Comments on: Visual Effects How-To – Making An LED Tracking Marker http://www.vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/ the real vfx deal Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:45:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Tilly Holmes http://www.vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/comment-page-1/#comment-1160 Tilly Holmes Tue, 11 May 2010 21:58:57 +0000 http://vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/#comment-1160 <p>Led lights are great because they are long lasting and consumes less electricity.`.~</p> Led lights are great because they are long lasting and consumes less electricity.`.~

]]> By: Jonathan Feldman http://www.vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/comment-page-1/#comment-442 Jonathan Feldman Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:42:08 +0000 http://vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/#comment-442 <p>Once a year you can find the best bargain on LEDs. Right after Christmas the stores put the Christmas lights on clearance. You can get 40-50 LEDs on a set for about $3. You can get the super-brights in white or in every color of the rainbow. Here are a couple more tutorials. One on how to do LED light pens for light drawing in photos (like the Sprint commercials) and one on a cheap way to get watch batteries:</p> <p>http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Light-Drawing-Pens-Tools-for-drawing-light-do/</p> <p>http://www.instructables.com/id/12-Volt-Battery-Hack!-You_ll-be-Surprised.../</p> Once a year you can find the best bargain on LEDs. Right after Christmas the stores put the Christmas lights on clearance. You can get 40-50 LEDs on a set for about $3. You can get the super-brights in white or in every color of the rainbow. Here are a couple more tutorials. One on how to do LED light pens for light drawing in photos (like the Sprint commercials) and one on a cheap way to get watch batteries:

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Light-Drawing-Pens-Tools-for-drawing-light-do/

http://www.instructables.com/id/12-Volt-Battery-Hack!-You_ll-be-Surprised…/

]]> By: Andrew Orloff http://www.vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/comment-page-1/#comment-440 Andrew Orloff Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:39:05 +0000 http://vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/#comment-440 <p>Yes the battery is bigger than the light element. It's about 1/2" in diameter, and definitely coverable by tape or band-aid if it's on someone's skin. It's still on the smaller side considering that it is viewable from way farther away than standard 1/2" marker.</p> Yes the battery is bigger than the light element. It’s about 1/2″ in diameter, and definitely coverable by tape or band-aid if it’s on someone’s skin. It’s still on the smaller side considering that it is viewable from way farther away than standard 1/2″ marker.

]]> By: The observer http://www.vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/comment-page-1/#comment-438 The observer Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:03:04 +0000 http://vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/#comment-438 <p>Is it just me or is the battery bigger than the light? Not to be a nudge...but isn't the idea to have the tracking marker be effective, but as small as possible? So now, instead of just painting out the LED, you have to paint out the black battery. Now, a great Idea would be to have the shrink tubing be green or blue. Actually, Paddy's idea with the bluetack is a great idea. Still though, if you're doing more than a one day shoot, tape or something more permanent on the process screen works best.</p> Is it just me or is the battery bigger than the light? Not to be a nudge…but isn’t the idea to have the tracking marker be effective, but as small as possible? So now, instead of just painting out the LED, you have to paint out the black battery. Now, a great Idea would be to have the shrink tubing be green or blue. Actually, Paddy’s idea with the bluetack is a great idea. Still though, if you’re doing more than a one day shoot, tape or something more permanent on the process screen works best.

]]> By: paddy http://www.vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/comment-page-1/#comment-435 paddy Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:46:08 +0000 http://vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/#comment-435 <p>Great stuff. LEDs are definitely a good way to go for many situations.</p> <p>A couple of observations:</p> <ul> <li><p>You CAN buy them pre-made. A small lighting design shop around the corner for me in Soho (SK Lighting, Lexington St) sells little LED lights, which are basically a watch battery, a switch and an LED. Choice of colours, £2 each. Bulk discounts available.</p></li> <li><p>watch out for LEDs that are too directional. Really, you want them to emit light evenly in all directions - or maybe 180 degrees. If they have a bit of a beam, as many do, then if that beam shines towards the camera - boom, you have a huge flare to remove in post. If you can get them with a strong diffuser (frosting) on, then that is much more desirable. If you can't get them like that consider spraying them with something to achieve the same effect.</p></li> <li><p>don't use blue LEDs. They look cool, but your tracking point will be grainy as hell. Green is probably best, as it is the "cleanest" colour channel, as a rule.</p></li> <li><p>if you have got an in accessible place in which you want to get tracking markers (eg, top of a high bluescreen, top of a set), consider using a LASER. You can buy little red "pen" laser pointers pretty cheap (about $1 each in the markets of Bangkok!). If you also buy a huge lump of Blu-tak, then you can place that lump on a stable place and then stick multiple lasers into it, and aim them as desired. Works a treat.</p></li> </ul> Great stuff. LEDs are definitely a good way to go for many situations.

A couple of observations:

  • You CAN buy them pre-made. A small lighting design shop around the corner for me in Soho (SK Lighting, Lexington St) sells little LED lights, which are basically a watch battery, a switch and an LED. Choice of colours, £2 each. Bulk discounts available.

  • watch out for LEDs that are too directional. Really, you want them to emit light evenly in all directions – or maybe 180 degrees. If they have a bit of a beam, as many do, then if that beam shines towards the camera – boom, you have a huge flare to remove in post. If you can get them with a strong diffuser (frosting) on, then that is much more desirable. If you can’t get them like that consider spraying them with something to achieve the same effect.

  • don’t use blue LEDs. They look cool, but your tracking point will be grainy as hell. Green is probably best, as it is the “cleanest” colour channel, as a rule.

  • if you have got an in accessible place in which you want to get tracking markers (eg, top of a high bluescreen, top of a set), consider using a LASER. You can buy little red “pen” laser pointers pretty cheap (about $1 each in the markets of Bangkok!). If you also buy a huge lump of Blu-tak, then you can place that lump on a stable place and then stick multiple lasers into it, and aim them as desired. Works a treat.

]]> By: alba http://www.vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/comment-page-1/#comment-437 alba Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:51:30 +0000 http://vfxhack.com/2008/02/29/visual-effects-how-to-making-an-led-tracking-marker/#comment-437 <p>nice. i've seen other tutorials for LED tracking marker but the heat shrink tubing is a good tip.</p> nice. i’ve seen other tutorials for LED tracking marker but the heat shrink tubing is a good tip.

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