Immersive Visual Effects / Project 2

on
04.06.2025 - 09.07.2025 (Week 7 - Week 12)
Ng Kar Yee / 0367743
Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Immersive Visual Effects / Project 2

LECTURES

Week 7⇒ Motion Tracking

For week 7, Mr Fauzi shared with us a tutorial video on motion tracking. Motion tracking is a technique used in video editing and visual effects (VFX) to track the movement of objects or the camera in a video so that new elements like graphics, text, or 3D objects can be added and follow the motion naturally.

What It's Used For:
  • Adding digital elements that move with the footage, like AR-style effects, labels, or animations.
  • Stabilizing shaky video by analyzing motion and smoothing it out.
  • Replacing or masking parts of a video (e.g. tracking someone's face to blur it).
  • Compositing 3D models into live-action scenes in films or projects.

INTRODUCTION


PROJECT 2 ⇒ PRODUCTION

For our two project, Mr Fauzi introduced Production to us where we need to create photo realistic digital elements and seamlessly integrate them into live-action 360-degree footages or physical spaces. The learning and teaching approach for the module will be studio-based and engaging with practical tasks during the studio sessions as well as presenting our ideas and thoughts within the group and to the facilitators.

For this project, we are required to,

Instruction:
  • Based on pre-production research, students need to implements the idea into a constructive output.

PROCESS

After getting a green light for the proposal in Project 1, Sue Zhiun and I begin to create the visual content needed for the projection mapping. Mr Fauzi advised us to narrow down our idea and focus on developing the cyberpunk city. 

We then split our task as following,
  • Model Building - Kar Yee & Sue Zhiun
  • All buildings - Sue Zhiun
  • Base - Kar Yee
  • Trees - Kar Yee
  • Wire Base - Kar Yee
  • Afterlight Logo - Kar Yee

MODEL BUILDING

After splitting the task, Sue Zhiun and I decided to start building the model first. Most of the materials we used in building are recycling materials. 

Materials Used,
  • Used Milk Boxes
  • Carton Boxes
  • Foam Board
  • Decorative Items - flowers, trees
  • A4 Papers
  • Mahjong paper
  • White spray paint
Figure 1.0 Materials Used For The Project

PRE-BUILDING

Figure 1.1 Estimated Pre-building

FINAL BUILDING


Figure 1.2 Folding Trees With A4 Papers With Youtube Tutorials XD


Figure 1.3 Final Building

FINAL OUTCOME

Figure 1.4 Final Outcome

Figure 1.5 Final Outcome

ANIMATION MAPPING BUILDING

CYBERPUNK THEME

After building the model, I started my animation building. Most of the content are mainly done in Adobe After Effects and illustrate in Adobe Illustrator. 

1. Base

The visual used as the foundational layer for the projection mapping was sourced from an online video platform, specifically YouTube. After exploring various video materials that aligned with our conceptual direction, I selected a clip that visually complemented the form and structure of our handcrafted recycled model. The chosen footage provided dynamic movement and visual interest, enhancing the immersive quality of the projection. The video was imported into Adobe Premiere Pro for further editing, where I adjusted its scale, position, and timing to properly align with the physical surfaces of our model. This base visual served as a key component in achieving a seamless integration between digital projection and the tangible structure, setting the tone for the rest of the animated elements layered on top.

Figure 1.6 Base Animation


Figure 1.7 Final Base Animation

2. Trees

In addition to the base visual, a custom-designed graphic element was created to enhance the projected animation. The visual component was initially drawn and designed in Adobe Illustrator, tailored to fit specific features of the handcrafted recycled model. Once finalized, the Illustrator file was imported into Adobe After Effects for animation. Within After Effects, I animated the graphic using keyframes to adjust both opacity and timing, creating a subtle blinking or pulsating effect that added a sense of motion and liveliness. To further emphasize the visual and create a more engaging projection experience, a glow effect was applied, helping the element stand out when mapped onto the physical surface.


Figure 1.8 Tree Illustration

Figure 1.9 Tree Animation


Figure 2.0 Final Tree Animation

3. Wire Base

I also created this animated element directly in Adobe After Effects using the Pen Tool to design a custom line path. To bring the line to life, the Trim Paths feature was applied, allowing the line to be animated as if it were being drawn in real-time. This technique added a dynamic and visually engaging movement to the projection. In addition to the animated line, several dots were added along the path to enhance the visual rhythm. The "object follow path" effect was then used to animate the dots as they moved smoothly along the drawn line, reinforcing the sense of flow and guiding the viewer's eye across the model. This sequence added both motion and interactivity to the projected layer, contributing to the overall immersive quality of the installation.

Figure 2.1 Wire Base Animation

Figure 2.2 Final Wire Base Animation

4. Afterlight Logo

A separate visual element featuring typography was also created in Adobe After Effects. The text was designed and styled within After Effects, where I applied the Saber plugin to achieve a glowing, energy-like outline effect. This not only gave the font a striking, futuristic appearance but also helped it stand out clearly when projected onto the physical model. The Saber effect was animated over time, giving the text a dynamic glow and subtle movement that enhanced the overall visual energy of the scene. This element was carefully positioned to ensure readability and aesthetic alignment with the surrounding animated visuals in the projection mapping sequence.

Figure 2.3 Afterlight Logo Animation


Figure 2.4 Final Afterlight Logo Animation

After finalising the cyberpunk theme animations, Mr Fauzi suggested us to add another theme, more festive like Merdeka. This is because he wanted our project to be suitable in multiple settings. Therefore, I started on the animation for our new Merdeka theme version. Most of the visual are the same just different in colours. I choose a more Merdeka theme colour like red, blue, yellow and white colour palette imitating our national flag, Jalur Gemilang. 

MERDEKA THEME

1. Trees

Figure 2.5 Merdeka Theme Tree Illustration

Figure 2.6 Merdeka Theme Tree Animation

Figure 2.7 Final Merdeka Theme Tree Animation

2. Wire Base

Figure 2.8 Merdeka Theme Wire Base Animation

Figure 2.9 Final Merdeka Theme Wire Base Animation

3. Afterlight Logo

Figure 3.0 Merdeka Theme Afterlight Logo Animation


Figure 3.1 Final Merdeka Theme Afterlight Logo Animation

FINAL PRODUCTION

Figure 3.2 Final Model Outcome

Link To Final Afterlight Animation

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KX3r-dDpdBy_aR_fZ_vxqOWrlA-DMl0B?usp=drive_link

FEEDBACK

WEEK 7

  • It’s important to use colours with good contrast as colours are too dark, they might be hard to see during the projection mapping. 
  • Use flat designs for now, as the 3D part will be completed later during the projection mapping stage.

WEEK 9

  • Due to the many limitations, we had to narrow down our idea from the proposal and focus on creating the cyberpunk-style city first.

WEEK 10

  • For the design of both side of the building,  the visual is advice to be separated into two instead of merging them together as this will make the projection mapping process easier and more efficient.

WEEK 11

  • Advise to add another theme to increase project exposure suitable for all settings

REFLECTION

Working on Production has been a fun ride where I got to enhance my skills and knowledge in building and animating. Besides, it was new experience as it was my first time doing animation for a projection mapping. Besides, we get to build out a physical model out instead of just having digital works. Moreover, we have the opportunity to analyze and explore different type of related projects and see how profesional share their knowledge in the specific field. This project was challenging yet interesting for me as I need to combine creativity and animation skills however with the guidance I got from Mr Fauzi and my friends, I managed to finish the tasks.

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