 25/6/2011 Saturday

We had to reach SESI at 7:30am. We are invited to tag along to the VES(Visual Effects Society) conference in Renaissance Hotel at Hollywood. We are kind of late and met them at around 7.45am(not very nice). Aliza drove us there. We arrived at about 8+.

Think Suntec City Convention Hall's ballrooms and you will get the rough impression of where VES will be held. We went into a ballroom designated for Side Effects, there, we settled down and helped them for the preparation. We had breakfast around the corner. The event began not long after. Rows of booth each occupied by different media-industry companies. Some are the popular ones e.g Digital Domain, MPC, SonyPictures, Legacy Effects and Disney Animation while some are not so. It was like a career fair, many people were handling out their resumes and showing their reels. I collected a bunch of brochures. 

After walking around, we decided to explore the Hollywood scene. We took pictures, walked around, went in few shops. After we had lunch, we headed out to walk the Hollywood Walk of fame. We was practically staring at the stars on the pavement saw quite an amount of famous celebrities. We headed back to the hotel and helped Aliza and the rest moved the equipment down to the loading bay. We helped to load the equipment used in the event up into car and Ari drove us back to SESI. We then went for dinner at Nordstrom before heading home.

Day 12 -- 24/6/2011 Friday

Check out some reference on Liberty Island. This will appear in the last shot of my project. Also went to look for royalty free 3d model of Statue of Liberty to play with and do some testing with it. Here is the link:

http://travel.ezinemark.com/secrets-beyond-statue-of-liberty-77364ef03b4d.html

3D model download: http://3dlenta.com/en/architecture.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&category_id=2&product_id=36

I felt that I had wasted the day, not productive at all.

Day 11 -- 23/6/2011 Thursday

I went to redo Corinne's procedural modeling file and look through hers while comparing to see what I left out and so on. The network was seriously messy at the beginning but will get use to it. After doing that, I went to sidefx.com to look at their modeling tutorials. I saw the one on how to build a turbine and the soccer ball.

Soccer ball

The soccer ball modeling did cover the foreach node. I found it interesting as how it affects each piece of primitive/piece procedurally. It might be useful as my scene will be handling lots of cubes.

After lunch, we were required to do more research on our project, like how we want it to look, the mood, lighting, the style, environment, color and layout.

Here are some of the idea,

Shader: Toon/ Comic drawing style. To capture the look of comic drawing.

 

Background: World Map, Alphabet cube

Formation: Statue of Liberty, Wonder of World

I did thought further into it, like I wouldn't want a reflective floor (although it seems cool) as it may disrupt the concentration of the viewer and direct their attention to something else. Also have the overall concept similar, if not it will be quite weird if the cube is cool/futuristic looking but the background is some kids stuff. I am still deciding on the cube design and blend it to the surrounding concept.

Overall concept still in progress.

I went on to do some basic Vop sop as I needed the knowledge to build a Toon shader. I had no experience in shader building.

Day 10 -- 22/6/2011 Wednesday

Work

We, some of the interns together with Mr Ziggy had a audio conference with Mr Jeff Wagner from Toronto at about 10am. We had some discussion on certain topic in Houdini. He show us some stuff. Although the audio was not that good, there was this screen showed what was happening. I picked up a few things which might be useful in the future. it was a good learning experience. (usage of terms like certain/some means it might be confidential)

The day plans out in a way that Corinne and John, both interns, will hold procedural modeling and Vop sop lesson respectively. One before lunch and the other after lunch. But the audio conference with Mr Jeff Wagner got pulled longer. The day's schedule got to reshuffle.

As SESI will be holding a training class later at 6:30pm, the instructor, Eric, another fellow intern, needs to have a dry run with Mr Ziggy. We are also allowed to join in the preparation. John's Vop sop class will be pushed to tomorrow as time doesn't permit. So the schedule was like this.


12+ - 3+ -- Eric's training class dry run

3+ - 5+ -- Corinne's procedural modeling lesson


For Eric's training class dry run, although it's basic, but I can say its useful. As for Corinne's lesson, Wow, it was amazing. She taught us to model a bridge. Although the speed of the lesson was slightly fast and the network a bit messy, the process was good. 



Fun

After a long day at work, went with Lu sheng to check out the shopping stores. The stuff/price was great as the Great Summer Sales are ongoing.

Day 9 -- 21/6/2011 Tuesday

I went to find some reference pictures and videos for my project. Got quite a lot of video reference from youtube where artist uses different software to do their effect. Here are some of the links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpQSxIjlTFM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uephi0iLGds&feature=grec_index


Next, I went to watch some tutorial videos by Peter Quint from Vimeo. He has tons of Houdini tutorials, folks out there, you could take a look at his amazing collections. Here are some I watched:

http://vimeo.com/5656364

http://vimeo.com/6580446

http://vimeo.com/6304642

Day 8 -- 20/6/2011 Monday

Work

The day started as we settled down comfortably at our desk area. Eric, a fellow intern at SESI, did a dry run of a class he will be conducting tomorrow. He did some preparation like writing down what he needs to say or what to do at a particular time. The topic were attribute-related stuff, couldn't say much as it might be confidential. Before going for lunch, I did some research on Z-depth passes (learning) from Peter Quint's Vimeo videos. Also did the some shot of the previs, which will be shown to Steven.

As for lunch, we went to Nordtrom's food court. Got myself a beef teriyaki noodles.

Gone through Peter Quint's archive of videos and picked on Z-depth and motion blur stuff to look on.

Here are the links to those videos:


Zdepth Passes :  http://vimeo.com/6580446

Depth of Field : http://vimeo.com/5656364

After going through them, I did some self testing. It was simple to do. As my first shot required DOF (Depth of Field), so I guess this was useful.

orientation handle

focus handle

Once finished up with the tutorials, I continued working on the previs. The timing of the shot, the camera angle was more or less what I want. Also I applied what I learned about the focus/DOF stuff to the previs.

Here's the previs.

Previs Time Code from Tanner Caelum on Vimeo.

Somehow the video doesn't playback, if it does then its good, if not click on the link.

Day 7 -- 19/6/2011 Sunday

Work

It's Sunday.


Fun

Following the plan that we come out with last night, today will be exploring new places and to follow Bryan to get his long desired skateboard which he wanted to get badly even long before this internship/trip.

We decided on having Thai food for lunch while making our way to the bus stop. I told them about this comic shop I happened to see it when Steven drove us to the movie screening that time. The comic shop was a stand alone complex, roughly explaning to them what I saw that time as I am the only one who saw it. Base on my vague memory, I leaded them to the place while hoping I am on the right track. Yup, I saw it, a large "comic" signboard by he distance. It was between the 7th & 8th street.

Wow, the interior was huge. Seriously, althought the place looks rundow, it was huge with comics, large posters, figurine and books littered the place, with all corners filled with things. After spending long time looking through the rows of shelves for something nice. In the end, I bought a poster which was beautiful and it was the last piece.

After that, we followed Bryan to get the deck of his skate board in Nordstrom Shopping Mall at the shop, Tokidoki. Once the purchasing of the deck was done, we took a bus to Rip City Skates, a shop few blocks after Saint John Hospital. Rip City Skates was a shop selling all kinds of skating stuff, a skateboard heaven. We went there to get Bryan's necessary skate board items.

We got a box of 20 piece tender chicken to share for our dinner we also planned to cook some finger food to go with it. As we happened to pass by Ralph, we bought stuff from there. The discount reward card we got from earlier really saves us a lot of money.

Day 6 -- 18/6/2011 Saturday

Work

Its Saturday.


Fun

Half of the day had gone by as all of them except me, slept till 1+ in th afternoon. We got our lunch at Nordstrom's food court. I got myself a teriyaki chicken set at a Japanese stall.

After eating, made our way to the bus stop which will bring us to Venice Beach. Almost reaching our destination, I could see the beach through the wide space of alley-way between houses. We knew we were reaching.

As soon as we stepped down from the bus, there was this "beach" atmosphere. There were people in beach shorts, flip-flops, bikini top etc walking around. There was this instant beach feel. While walking through the enterence, already, there are row of shops selling surfboard and swimming equipment/stuff.

You could see all walks of life at Venice Beach. From street performers to stall venders, buskers to street peddlers, skater boys to graffiti artist and many more. We walk from one end of Venice beach to the other end......Ok, not really the entire stretch but at least we covered three quarter. The row of shops and stall venders was sandwiched between the beach and the main road and those stretches as long as the beach. They were mainly consist of tatoo shops, clothing outlet and an area dedicated to food only. Didn't explore the food area though. I bought a shirt at a clothing outlet at a discounted price. It really worth every penny.
The overall exprience was eye catching.

Day 5 -- 17/6/2011 Friday

Work

Report at SESI at 9:10am. We are preparing to head out for a group tour with all of the SESI interns together with Aliza & Ari, to Rhythm & Hues. A tour in the studio organised by SESI. We travelled there by van/mini bus.

Upon arrival at Rhythm & Hues studio, the "tour guide" of the studio welcomed us. we were then brought inside the screening room whee the company's reel being showed to us. It is a procedure if anybody be it visitor, potential client etc visit them. After that, the "tour guide" brought us to a series if rooms where the production pipeline took place, with a couple of Q & A sessions in between. Our group had a talk with the recruiting head of the company. It was beneficial for us as his tips/advice and smart answers to questions directed from fellow interns were sharp and straight to the point.

About 2 plus, the entire group headed back to SESI. We stopped midway of the journey to grab a bite at Subway. It was a treat from Aliza as this was a official company trip. This saves me some money. NICE!!!!

When we reached SESI, the interns, including us took the initiative to assemble the computer parts back which was taken down for the forum held on Wednesday and Thursday in the training room. As the four of us needed to meet Mr Steven Ong (our industrial mentor, did mention him in the previous post) for a movie screening of X-Men: First Class at the Los Angeles Film School http://www.lafilm.edu/ (some information about them) at about 4:30pm, we had about a hour to do our own things. Did some research and part of the previs of my project.


Fun

At 4:30pm, we took a metro bus to Venice, Overland to meet up with Steven. We had pizzas at California Pizza kitchen before meeting him. Together with his wife, he drove us to the destination and watched the movie screening. It was a totally different atmosphere in the theatre compared to Singapore. The audiences were interactive and will applaud at the end of the show. After the movie screening, Steven drove us to see the night scenery of Hollywood Avenue. We had a glance of Kodak Theatre, Grauman's Chinese Theatre & the famous Walk of Fame. Then drove us back home.

Day 4 -- 16/6/2011 Thursday

This is the second day into our short leave. However, we were given an assignment by Ari. The assignment: Take a trip to Downtown to take architectural photos and textures, probably to texture some building model. The purpose of this assignment was to see how we composite and frame our subjects, in another words, a composition exercise. The journey to Downtown was kind of long. Around 40-45minutes later, we arrived at Temple Street. We started taking tons of pictures. Man, where should I start?


We had our lunch at City Hall park. It was some stall vendors thingy, some sort of pasar malam atmosphere. After lunch, we proceeded on and take more pictures. We visited different parts of Downtown.

We had quite a time finding our way back to Side Effects Office. We are to meet Steven Ong at about 6. We introduced ourselves and he briefed us the plan for tomorrow. We are to meet him so that he could bring us to the X-Men First Class screening at Los Angeles Film School, which happens to be near Hollywood. He also went through the storyboards with us, taking time to tell us how we could improve it.