Hand-Over
Encyclopedia
A Hand-Over is a term used in the animation
industry to refer to the process of adding finger and hand motion capture
data to the pre-existing full-body motion capture data, using a hand motion capture device.
for animated characters.
There are very few full-body motion capture systems that can capture full hand and finger motion data at the same time as the full body. An optical system gets accurate data using reflective markers and high resolution cameras. However, if the cameras cannot see the markers then they are unable to measure them. Mounting the many reflective markers on each individual joint of the hand so that they stay within the camera's views is difficult.
The traditional method of adding hand and finger motion is to key frame
the fingers. This is a process similar to the old claymation process; move the finger, record the frame, move the finger again, record the frame. Key framing is easier using animation software where a beginning and an ending position can be set up, then the software fills in the motion in between. Even though software makes this easy it still takes a very talented artist to get realistic hands using the key frame method.
Another method of adding hand and finger motion is to have the animator or actor wear a data glove or wired glove
. These devices very accurately measure and record the position and bend of each finger, thumb, and even the hand. Measurand's ShapeHand is made of flexible ribbons and includes 40 Fiber Optic bend/twist sensors.
Using a hand motion capture device an animator can play back the full-body data from any system and record the hand motion. This is typically done in a software package that can simultaneously play motion capture data while recording new motion capture data. This requires some practice to get the timing right just as it takes practice to get the timing right when a voice actor does an animation voice-over.
Hand-overs can save time and money while increasing the realism
in hand and finger animation. This is not done without controversy. Traditional key framers do not agree this type of motion capture is better than their craft.
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
industry to refer to the process of adding finger and hand motion capture
Motion capture
Motion capture, motion tracking, or mocap are terms used to describe the process of recording movement and translating that movement on to a digital model. It is used in military, entertainment, sports, and medical applications, and for validation of computer vision and robotics...
data to the pre-existing full-body motion capture data, using a hand motion capture device.
Techniques
A Hand-Over is accomplished by playing back the full-body data while recording the finger and hand data. This is similar to a voice actor doing a voice-overVoice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
for animated characters.
There are very few full-body motion capture systems that can capture full hand and finger motion data at the same time as the full body. An optical system gets accurate data using reflective markers and high resolution cameras. However, if the cameras cannot see the markers then they are unable to measure them. Mounting the many reflective markers on each individual joint of the hand so that they stay within the camera's views is difficult.
The traditional method of adding hand and finger motion is to key frame
Key frame
A key frame in animation and filmmaking is a drawing that defines the starting and ending points of any smooth transition. They are called "frames" because their position in time is measured in frames on a strip of film...
the fingers. This is a process similar to the old claymation process; move the finger, record the frame, move the finger again, record the frame. Key framing is easier using animation software where a beginning and an ending position can be set up, then the software fills in the motion in between. Even though software makes this easy it still takes a very talented artist to get realistic hands using the key frame method.
Another method of adding hand and finger motion is to have the animator or actor wear a data glove or wired glove
Wired glove
A wired glove is an input device for human–computer interaction worn like a glove.Various sensor technologies are used to capture physical data such as bending of fingers. Often a motion tracker, such as a magnetic tracking device or inertial tracking device, is attached to capture the global...
. These devices very accurately measure and record the position and bend of each finger, thumb, and even the hand. Measurand's ShapeHand is made of flexible ribbons and includes 40 Fiber Optic bend/twist sensors.
Using a hand motion capture device an animator can play back the full-body data from any system and record the hand motion. This is typically done in a software package that can simultaneously play motion capture data while recording new motion capture data. This requires some practice to get the timing right just as it takes practice to get the timing right when a voice actor does an animation voice-over.
Hand-overs can save time and money while increasing the realism
Realism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
in hand and finger animation. This is not done without controversy. Traditional key framers do not agree this type of motion capture is better than their craft.