Camera Mapping and Projection: New York and Tutorials

Camera Mapping, also known as camera projection, is a quick and easy technique to apply a quick '3d' look to a scene with the camera moving while minimising the amount of actual modelling. The clip below by Andrew Price of detailing a quick flight path of New York city illustrates the point:

Camera Mapped New York City from Andrew Price on Vimeo.

The technique is normally used for a quick camera move where the camera stays relative or near to the nodal point of the original image, as the camera strays off center the illusion is often lost. The second movie below by Joel Wagner provides a good insight into the technique, note the last example moves slightly too far away from the original image:

Camera Mapping from Joel Wagner on Vimeo.

Finally CGItrainer.com have a tutorial on Camera Mapping which looks at a more precise example:

camera map from VALETTE Thierry on Vimeo.

When we have used the technique in the past we found it useful to look at the great tutorial over at CGarchitect on animated camera mapping, its quick and easy to do.

If this post inspires you to create a clip, do let us know...