Does anyone know how the Centre Parcs TV ad is done where the motion
in the video footage stops and the camera pans around the frozen
sceen? I want to turn video into 3D spaces that I can then add 3D
models to in Viz and then render out.

Hi, 

The first time this effect was used, was in the 1999 hit movie The
Matrix.
It is a very simple technique developed by the producers of that
movie. They called it Bullet Time and since then it has become the
general name of the effect.
Another recent movie which has used the effect to great extend is
Swordfish.

The process goes like this: they take a subject and then put a whole
line of cameras around it. Between each camera is just a few inches of
space.
All the cameras are aimed from a slightly different angle. This means
that a typical person or surrounding has to be shot by about at least
30 cameras in order to get a 3D effect.
They then let each camera take a snapshot at the same time or with
very little time in between (depending on whether you want a still 3D
effect or a 3D effect moving in slow motion).
In post-production they then play all the snapshots of these cameras
in one frame line.
The result is a smooth looking shot. 
Because all the cameras took a snapshot at the same time the
surrounding, person or other form of subject looks like is paused or
played in slow motion while the cameras move around it.

This means that the video was never turned into 3D space at all: it
just looks like it.
As of yet, there is no simple process which makes it possible to
easily change 2D video material into 3D spaces. You need a lot of
different cameras all shooting from a different angle and then you
have to spend a lot of time morphing these different angles into one
model. Programs which you can use are 3D Studio Max and WinMorph.


The following describes how it is possible to do the effect yourself:
"1 camera for every 9 or 10 degrees or so. Use camcorders, rig them in
the arc you want. Use EXACTLY the same brand, model, and format of
camcorder, with EXACTLY the same brand and model of tape in them. Set
color balance, aperature, shutter speed, etc for all the cameras.
Then, film. Capture the footage, use WinMorph to interpolate between
the cameras (works very nicely). With this setup, you can do a 360
with about 36 cameras. You can actually get away with a few less
cameras if you're careful, perhaps as few as 16.

That's really the only way to do it if you want flowmo. If you want
just the frozen effect, buy a bunch of disposable cameras, rig them to
solenoids, rig all the solenoids to a central switch, and flip the
switch. Then, develop all the film to PhotoCD and do the WinMorph
thing. -Lokmer"
Freeware Fan Films online board
http://pub22.ezboard.com/ffreewarefanfilmsaxogonmainvision.showMessage?topicID=176.topic


I've found some links relating to the subject which might interest
you:

Bullet Time On Your Computer At Home 
http://www.angelfire.com/fl5/jcmiller/Bullet.htm

A sample movie of The Matrix demonstrating Bullet Time can be found
here (in QuickTime format):
Bullet Time Final Cut
www.whatisthematrix.com/cmp/sfx-bullet_videos3.html

More information about The Matrix in general:
The Matrix at IMDB
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0133093

More information about Swordfish in general:
Swordfish at IMDB
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0244244

More information about WinMorph:
Debug Mode WinMorph
http://www.debugmode.com/winmorph/index.htm


Search terms used:
Google: “bullet time”
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&q=%22bullet+time%22&btnG=Google+Search


I hope this answer was to your satisfaction!
paul_b_18-ga

Quick, accurate, indepth. Excellent.

Hello,

As explained in the answer, this "effect" is achieved by filming with
an array of synchronized cameras. You can also get more information at
the following page: [ http://www.howstuffworks.com/question295.htm ]

I don't know about video "rotation" to 3d modeling, but there was a
rather interesting piece of software some time ago, called "Canoma",
that could map 2d pictures to 3d models that the user would "define"
(i.e. draw); the more pictures you had, the better were the results,
so the "film rotation" effect may be interesting to fit in (the
software's producer, MetaCreations, has since closed shop and this
software is not officialy supported, though I suspect you still may
find it in (online?) stores)

(old) official page:
http://www.metacreations.com/products/canoma/

(google cached) zdnet review:
://www.google.com/search?q=cache:m7xml56EmFMC:www.zdnet.com/products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2268806,00.html+review+canoma+pc+magazine&hl=en&start=1

pcworld review:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article.asp?aid=11311

Good luck with your project!

Hello,

Apart from what has already been mentioned there is software to create
similar effects. It is possible to shoot your object (with a regular
camera producing
still images) from different angles and then make a 3d model out of it
(including the wireframe carcass and all the textures too). Then the
model
could be exported into a number of 3d editors like 3ds or Maya.

The software that you might want to check out is called Realviz
ImageModeler.
The URL is http://www.realviz.com/products/im/index.php

Also, Realviz have produced software to add additional intermediate
frames
(or interpolate between frames) in a movie to make it run smoother
when it
is slowed down. You might want to use it instead of a morph program
suggested.
It is called Realviz ReTimer.
The URL for that program is
http://www.realviz.com/products/rt/index.php

I hope this gives some additional clues. :) Good luck!

This isn't exactly the same thing, but there is a company that
designed a special lens for use with a digital camcorder that will
take motion video and allow the user to pan 360 degrees, up and down
and zoom in and out.  This is similar to Quicktime VR, except it uses
real-time video.  The company that created this is Be Here, take a
look at www.behere.com.  They have video clips online from live
concerts, a drive through San Francisco, ESPN's X-Games, Big Brother
Germany and more.