and now for some math...

I am currently working on new ways for people to create sets within moviesandbox, and the general idea of it is to use projection and then draw the actual 3D information right into the level.
The general idea behind this is best described with two screenshots:

on the first screenshot, you see a simple grid image projected onto the standard Moviesandbox creationbox level. nothing special there.


This second image however reveals that, given you are looking at this image from the right point of view with the appropriate projection angle and so on, you see a perfectly fine grid, even though it is projected over a couple of corners.
With this idea in mind, you can now start painting the actual 3D grid and use the projection as reference and texture. Got it?
If not, don't worry, i'll explain soon and you'll see how this can help you.

There are a couple of art projects that use a similar approach - although mixing different media - and i think they explain a bit better what i'm trying to implement.

First, there's the lovely "Roermond-Ecke-Schoenhauser" from Markus Kison where the live-feed of a couple of webcams is projected onto miniature architecture models of the places they watch. It gives you a good idea on how a simple picture - just by the way it is projected - can create a miniature 3-dimensional scene.

The second one is the "augmented sculpture" by Pablo Valbuena. Here, a static object is being projected on and several different light situations or drawing types are simulated just by the projection. It gives you a good idea of what artistic possibilities you have when you start thinking in ways of projection and 3D.

Now taking off from the airport in Portland - and hopefully seeing you soon at the European Machinima Filmfestival!