5 Common Augmented Reality Mistakes
Broadcast meteorologists use Max Reality every day to tell unique weather stories. The innovative software developed by The Weather Company, an IBM Business, produces realistic, computer-generated 3-D elements beside and in front of the meteorologist.
As one of the first broadcast meteorologists to use Max Reality in my on-air weathercasts on KTRK, the ABC-owned station in Houston, I created many different types of augmented reality scenes over the years. Some were simple panels featuring today’s almanac, while other scenes filled the studio with computer-generated clouds and special weather effects.
Today, I help local TV stations create engaging weather content with Max Reality Advanced Training. The “Concept to Content” training module covers several common mistakes broadcast meteorologists make when creating Max Reality scenes. Here are the top five mistakes and how to fix them.
1. Animations are too fast
Almost every Max Reality scene needs an entrance and exit. This effect could be as simple as having the elements rise through the floor, drop from the ceiling, or slide in from the side. More elaborate animations might feature a complete build-in and built-out of the individual elements within the scene.
Whatever method you use, the animation should be long enough to register with the viewer. Anything less than one second is too fast. Itâs over before the viewer realizes whatâs going on.
Through trial and error, I found that 1.25-1.50 seconds is ideal when animating the movement of individual objects in Max Reality. More complicated movements should take even longer.
2. Scenes lack contrast and depth
Technically, the scene elements rendered by the Reality Player are an overlay, keyed over the talent and the output from the primary Max computer. However, it shouldnât look like an overlay. The computer-generated contents in the Reality layer should look like they are really part of the studio.
Angling the objects in the scene can create the illusion of depth, as shown in the image below. A slight 20-degree turn is enough to fool the eye.
Adjust the color, brightness, glossiness, reflectivity, and smoothness of each object within a scene to create contrast. If some of the elements donât display enough contrast after adjusting these settings, apply the silver colored gradient texture and experiment with the texture’s scale, position, and rotation until you create the desired effect.
Finally, changing the position of the light control and turning on the Ambient Occlusion in the Lighting properties can significantly enhance the contrast and depth of the entire scene, as shown in the image below.
A couple of things to note about the Ambient Occlusion setting. It doesnât play well with Effects. Also, a level above 2.0 can affect playback on older Max computers.
3. No reflection on the floor
Unless carpeting covers your studio floor or youâre using Max Reality outside, floors naturally have some amount of reflection. If the objects in the Reality layer were real, they would also reflect off the floor.
Add the âplane1xyâ 3D model to the Reality layer to create a natural reflection. Rotate it 90-degrees on the X-axis and position it just above the Floor. Change the material to Reflection and reduce the transparency to 80-90%, or until the reflection in the Reality layer matches the natural reflections in the studio.
4. Missing sound effects
If the studio floor opened up and a large television monitor slid up from below, you’d probably hear it. You might hear a mechanical clank followed by an ascending whoosh. You’d hear these sounds again in reverse when the monitor drops back into the hole in the floor, and the trap door closes.
Sound effects enhance every Max Reality scene. Adding sound effects is as simple as clicking Add > Audio and navigating to the Sound Effects folder. Several dozen different sound effects are available on every Max computer.
5. Not engaging with the computer-generated elements
Max Reality requires a little acting. You have to pretend the object is really in the studio. Turn your head and follow the movement with your eyes. If necessary, put a small mark on the floor or the studio wall, so it appears like you’re looking at the object.
READ MORE > MAXIMIZING REALITY: GETTING STARTED
Practice makes perfect. Almost half of the Max Reality scenes I started to create never made it on-air. They didn’t look real enough for me.
Playing with the software is the best way to learn how to create augmented reality weather content that delivers essential information in a realistic format that delights the audience.
Tim Heller is an AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, Talent Coach, and Weather Content Consultant. He helps local TV stations and broadcast meteorologists communicate more effectively on-air, online, and on social media.