Been trying to test here over this weekend, and have run into some problems. Here’s what I got:

1. video card has an inactive display port, so I can’t run both monitors and the projector. Ugh. I think it is a limitation of the flashed setup it had when I bought it.

2. need to feed a video stream into the system so I can see the camera projection in my software… so need to buy a webcam. Ugh. My bad; I didn’t even consider this till now.

Delays stink. Thank goodness I can still sketch out my setups and other scene elements in the meantime. But I want to get into the meaty bits, ya know? It could be worse though, and I’m glad that the (apparent) issues are relatively minor and cheap. Let’s hope UPS is driving fast this week!

Haven’t had much to update the past week or so, but here’s my current status:

1. returned my 1st projector and got a stronger one. Tons of light.

2. heard back from the opticians, and what really needs to happen is that I need an internal lens arrangement to adjust focal length or FOV. In truth, that makes sense, although dissappointing. So it’s time to troll through TI data sheets to see if there is any options I can work with.

3. New Moon happened this week, and I am fucking drained. Not sure why this moon affected me (I’m a true Cancer) as it did, but huge struggle the past several days. Energetically, I’m getting it’s a positive change, but I feel that being a happy idiot was a nice place to be as well.

So, now I can start prototyping. I’m psyched.

Next week am gonna follow up on two dead camcorders; I want the lens assemblies. Not exactly sure what I can do with them until I physically have them, but at the very least I can see how much a custom lens mount will cost. How much is controlled via internal motors? Not sure. Being able to hack some stuff will be good for me though. As worshipful Kali demonstrates, destruction is creation.

BTW, did I ever mention I had a full complete dream where I was instructed to get a tattoo of Shiva? Depending on how things go, perhaps I’ll come back to it again. I’m getting the sense that a lot of loose connections are being linked in this journey.

 

So, a busy week already.

Talked to an optical lab yesterday to see if they could grind custom lenses for the projector I have, and I’m starting to see this project as driving itself. I’m amazed and in awe over it all, but I’m noticing that I’m not “pushing” things… the project is. Very strange perception.

Anyways, had a nice chat. The optometrist is also going to pitch in with the technical data too. I think. It’s still really early. It was interesting to see the optician’s reaction to some short sample 3D projection vids I put on my phone; this stuff amazes everyone.

Went home, took a look-see inside my device; wow, really nice build. And apparently no way I’m going to be able to change the lens or lens assembly directly without a full teardown. I don’t have the capital to deal with that right now, or to source parts I know nothing about. But I’m leaning that direction since it’s the most direct um, direction to direct myself. <sigh>

Then I did a bad thing. I looked at the projector website last night.

So I’m looking at a small cardboard box with my projector ready to go back as an RMA, and I’m going to upgrade to one that’s still small and 3x brighter. From the product photography, it looks like the lens is larger too, which may or may not give me more options.

I’ll know more in about two weeks when I get the new one.

In the meantime, am processing software and 3D training.

Things have been a blur, but it’s all starting to sort out a little bit this week.

Ran into an old colleague this week, so it was great to see him again and catch up. I also forced him to sit down whilst I ran through my ideas, and some of the inspirations I’ve been looking at. If I was a fly on the wall, it probably would have looked like I didn’t come up for air the whole time… which I didn’t. At the end, I turned and asked him something like, “Ok, so am I delusional for thinking about all this stuff? Or am I on to something?” Al turned to me, with that shit-eating grin of his, and said, “No, I think you’re onto something big.” Booyah. Validation.

I respect the shit out of Al. Great artist, great person. Total no bullshit. I’ve sorta been in a bubble inside my own head, so it was really special for me to hear an unbiased response to what’s been going on. Thanks Al.

So, now what, Mr. Fancypants? Time to get busy, time to stay focused, time to get shit done. Respect for this idea and opportunity is driving me hard core, and it’s slowly coming in place.

One of my issues is in prototyping a testbed setup. I’ve got a light tent to represent a 3D environment, and a nice little projector (Aaxatech P4X) to work with. My issue at present is the working distance between the plane of focus for the projector and the interior of the light tent. Plain and simple, it’s a bit farther than I’d like, so I’ve been trying to suss out what way to go to correct this.

1. do I use corrective diopter lenses to change the focal distance?

2. do I use a wide angle lens to change the FOV to something wider?

I was able to pester Eric, who is a god of production work, and I was able to spend an hour with him today trying out some (vintage) Kodak Portra lenses. These were screw-on diopter lenses for some of the early 1940s-1950s Kodak cameras. Their lenses were optimized for wide angle shots, but sucked at portraits. By using a positive diopter lens, you could frame a nice head and shoulders or at least a full body shot where you could see the person, not just clothing against a background.

What we found was that if we (theoretically) stacked lenses, we could start to reduce the working distance. That said, I’m still not sure about the FOV issue. At minimum, I want to spread light between the floor and the back vertical wall of the tent and it would be nice to spread over the side walls too. Hmm. Not sure yet.

He didn’t have a wide angle lens, but I could see how it could potentially work but at the expense of brightness and focus. We’re both confused.

I did keep him busy though, showing him some of the vids I showed Al earlier in the week. It was good; he seemed as intrigued by the possibilities as Al was. It is so hard to describe how exciting and liberating all this is; creatively, I’ve been on standby for what… 5, 6 years? A touch of freelance, a stint as the Creative Director for a failed Digital Advertising group, teaching. Ya, I need this for myself, and to give back to others. But ya, more me at this point.

Before I took off, Eric came back and gave me a great suggestion: go to an optician and have them GRIND A FUCKING CUSTOM LENS. Duh. Have I told you I love this guy? I do. Sharp cookie. Thank you.

So I’m gonna take the whole test kit to an optician on Monday morning. Let’s see what they say.