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Crazy Talk

Ariella Languish
Registered User
Join date: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 190
03-26-2008 08:39
Hello all! This isn't particularly an SL issue so much as a Crazy Talk issue. I have the newest crazy talk- the pro. I understand how to import a model, shape the features, and script it. However, that's just when I import a high -rez image. Isn't there some way to import a video clip? To my understanding, it's difficult if the image is moving camera angles- either zooms or dollies. But I'd like to achieve a video clip that is still, but the background is moving so it looks more like a video. When I crazy-talk up (is that the correct term? hehe) a photograph, it still LOOKs like a photograph. I'd like to make it look more like video. Any ideas?
AWM Mars
Scarey Dude :¬)
Join date: 10 Apr 2004
Posts: 3,398
03-27-2008 06:38
There are two ways of doing that.. one uses CarzyTalk, by only using say the lips, and overlaying them onto a movie, blending and moving them using a pan/zoom mask through a timeline (very time consuming), or use iClone, which is a VR platform in its own right.

iClone uses the same lip syncing as CrazyTalk, in fact it can use the exact scripts is you use the convertion programme that comes with, although atm iClone 2.5 will not port over CrazyTalk 5 Pro's files. The difficulty there is creating the avatars in iClone that look like those in SL. You can import a mask picture of a hairless 2d hi-rez picture from sl, and contour that in the iClone avatar.

Set creation isn't easy, unless you have experience in say 3DMax, which you can import into iClone. You do have the advantage of raytracing, lighting and camera control in iClone. I have done a fair bit of work in both programmes.
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Ariella Languish
Registered User
Join date: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 190
03-27-2008 14:39
Great! thanks, I'll look into it. Appreciate it.
AWM Mars
Scarey Dude :¬)
Join date: 10 Apr 2004
Posts: 3,398
04-02-2008 07:14
I just re-read your post and I missed another way of acheiving what you want.

Take a hi-rez 2D against a solid green well lit background, import that into crazytalk, do the lip syncing. Render the final output and drag it into your editing programme, using a Chroma keying mask, remove the background solid colour (if its not perfect and leaves a shadow, use the colour dropper to select the solid colour, or make multiple masks, being careful not to loose any of that colour from the front picture you want to keep), then set that on the highest video track, and put a backdrop static picture which you can pan/zoom using the timeline, or another movie. You can reduce the opacity of each layer and add more.

You can see an example of this here http://www.wba-advertising.com/test/wba.html the section with the flames, is 3 layers of media, 2 movies, the singer, the 2d picture with deformation masks and the flames, or any of the many MetaNetwork TV newscasts we have done, the most recent using masks to remove the background from the moving avatars, pixel by pixle, or the earlier ones using chroma keying overlays.

Although I use the Ultimate version with unlimited video and audio tracks, I've only ever used a maximum of 26 layers :eek: , that was enough for now LOL.
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Why do you only see typo's AFTER you have clicked submit? **
http://www.wba-advertising.com
http://www.nex-core-mm.com
http://www.eml-entertainments.com
http://www.v-innovate.com
Ariella Languish
Registered User
Join date: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 190
04-06-2008 10:47
ah ok, yes! Cool! I think I'm going to try that- set up characters against a green screen and everything. I thought of that before, but it is an extra step/ extra hassle, esp. if i'm doing it for each shot. Oh well, guess that's how it goes.

thank you soo much for your help!