BlobVanDam
Sr Member
I only have one good photo of Hyatas, which has been a lifesaver! Here's today's progress. I think I've got it fairly accurate, but I've still got some fixing up to do.
Back To The Future 2015 Set (CG Model)
- Thread starter BlobVanDam
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I only have one good photo of Hyatas, which has been a lifesaver! Here's today's progress. I think I've got it fairly accurate, but I've still got some fixing up to do.
BlobVanDam
Sr Member
I actually have it slightly higher res than that, but I scaled it down to make it easier to work with (if it's larger than my monitor's res, 3DS Max is a bit of a pain with how it copies it to the clipboard).
The unfortunate thing about that photo is that it doesn't quite show the left side of the building, so I made the faulty assumption that the building was symmetrical, but the "center" door is actually 4" right of center, so I had to rebuild the whole thing.
The unfortunate thing about that photo is that it doesn't quite show the left side of the building, so I made the faulty assumption that the building was symmetrical, but the "center" door is actually 4" right of center, so I had to rebuild the whole thing.
Awesome job so far, it's looking amazing!
You mentioned about camera matching reference photos - this is something I'm interested in learning more about.
I presume you are using some known dimensions initially to create a base reference model and then using these as control points to then solve the unknown camera parameters? Does that sound about right?
What software are you using to achieve this (if you don't mind me asking)?
You mentioned about camera matching reference photos - this is something I'm interested in learning more about.
I presume you are using some known dimensions initially to create a base reference model and then using these as control points to then solve the unknown camera parameters? Does that sound about right?
What software are you using to achieve this (if you don't mind me asking)?
BlobVanDam
Sr Member
I use 3DS Max (2014) for all of my 3D work. They just added a new camera match method in the latest version which I've been using recently including for this building, so there are two different methods of camera matching available.
The existing camera match method works basically as you've described. You place known markers in your 3D scene, then assign them to the corresponding spot on the reference image you are matching, then it tries to solve it to give you a camera. It takes a bit of setup, and it does require some known measurements, but it works pretty well.
The new camera match method is much simpler, and works much better for architectural stuff like this. It gives you 3 pairs of lines, one pair for each axis, and you just drag the end points of the lines to match the perspective of the image (so with a building, you'd just match the lines up to the edges of the building for each axis). This method has its limitations, but it's easier to set up and tweak and works in situations the other one doesn't, and so far has given me good results.
BlobVanDam
Sr Member
Mostly done on this building now, and I'm quite happy with it!
I tried to get the sign as close as possible (you can compare these images to the reference image I posted a few posts back to compare). I even did a nifty trick to create the texture of the sign from the reference image, so it's about as perfect as I could possibly get it. Not bad for a sign you can't even properly see in the movie, huh? :lol
I tried to get the sign as close as possible (you can compare these images to the reference image I posted a few posts back to compare). I even did a nifty trick to create the texture of the sign from the reference image, so it's about as perfect as I could possibly get it. Not bad for a sign you can't even properly see in the movie, huh? :lol
Master Tej
Active Member
Just read through this thread, loved it! You're doing great work here, so keep it up! I can't wait to see this come to fruition.
- Master Tej -
- Master Tej -
BlobVanDam
Sr Member
I've spent the past couple of days working on the Pontiac dealership. I've had a lot of trouble camera matching it for some reason, so I'm not too happy with the accuracy so far. But I've still managed to make some decent progress.
Patrick Viney
New Member
If you need the actual kanjis for Hyatas, it's 元気 (genki = health) and 果物 (kudamono = fruit) 
Thanks, guys.
Working on the Blast From The Past antiques store at the moment. I've got the glass done, and the basic dimensions.
I'm having some trouble finding good reference for the big sign though. I've attached the closest thing to a direct front-on shot I have of it, and even from this blurry low res pic, it's obvious that it doesn't match up to the logo from the receipt/bag all that closely. If I have to, it will make a starting point, but before I do, I thought I'd ask if anyone has some good reference on it? (Only reference of the sign itself, and not the receipt or bag logo, as I have plenty of those, and they're not quite the same)
I think I've got most of what's available on the internet, but it can't hurt to ask.
Time has come - I'm working on that sign.
And aside from the digital version I want to build an actual sign, 3-D and in real size, but I still need the dimensions. All I know is the aspect ratio of the sign, which is exactly 4:3. Do you know the exact width or height of the sign or at least the dimensions of the BFTP building, so I could calculate the dimensions of the sign myself?
BlobVanDam
Sr Member
I haven't even looked into the sign myself yet (and don't have time right now to calculate it myself), but I've got the BFTP building itself at 17' wide, if you're measuring from the brick building foundation itself just above the building. If you're measuring by the top section of the BFTP building, which protrudes slightly out from the building, it's 17'8".
Here's a quick screenshot of the wireframe of the building from my 3D program with a 1ft grid, in case that helps.
Here's a quick screenshot of the wireframe of the building from my 3D program with a 1ft grid, in case that helps.
It helps a lot! Using your measurings I came to the conclusion that the sign is exactly 7 feet wide and 5.25 feet high (84 x 63 inches). Over 2 meters, wow! That's larger than expected. :eek
By the way: you did a great job. If you put a photo of the store over your wireframe, you can see how accurately it is. Only the right column is too wide and therefore the window too short on your wireframe (the left column of the door is wider than the right one on the real building).
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BlobVanDam
Sr Member
It probably still needs a bit of adjusting, although it looks like you've scaled it too wide on the right side too, scaling it to the depth of the sign, and not of the brick that you've aligned to on the left side (ie. not at the same depth). Because of the narrow depth of field and the angle of the camera, the depth can make a bit of difference.
And that is a huge sign!
And that is a huge sign!
I know it's a small photo, but it's the best I could find on the internet where you can see the full front view of the store.
But I have a few original production slides in my collection, one of them with the BFTP sign. Here you can see it as well - the left column is wider than the right one. (Sorry for the bad quality, but my slide scanner is not the best. If necessary, I could let them digitalize by a professional photo studio.)
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BlobVanDam
Sr Member
Ah yes, so it is! I hadn't spotted that yet.
I've only had movie screenshots to work from on that building, which aren't great quality. That first pic is by far better than any reference I've found of that sign, so with that I could probably camera match the image and reverse the perspective on it to give a square-on image (although you could do just as good a job in Photoshop anyway).
Do you have any other slides of the 2015 scene? You're not holding out on me are you?
I've only had movie screenshots to work from on that building, which aren't great quality. That first pic is by far better than any reference I've found of that sign, so with that I could probably camera match the image and reverse the perspective on it to give a square-on image (although you could do just as good a job in Photoshop anyway).
Do you have any other slides of the 2015 scene? You're not holding out on me are you?
Could? I have already.
Next step is vectorizing. ... Do you have any other slides of the 2015 scene? You're not holding out on me are you?
I wish I had more. Unfortunately these are my only four. If you need them in a higher resolution, I would send them to a studio.
BlobVanDam
Sr Member
Yep, that's the 7-11 store underneath the Texaco building. You barely see it if at all in the movie, but there's a good tour video on Youtube I found that shows it in pretty decent detail, and that's along the very back wall.
JediMichael
Master Member
I like this project. Are you going to model the back alleyway behind the stores?
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