Topic: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

Hello fellow BiMers! I'm making The Sniper (the short story), and I've already built the set (since September). I'm struggling to find a good lighting though. Here are some tests...

Picture 1: Original, Normal Lighting
http://imgur.com/VF70Q.jpg

Picture 2: Two Lamps Only (Pointed at subject)
http://imgur.com/IkCnX.jpg

Picture 3: One Light, Low Brightness
http://imgur.com/KfsTd.jpg

Picture 4: Normal Lighting, "Night" effect on
http://imgur.com/IWp1O.jpg

Picture 5: No Lighting, Highest Exposure
http://imgur.com/V1D4b.jpg

Picture 6: One Lamp (pointed away)
http://imgur.com/fLjfP.jpg

Picture 7: One Lamp (pointed up)
http://imgur.com/5sg9v.jpg


Pick which looks the best, and tell me if there are other (better) ways in lighting this. When choosing the pictures, use this criteria: Do the subjects' movements look understandable (sorry if they aren't in focus, and they will be moving when animated, these are only pics), and is the background dark, yet understandable, not too light.

EDIT: oh, yeah, and my favorite is the Night effect.

Last edited by DerTarchin (November 26, 2010 (10:53am))

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

4 and 7.

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

Picture 5 is just way to dark, you can barly see anything

I can't brickfilm for now. See you guys later.

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

4 and 7 are best, imo.
I guess that it should be clearly visible what the figures are doing, so I'd choose no.4 and try to make it a little bit brighter.

click->youtube - twitter - vimeosoup

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

I think the only good frame there is number 4. The others doesn't have the night feel, and have quite bad lighting, imo

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

You guys are all right. I'm trying to fiddle around with the brightness of the "night" effect, but it doesn't change the brightness/contrast at all- it changes the reds, blues, and greens of the picture. RGBs. And I have no idea how to adjust that, if I try my picture turns really bright red or something like that mini/tongue.

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

Okay, how's this, guys:

ORIGINAL, RAW PHOTO
http://imgur.com/UMf0n.jpg

Added "Night" effect (no adjustments)
http://imgur.com/jrOj9.jpg

Added "Night" effect, then increased Brightness and Contrast
http://imgur.com/32kym.jpg


Which do you guys like the most? Raw "Night" effect, or added brightness and contrast to the "Night" effect?

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

I agree that number four is the best, but it isn't that great, in my opinion. It looks as if it will be very dificult to follow what's going on.

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

What about the post that I posted exactly the same time as you posted- I improved number 4 greatly. ^

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

The middle one in the new batch looks good to me.

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

number 3 looks like a full moon is out- i'd go with the middle one. just turn the gain or exposure down (i can't remember which one...)

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

I probably like the third the best, but it seems a bit too bright. Perhaps you could turn up the brightness and contrast a little less.

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

Yeah, I'll probably go with that one as well. The third one from the new post right? Just making sure.

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

yea

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

The third doesn't look like night when not put next to the other frames. Less brightness is needed, I think.

https://i.imgur.com/1JxY79v.png

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

Right- I made one in-between the middle pic (only night effect) and third (night effect + high brightness). Now which do you like more (lower has more contrast, both have same brightness)

Night effect, .15 brightness increase, .20 contrast increase
http://imgur.com/1B9mA.jpg

Night effect, .15 brightness increase, .25 contrast increase
http://imgur.com/4jKYw.jpg

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

Here is a small clip. Animations a bit choppy, but that's because it was an odd animation, and it took me three tries to get this. I'm testing the night time effect again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G_AdnMI2cM

Just noticed, YouTube really darkened the video... I'll increase the brightness before uploading it next time.

Last edited by DerTarchin (November 14, 2010 (04:49pm))

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

That one's actually pretty sweet. This is the only time I think youtube darkening the video was good mini/XD

-Tejas VIM

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

That was great.  The only thing I would suggest is getting a small light bulb (this is optional but in my opinion it would make it more realistic)  and shining it off in the corner to create a streetlight effect.  Something as small as a christmas light may work.

Re: I need help making a night sequence in a town- NOW WITH A 30 SEC CLIP!

So... you guys actually think the darkness is perfect in that scene? I thought it was a little too dark. I'll make some more clips, and if you guys like them, then I'll continue with that light setup.

Brickfilmer a decade ago, now looking to relive the glory days mini/smile