2d3 Debuts Boujou, New Camera Calibration And Tracking System

2d3 has rolled out boujou, a fully automated camera calibration and tracking system. Targeted at film and television effects, game development, architectural and industrial design applications, boujou allows artists to derive complex camera tracks and calibration data from film or video material without the need for manual tracking input. boujou's value to effects artists is that it simplifies the task of matching computer-generated material to the original footage, which means that effects shots need no longer be constrained by the need to shoot in high-contrast lighting with obtrusive reference markers throughout the set. boujou uses a combination of vision science and statistical analysis technologies to calibrate cameras with footage that lacks obvious trackable features, footage that is affected by camera shake, or shot in low lighting levels. Once the three-dimensional data has been derived from the footage, it can be used in 3D animation packages like Alias|Wavefront's Maya, and 3ds max. boujou Version 1.0 is now shipping. The software runs under Windows NT and 2000, and retails for $10,000.