Graphics

Along the lines of the mask question, can texture maps be created using live video?

Thanks,

Geoff.

Sure! You can use an input (I use a webcam on my MBP) and map that to just about any object in XPression. Simply create a new material and add a live source shader to the base layer material. Apply the material and you are all good!

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Yes, but can you create a bump map using the luminance info in the live video? On an old, now defunct, IBM system I was able to cast a drop shadow that moved with the contours of the underlying video. It was a chore, but a wonderful effect.

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I think we are getting into blend modes between textures at this point. I've never done so myself, but supposing that bump mapping requires multiple textures, one for the map and one for the environment map, it's theoretically possible. Given that each shader can support blend modes for previous and next shaders and multiple layers are also supported.

The shader blending engine is a deep and mysterious beast. Playing around with multiple shaders and layers of shaders can get you close, but I don't have a "how to" answer for you.

Let's see if I can find an answer from one of the dev/demo team.

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Well, ok, I _was_ working with 32 procs in parallel, so 'live' might be out of the question (for the moment). But what about recorded video running as a background, or on the face of a 3D object?

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LOL! Only 32 procs in parallel??

Pre-rendered video clips can be applied to any object (of course, not cameras or lights). You can set this video's properties in either the material itself (loop, ping pong, play once, etc) or use it in the timeline for a frame accurate scene keyframing.

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