Mova introduces reality capture system for film and game industries

Mova introduced its Contour Reality Capture System at the SIGGRAPH trade show in Boston, which allows motion picture and video game makers to capture full-motion, photorealistic computer-generated imagery (CGI) using digital cameras. The company states the new process promises to significantly reduce production costs and grant content creators more creative control over visual effects.

According to Steve Perlman, founder and president of Mova, Contour shifts technology from "motion capture to reality capture." The system utilizes two synchronized camera systems to simultaneously record both visual and geometric information of a subject. Combining these data sets results in a high-resolution 3D digital image.

Perlman explains that the markerless, optics-based process captures subtle details of human performance in real time, from an eyebrow arch to widening eyes, offering directors and producers an unprecedented level of creative control. Contour bridges traditional cinematography with digital computer animation, expanding possibilities for both film and game developers.

The technology allows for the import and manipulation of high-definition, 3D, volumetric representations using standard CGI animation software. Mova developed the technology in collaboration with NVIDIA, which accelerates the real-time capture of 3D scenes.