CLASS 2 • TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES

Skill 2.3) Introduction to grabbing video on screen and grabbing a frame as a cast member
Lingo: on startmovie, on stopmovie, Cleanup(), global TrackObj, ShowVideo(TrackObj,0,0). go the frame

Directions: Before you begin this exercise please complete the following:

  1. Download Trial Version of TrackThemColors
  2. Download folder of sample movies (at bottom of TrackThemColors page)
  3. Move TrackThemColorsDemo-Fat XTRA into Macromedia Director XTRAS folder (inside folder with application.
  4. Connect Canon GL-1 video camera to the MacG4 via a 4-6 pin firewire cable or if in Room 819 unplug 4-pin end of firewire from Mini-DV deck and plug into camera. Power on to Camera Mode and do NOT insert a tape. Use the AC adapter for the camera. (Otherwise camera will power off while you are trying to track movement and change).
  5. Open I-movie to test to see if you have a video signal from the firewire ports (slide slider on main window over to the DV camera icon). If you have a picture (or blue screen reading "Camera Connected" close I-movie. If you see a blue screen that says Camera Disconnected or some other troublesome alert unplug the firewire cable from the Mac and reinsert. Close I-movie and reopen.
  6. Open Director, choose File>Open>TrackThemColorsDemo5.dir (in the sample folder). Immediately save as JUNK.dir so you save the demo as your own version movie.
  7. Choose Modify>Movie>Xtras and click ADD. Scroll down and find TrackThemColors, select it, add it to you list and save movie.
  8. Open the TrackThemColors demo and start PLAYING with it. Look at the scripts and try to get a sense of how it's working.

Challenging Group Exercises: Complete in groups of 2-3

NOTE: Probably it's best to complete these exercises tracking ONE color.

  1. Create a movie where a single sprite changes its opacity, or blend in response to the presence of a the color you are tracking.
  2. Create a movie where a sprite moves to follow a the color you are tracking. Turn trails on once you get this working so you can create a "drawing" by following that color.
  3. Create a movie where a moving sprite avoids a color.
  4. Create an audience survey where a participant answers survey questions, yes or no, true or false by doing something with their body or by holding up a card of a particular color.

ART and TECH LINKS: Video tracking and audience participation

Cinematrix

Camille Utterbeck

Wolfgang Muench

More multimedia art than you can imagine-HERE