Understanding the Virtual Lighting Animation Tool

Description

The Goal of the Virtual Lighting Animation tool is to animate power variations of the different sources and generate videos by defining timelines for each layer of a loaded XMP result.

The Virtual Lighting Animation tool is accessible from Virtual Photometric Lab or Virtual Human Vision Lab.

Use Case Example

Use Case: Car manufacturers asking their suppliers to provide videos showing the animation of headlamps/tail-lamps functions.

• The XMP map is made of two sources representing the rear lamp of a car.
• For each source a specific timeline is designed as shown in the timeline table.
• The timeline is defined using an animation template (*.csv file).

Figure 1. Virtual Lighting Animation Interface

Figure 2. Animation Template File Defining the Timeline (cropped)

Figure 3. Result of the Animation

Generic Workflow

1. Open Virtual Lighting Animation tool from Virtual Photometric Lab or Virtual Human Vision Lab.
2. Open the XMP map in the Virtual Lighting Animation tool.

3. If necessary, edit the XMP Preferences.

   Important: All parameters previously applied and saved on the XMP in the Virtual Human Vision Lab or the Virtual Photometric Lab should work and be considered in the generation of the animation.
4. Export as *.csv file the timeline of the sources.
5. Edit the timelines of the selected sources:

   • Use an animation template file (file you exported as *.csv)

     -Or-

   • Use the Timeline Event from the Virtual Lighting Animation tool interface.
6. Import the animation template *.csv file in the Virtual Lighting Animation tool.
7. Generate the animation.
8. Repeat from step 5 until you are satisfied with the animation.
9. Export the animation project as *.xml file, to keep a save of the project and to be able to share it.