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Imagineer & Curious Turtle Launch Advanced Training Series

Imagineer and Curious Turtle launch their latest training course, “Master mocha Volume 1; Production Effects with mocha and After Effects.”

Guildford, UK -- Imagineer Systems announced the launch of Curious Turtle’s newest training course entitled “Mastermocha Volume 1; Production Effects with mocha and After Effects.” With over 7 hours of training, which goes deeper into real-world shots that ever before, this new course has been designed to give users a unique insight into the techniques, challenges and solutions facing artists over a range of projects

Master mocha Volume 1 is an intermediate to advanced level course and is also designed for those users already familiar with Imagineer Systems mocha user interface.

Renowned trainer, Ben Brownlee of Curious Turtle returns with this latest training series, and had this to say about working with mocha Pro, “We're always trying to push what we can do with mocha Pro.  I wanted this course to show the challenges faced when tackling proper shots - both technically and creatively.  Often there are no easy one-button solutions for these problems.  You have to get smart with mocha's tools and data to get the job done as quickly and accurately as possible. Those are the kinds of challenges we cover in this new training series.”

Master mocha Volume 1; What’s Included All the tutorials in Master mocha Volume 1are presented in fully edited 1080P HD, giving users the clearest view of the project without waiting for render bars or complex exports to process. Topics covered include:

  • Object Clean Up and Rig Removal:  In the first exercise, users will learn how to clean-up stray elements in the frame, while ensuring that the foreground and background remains unaffected. This looks at how to use mocha in a flexible and efficient way, and how to deal with problems as they arise, such as difficult tracks.  We work with a variety of mocha tracking and shape data in this exercise. In addition to new mocha techniques, we also use Photoshop and After Effects to create cleanplate and environmental effects. 
  • Set Extensions Using mocha Pro Modules: This exercise is about getting core shots correct before moving to the main effect; adding a set extension and removing unwanted parts of the screen with rig removal. We explore the Stabilize module and different methods to fill in the missing data. An in-depth look at AutoFill within mocha Pro will give us a perfectly smooth camera move without compromising on quality. 
  • Advanced Remove Techniques Using mocha Pro Modules: This tutorial demonstrates new ways to work with regular corner pin data and how to speed your workflow using the mochaImport+ script. In between several rounds of removal and artifact removal, we also look at another way of doing sky replacements in specific regions. Users will also learn how to create an accurate 3D Camera Solve to getting a shot looking as good as possible, cleaning up areas that would be very tricky otherwise and give extra flexibility when compositing.
  • Advanced Insert: In this tutorial, artists will see learn interesting techniques to remove tracking markers, while maintaining the character of the original background. You will also learn the strengths of the different types of tracking data that mocha can export, and things you have to be aware of when using it with different effects. 

mocha: Academy Award Winning Technology In February 2013, Imagineer Systems was honored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences with a Scientific and Technical Award for mocha and its Planar Tracking technology. Imagineer Systems’ Philip McLauchlan, Allan Jaenicke, John-Paul Smith and Ross Shain were selected as a winner for mocha and its underlying Planar Tracking technology. The Company was recognized for their proven record of contributing significant value to the post-production process of making motion pictures.

Over the years, Imagineer’s mocha software has gained acclaimed notoriety within Hollywood’s visual effects community for its ability to “motion track” problematic footage such as out of focus and marker-less areas helping enable a technique called ‘digital makeup’ or ‘seamless effects.’ Visual effects artists use planar tracking to magically transform actors and locations without requiring timely makeup sessions and expensive sets, allowing directors to make important creative decisions long after the performance has been captured. Capturing accurate movement is essential and mocha has been involved in some famous digital makeup examples such as the snake-like noseless Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, replacing Mystique’s eyes in X-Men and helping Natalie Portman undergo an amazing transformation in Black Swan

Source: Imagineer Systems

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.