Hand Engine Calibration & Optimization Tools
Hand Engine Calibration & Optimization Tools
Hand Engine is the interface between StretchSense gloves and your animation software where you can connect, configure, and calibrate at the push of a button. For mocap technicians and animators already juggling other complex programs, this simplicity allows flexibility and confidence.
Designed with speed and simplicity in mind, Hand Engine 2.0 embodies a lightweight workflow that is both effective and efficient. With this, mocap technicians can move seamlessly through the performer setup process, spending less time setting up the technology and more time capturing scenes.
Express Calibration
While all areas of production are affected by time constraints, mocap teams feel this strain more than most. In order to reduce the stress of setup on shoot days, Hand Engine’s “Express Calibration” was purpose-built to serve as a swift and accurate method of calibrating StretchSense gloves.
When using Express, from Hand Engine startup to being ready to capture a scene takes less than a minute, or less for experienced users.
The calibration process involves hitting four key poses. These give the machine learning algorithm all the data it needs to customize the output to the performers hand, delivering the lifelike essence of the performer’s movement in data. The calibration process itself can be adjusted to suit the user’s needs, able to be set as briefly as 5 seconds or extended depending on the user’s individual preference.
Achieving speed without sacrificing quality is the expectation of Express Calibration, and on this it delivers. Over 80% of StretchSense customers use Express Calibration exclusively to achieve their entire calibration needs – no adjustments needed.
Hand Engine’s menu is straightforward and uncluttered, making it simple to use. The setup workflow is similarly straightforward: simply connect your gloves, add a performer, calibrate, and hit record; all in under a minute.
Advanced optimization tools
While Express Calibration alone is sufficient for 80% of Hand Engine users, Advanced Pose-Based Optimization provides value for those looking for a little something extra. While the level of fine tuning may be more advanced, it’s just as and quick and easy to use. There are two tools in the advanced optimization toolkit:
- Key Pose
- Calibration Tuning
First things first, what do we mean by pose-based? The highly accurate and repeatable measurements stretch sensors provide mean the system can recognize when you make the same pose twice, something that alternative solutions which measure position in space cannot do. This means Hand Engine can use this ‘pose data’ in ways that give mocap and animation teams more power to capture the data they want, exactly the way they want it.
Key pose
Hand Engine’s “Advanced Optimization” includes peerless key frame population functionality – Key Pose. This allows users to snap to a specific pose in line with the performers movement, enabling the recapture of the same hand position consistently. This is ideal for animations involving props or anything where the animator wants a really stable pose. With Key Pose the performer picks up the gun and Hand Engine gives the animator a rock solid and reliable pistol grip key frame every time.
What’s really special about these tools is that they can be used in conjunction with Express Calibration. You can enjoy the beautiful lifelike data that Express provides but also hit that really important prop pose, perfectly in line with the performer’s movement.
Hand Engine also provides fine control for key poses including transition time, debounce and duration. By manipulating these values, mocap teams and animators can be as hands-on as desired and feel free to achieve their ideal mocap moment.
Calibration tuning
Hand Engine’s pose based Advanced Calibration tools also allow users to fine tune their Express Calibration. To make a minor tweak to Express Calibration, users are able to utilize the pose-based system to capture a pose for whatever they would like to see improve.
For example, if the thumb position doesn’t look quite right, users are able to capture exactly how they would like Hand Engine to interpret movement, teaching the machine learning algorithm how to capture the intended pose moving forward.
Hand Engine includes extensive list of poses which mocap technicians are able to add to their calibration. Pose editing tools also come as standard, so you’re able to make subtle changes to poses in the library or create your own from scratch.
ADVANCE OPTIMIZATION
Key pose
Hand Engine’s “Advanced Optimization” includes peerless key frame population functionality – Key Pose. This allows users to snap to a specific pose in line with the performers movement, enabling the recapture of the same hand position consistently. This is ideal for animations involving props or anything where the animator wants a really stable pose. With Key Pose the performer picks up the gun and Hand Engine gives the animator a rock solid and reliable pistol grip key frame every time.
What’s really special about these tools is that they can be used in conjunction with Express Calibration. You can enjoy the beautiful lifelike data that Express provides but also hit that really important prop pose, perfectly in line with the performer’s movement.
Hand Engine also provides fine control for key poses including transition time, debounce and duration. By manipulating these values, mocap teams and animators can be as hands-on as desired and feel free to achieve their ideal mocap moment.
ADVANCE OPTIMIZATION
Calibration tuning
Hand Engine’s pose based Advanced Calibration tools also allow users to fine tune their Express Calibration. To make a minor tweak to Express Calibration, users are able to utilize the pose-based system to capture a pose for whatever they would like to see improve.
For example, if the thumb position doesn’t look quite right, users are able to capture exactly how they would like Hand Engine to interpret movement, teaching the machine learning algorithm how to capture the intended pose moving forward.
Hand Engine includes extensive list of poses which mocap technicians are able to add to their calibration. Pose editing tools also come as standard, so you’re able to make subtle changes to poses in the library or create your own from scratch.
