Zeiss Introduces CinCraft Mapper
Expanding on Zeiss XD technology, CinCraft Mapper provides frame-accurate lens distortion and shading data to compositing and match-moving artists.
Zeiss Cinematography has introduced CinCraft Mapper, its first service of the CinCraft ecosystem for the digital application of lens looks into compositing and match-moving workflows.
CinCraft Mapper provides frame-accurate lens distortion and shading data, enabling VFX artists to achieve a cinematic result that is as realistic and precise as possible. “Typically, lens grids must be recorded and processed in order to obtain this data, and that process is not only time consuming but also error prone and limited in scope,” says Jonathan Demuth, Zeiss’ Digital Cinematography product manager. “With just a few clicks, CinCraft Mapper provides this data directly on the basis of the metadata captured during film production. Lost clip metadata can also be added without difficulty. This means compositing and match-moving artists can be sure they are receiving accurate data without having to rely on the preceding capture and workflow procedures, and that the entire VFX process will be simplified and accelerated.”
Zeiss CinCraft Mapper delivers frame-accurate lens data with which complex shots with multiple and dynamic focusing distances — for example, car chases — can be edited more easily and completely, without the need to make assumptions due to incomplete data. “CinCraft Mapper expands on Zeiss Extended Data technology,” notes Christophe Casenave, Zeiss’ head of Cinematography Products. “VFX artists no longer have to rely only on XD generated by lens and camera equipment on set; now, additional and historic lens-family shading and distortion data can also be provided by CinCraft Mapper, which is also compatible with existing XD technology.”
CinCraft Mapper delivers industry-standard ST Maps for distortion and Multiply Maps for shading. These can be used directly in compositing and match-moving software such as Nuke, Flame and 3DEqualizer.
“Mapper is just the beginning for our CinCraft ecosystem,” Casenave adds. “We’re looking forward to offering more services that will provide a broad range of aspects of lens looks for VFX and other applications.”
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