After getting a first introduction to projection mapping in my last blog post, it’s time to go further with exploring different program options. Since I’m still figuring out the technical side of things, I decided to test two software options that seem to make the most sens to use for my project: MadMapper and After Effects. As both of them provide different possibilities when it comes to animation and projection mapping I wanted to give both a try. This meant that I started to follow two beginner-friendly tutorials for projection mapping: one for MadMapper and one for After Effects. My goal was not only to understand how these programs and tools work but also to see which one might be the better choice for the project I have planned. As I am right now, also dealing with the challenge of learning a few different platforms at once it sometimes feels like I’m jumping from one tool to another without really getting the chance to master any of them in depth. This makes it difficult to decide which platform to commit to for projection mapping, as I don’t want to add another complicated software to my workflow if it doesn’t help me in the future.
MadMapper
Starting off with one of MadMapper’s tutorials which introduced me to the basics of the software and started to explain how to set up a projection hereby using simple shapes to create its visuals. What I did like was how intuitive the interface was. Everything seemed to make sense and intuitive, which is great when you want to start learning new software. I started to play around with different shapes and movements, trying to understand how I could later apply these. But mostly it was important to me to just get a sense of the software and understand the basic workaround. When it comes to layering and fine-tuning the animations I however still a bit lost. Since MadMapper is mainly built for projection mapping, it makes sense that it focuses more on mapping visuals rather than creating complex animations from scratch. A big advantage of MadMapper is its real-time contour control, which allows for live adjustments during the production phase and not just before it. That is something After Effects doesn’t really offer, as it mostly stacks layers to create detailed effects.
After Effects
I also wanted to do another After Effect tutorial that was more specifically for projection mapping as this is something I haven’t specifically looked at so far. I already have some basic knowledge of After Effects, so the workflow didn’t feel completely new. The tutorial covered mostly simple animation techniques and how to export the visuals for projection mapping. Which was the part that interested me the most. The biggest advantage I see in using After Effect would be its flexibility. As After Effects is not really made for projection mapping, it still allows for more detailed and layered animations, which could be nice if I decide to go for a more artistic approach when approaching the flowers. At the same time, it also means that I would need another software to actually map the animations onto my objects, which again means I need to familiarize myself with another one and also add another layer of complexity. Another important factor is price. Since I already have access to After Effects through my Adobe Cloud subscription, there would be no additional cost to me. MadMapper, on the other hand, requires a one-time commercial license. I would need to purchase this to be able to use it without watermarks or other restrictions.
Now that I’ve tested both, I have to decide which one makes more sense for my project. Right now, I feel like MadMapper is the better choice if I want a more direct way to work with projections, while After Effects would allow me to create more detailed visuals. The question is: do I want to focus on animation first and then figure out the mapping part, or should I go straight into projection mapping and accept some limitations in animation?
Concept Idea
Looking at another aspect besides the technical side, I also thought about the mood or concept idea as well as the aesthetic of my project. Since at the end of the project I want to project onto flowers, I have two main ideas. One would be to work with motion that brings the flowers to life, almost like they are moving or shifting beyond a still life. Another idea would be to approach it from a different perspective which would be to visualise the process of photosynthesis more abstractly. I am still thinking about both concept ideas and I will go more into depth maybe brainstorm more and create different animations to work with, but I also don’t want to overcomplicate things especially because this is my first attempt at projection mapping.
Challenges
One of the challenges I already thought about is to balance aesthetic and technical feasibility. And also, I have a bit of a frustration limit. I tend to learn fast but if I get a sense that I am not developing or constantly get the same issues I get frustrated and that leads to procrastination. While I would love to create something detailed and unique, I also have to be realistic about what’s possible with my current skill level. Here I think a good way would be to start with simple shapes and flat surfaces for the next step in my project and then refine the concept once I have a better understanding of the tools.