Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: First and Ten (American Football)

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Topic: First and Ten (American Football)

John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 04-02-2001 01:13 PM

Ever wonder how the TV networks "paint" that digital orange line on the football field, to show the line that must be crossed to make a first down? Here's a link to how it's done:
http://www.ednmag.com/ednmag/reg/2001/03292001/07hiw.htm

"The process does not come small, cheap, or easy. The Sportvision 1st and Ten system encompasses
four SGI computers, one PC, a trio of data-acquisition computers, three sets of encoders, and more.
Synchronizing all the incoming data streams and video streams, to ensure that they match properly and
that the computer draws the graphic on the correct video field, is a difficult task."
------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 04-02-2001 01:43 PM

Thanks for the link, John. That is a very interesting piece. I read a very similar article in the New York Times last year right before the Super Bowl.

It would seem that just drawing a line on the screen would be a simple task, but there are many MANY variables that go into these calculations. Making the line appear as if it is on the ground, so that anything moving above it covers it up, involves some very fast calculations. I've also noticed that the line does not cover up any special painted images on the field.

The "matrix"-like spinning camera tried at this years Super Bowl was a bit disappointing. It was not very smooth. Probably by next year they will have this one better.

A possible idea would be to create a straight down look at the plays, much like a coaches drawing board. You could then see the entire play coming together, and who made what mistakes. This would be a view from about 500' to 1000'. It could be calculated from a couple of sideline views, I imagine. Just something to think about, anyway.

Mark Lensenmayer

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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)

Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 04-02-2001 03:21 PM

Even with this line which in a fantastic innovation. They still get it wrong in the booth.

A lot of how they do this flies over my head.

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James R. Hammonds, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 931
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 04-02-2001 06:07 PM

i know how to make everyone disappear except for one guy, have that guy step outside of his own body, and then hide behind a pole five times as thin as he.
it looks really cool.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-02-2001 06:09 PM

John,
Of course all of this is now obsolete as is all broadcast equipment before it ever leaves the factory(none of it works out of the box..or crate either!). I have yet to see the fancy lines drawn in on DTV or HDTV yet. I guess they are still working on that one. Of course with HDTV all they have to do is hold up an orange string out in the field. No one will have trouble seeing it.
Mark @ GTS

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-02-2001 09:58 PM

Is this the same technology that they use to "paint" the advertisements onto the wall behind the batter/chatcher/umpire at some of the baseball games seen on TV, or is it just another variation of "Ultimatte"?

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Paul Konen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 981
From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-03-2001 10:44 AM

They mention in the article about other sports.

Do you think this is what FOX uses when they are tracking cars around the racetrack either showing speed or distance between cars. I've seen them track 2-3 cars at a time.

Paul.

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Tod J. Weitzel
Film Handler

Posts: 18
From: San Jose, CA, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 04-04-2001 02:21 AM

quote:
Do you think this is what FOX uses when they are tracking cars around the racetrack either showing speed or distance between cars. I've seen them track 2-3 cars at a time.

Fox has most, if not all, cars on the track equipped with GPS and telemetery readouts that broadcast to the Fox booth. The nerd who handles all of these fancy effects tags the cars he wants to track, tells the computer to watch them, brings up the telemetery, and the computer uses its image recognition software coupled with the GPS data to draw the lines that point out each car and display its telemetery.

This, naturally, leads into a rant about how with all this technology they could at least clock more than four pit stops per race... >(

-Tw?

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