Contents Zoom In Zoom Out For navigation instructions please click here Search Issue Next Page ComputerTHE MAGAZINE FOR DIGITAL CONTENT CREATION AND PRODUCTION July 2006 www.cgw.com WORLD Computer Piracy ILM’s new mocap tech brings a digital crew to life Super CG The Man of Steel’s virtual alter ego Art of Design Can CAD and art co-exist in today’s 3D world? Re-building Project Artists re-create an ancient church for The Da Vinci Code House Haunting Sony Imageworks creates an unusual home life by putting a new spin on graphics $4.95 USA $6.50 Canada Contents Zoom In Zoom Out For navigation instructions please click here Search Issue Next Page A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS ____________ ________________________ A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS July 2006 • Volume 29 • Number 7 THE MAGAZINE FOR DIGITAL CONTENT CREATION AND PRODUCTION Also see www.cgw.com for computer graphics news, special surveys and reports, and the online gallery. Computer WORLD Features 16 Departments Yo Ho Ho! 16 Editor’s Note 2 MOTION CAPTURE | Innovative mocap Classics New and Old and simulation enable ILM to create CG has movie presence. Recently, CG pirates, a menacing sea monster, the medium gave screen life to and more in this treasurable sequel. the book The Da Vinci Code and, By Barbara Robertson once again, to the theme-park attraction Pirates of the Caribbean. Cover story 28 This Old House 28 Spotlight 4 CHARACTER ANIMATION | Performance capture and hand animation help Products artists construct Monster House. AutoDesSys’s FormZ E-frontier’s Virtual Fashion Basic By Martin McEachern RealViz’s VTour Leaps Tall Orders 52 Side Effects’ Houdini 8.1 DIGITAL DOUBLES | CG artists help the Eyeon’s Fusion 5.02 52 Man of Steel when the action became News too intense even for the superhero. ArtVPS, Mental Ray team on a new raytracing solution By Barbara Robertson User Focus When Worlds Collide 56 Finishing Extreme Makeover: CAD/ART | How digital design and CG Home Edition art co-exist in a changing world. 56 Target commercial brings CG characters to life in CG backgrounds By Kathleen Maher Viewpoint 14 On Holy Ground 62 Animation 2.0 SCENE RE-CREATION | Artists rebuild Portfolio 72 an ancient church for The Da Vinci Code using 3D geometry and photos. SIGGRAPH Animation Theater By Karen Moltenbrey Products 76 Backdrop 82 Roundball 68 MODELING/ANIMATION | Creating a Fur Fun theater-in-the round game experience. Creating and grooming the fat cat 62 Garfi eld for his sequel appearance. By Karen Moltenbrey On the cover: An animated house springs to life in the uniquely handcrafted world of Monster House, created by a Hollywood newcomer and Sony Pictures Imageworks, pg. 28. 68 www.cgw.com___________ JULY 2006 Computer Graphics World | 1 A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS Karen Moltenbrey Chief Editor note KAREN MOLTENBREY: Chief Editor [email protected]______ Classics New and Old 36 East Nashua Road Windham, NH 03087 (603) 432-7568 After all these years, I am still amazed when it comes to the power of computer CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: graphics. It has the ability to educate, to make our lives more effi cient and safe, Courtney Howard, Jenny Donelan, Audrey Doyle, Evan Marc Hirsch, and much more. Above all, it has the ability to entertain. The medium can turn the George Maestri, Martin McEachern, Stephen Porter, Barbara Robertson editor’s pages of a book into a cultural phenomenon, as was the case with The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the popular Harry Potter series. KATH CUNNINGHAM: Production Director [email protected]_________ Indeed, Hollywood has used many a novel—some best-sellers, some obscure titles— (818) 291-1113 as the basis for feature fi lms. This summer, author Dan Brown’s phenomena, The Da CHRIS SALCIDO: Account Representative Vinci Code, fi nally made its long-awaited fi lm debut. Some critics loved it; others did not. [email protected]_________ And some readers expressed their disappointment, as well. Most of the less favorable (818) 291-1144 comments were reserved for the actors and their dry performances. Yet, fans of this book COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD Editorial Offi ce: turned out in droves to see the novel’s intriguing plot unfold on the big screen. 620 West Elk Avenue While making the fi lm, director Ron Howard’s goal was to stay true to the book. At Glendale, CA 91204 (800) 280-6446, x1105 times, though, this was extremely diffi cult to do. One of the more challenging scenes took place inside the ancient Saint-Sulpice Church in Paris. As Rainmaker VFX supervisor Mark SALES Breakspear notes, Saint-Sulpice is both atypical and well known, and as a result, no other TIM MATTESON: Publisher/West Coast Sales church could have been substituted for this scene without audiences raising an eyebrow. [email protected]________ (310) 836-4064 But, the Vatican would not allow fi lm crews into the actual church. So, under VFX super- visor Angus Bickerton’s guidance, Breakspear and his group of digital artists re-created JEFF VICTOR: Midwest/East Coast Sales [email protected] this magnifi cent structure in 3D splendor by building on a (847) 367-4073 relatively standard method of mapping photographic textures CG can turn a book LA Sales Offi ce: onto 3D geometry (see “On Holy Ground,” pg. 62). The proce- 620 West Elk Avenue into a fi lm classic, dure worked so well that, according to Breakspear, audiences Glendale, CA 91204 (800) 280-6446 and it can transform will think the scenes were fi lmed rather than created virtu- ally—as Howard did when shown early tests. a cultural icon into Not only can CG turn a book into a fi lm classic, but it one of even bigger also has the ability to transform what is already a cultur- proportions. al icon into one of even bigger proportions for the theater. This summer, Buena Vista/Disney used the medium to once again bring the fi ctional pirate Jack Sparrow to life WILLIAM R. RITTWAGE in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, a sequel to the 2003 blockbuster The President and Chief Executive Offi cer Curse of the Black Pearl. Both movies, in addition to a third in production, are adapta- Computer Graphics World Magazine is published by Computer Graphics World, a tions of the popular Disney theme-park attraction Pirates of the Caribbean. When the COP Communications company. ride opened in 1967, it marked a high point in the development of audio-animatron- Computer Graphics World does not verify any claims or ics technology. Similarly, in Dead Man’s Chest, a novel technique involving the ability other information appearing in any of the advertisements contained in the publication, and cannot take any to capture the performances of several actors on location during principal photogra- responsibility for any losses or other damages incurred by readers in reliance on such content. phy rather than during a separate motion-capture session sets a new watermark for Computer Graphics World cannot be held responsible for motion capture (see “Yo Ho Ho!,” pg. 16). With this treasure trove of new technology the safekeeping or return of unsolicited articles, manuscripts, photographs, illustrations or other materials. from ILM, animators can create far more believable CG character performances, and Subscriptions: Address all subscription correspondence to fi lmmakers can look beyond the previous limitations of physical location and time Computer Graphics World, 620 West Elk Avenue, Glendale, CA 91204. Subscribers can also contact customer service at restraints when employing motion capture. [email protected].________ For change of address please include the old and new address information, and if possible, CG turned this animated property (by way of animatronics) into another smash, include an address label from a recent issue. Subscriptions as it surpassed the weekend-opening box-offi ce record previously set by Spider-Man. are available free to qualifi ed individuals within the United States. Non-qualifi ed 1 year rates: USA $4.95. Disney, anticipating this reception, just updated its classic theme-park attraction to Canada & Mexico $6.50. All Airmail Delivery is available for an additional $75.00 annually. include Sparrow as the new hero of its high-seas ride. These are but two of the recent Postmaster: Send address changes to “novel” effects of CG. Computer Graphics World, 620 West Elk Avenue, Glendale, CA 91204. 2 | Computer Graphics World JULY 2006 www.cgw.com___________ A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS A CW Previous Page Contents Zoom In Zoom Out Front Cover Search Issue Next Page BEF MaGS EVEN SHOWN AT 65% OF THE ACTUAL NEW BUILD SIZE, IT’S STILL OUR BIGGEST FAN. INTRODUCING THE NEW DIMENSION 3D PRINTERS WITH A BIGGER 10x10x12" BUILD SIZE. STARTING AT JUST Now, no matter how big your idea is, you can bring it to life in no time flat. Our new $ * line of Dimension 3D Printers let you create tough, over-sized ABS plastic 21,900 working models right in your office. What a colossal way to significantly shorten design time, slash production costs, increase productivity and get a really fast ROI. Get all the details, a free working sample and the location of your nearest dealer #1 IN 3D PRINTERS at www.dimensionprinting.com/cg.