Featured as the latest entry into our 2024 product lineup, we are pleased introducing EZlineup: our new software solution that aims at greatly facilitating the way camera operators deal with the various camera offsets at time of setting-up their camera tracking system on their virtual stage.

On a virtual stage, possessing a robust camera tracking system and a meticulously crafted lens profile may not always guarantee the desired “live effect”.
Indeed, achieving perfection often requires operators to finely adjust the system by measuring the offset of the tracking device in relation to the camera’s CCD sensor and aligning the tracking reference with the current set.
Whereas manual measurement using a tape measure or laser is still feasible, accurately estimating tiny rotations can be quite challenging for the set or camera operator.

This manual process remains time-consuming, and often yields satisfactory results from a specific viewpoint. However, when the camera transitions to a different perspective, some “spatial shifts” may reappear, undermining the consistency of the effect.

This is in the will of tackling such issues and limitations that the Miraxyz R&D team has developed EZlineup: the solution takes advantages of the tracking data from any camera tracking system, precise lens profiles generated by our lens profiling tool EZprofile, and cutting-edge computer vision optimization techniques.

To accomplish such an accurate camera offset positioning in space, an identified pattern being printed on solid support — what we call our MAGIC CUBE that carries specific tags on each of its faces — is strategically placed on stage and captured by the camera from multiple viewpoints.
The recorded data is then meticulously processed to deliver the desired results, ensuring accurate alignment and spatial consistency.

Whereas any camera operator was so far needing to manually measure the distance between camera tracker and sensor plane of the camera to precisely know its position in space, EZlineup does now allow the operator to automatically perform such measurements while almost immediately identifying the critical offset distances according to both the referential of camera’s tracker and physical origin point of the studio.

Applications EZlineup can be used for.

EZlineup can be used by any virtual studio or camera operator to perform seamlessly:

• Definition of a new origin point, thus, in a better location of the studio.
• Sharing of the same origin point across various tracked camera axis no matter their type or model, thus, especially in case of a virtual production setup having multiple tracked cameras operating together.
• Refining of the camera tracking referential to perfectly match any 3D virtual object being positioned as a layer on top or within the real studio space or physical props.

What does the EZlineup package provide?

To operate EZlineup, user does require a perpetual, per-seat software license (Windows 64 compatible) as well as our special “MAGIC CUBE” calibrator; a laser-printed calibration cube having specific tag patterns that are automatically recognized and captured by the software.

What are the requirements to operate the solution?

Our solution works with all types of cameras, including mechanical-encoded P/T heads, PTZ cameras, broadcast cameras with ENG or boxed lenses, and more generally; any studio camera having dedicated optic as these can be set either on dolly, jib, crane, slider, robotic arm etc…

To get EZlineup transmitting the positional data properly, its operator needs a FreeD data flow outputted from any compatible tracking system such is EZtrack for instance: the FreeD protocol being the most standardized one to transmit tracking data to several 3D render engines.

Finally, it’s also important noting that it is necessary for user of the software to have every of its optic being profiled by our EZprofile software for a targeted render engine: it means that user will need to already own one EZprofile activated license or alternatively purchase our “Studio Calibration” bundle as this one does encompass both EZlineup and EZprofile perpetual licenses, as well as physically-printed calibration tag boards/cube.

Straightforward calibration process that spans across 4 steps.

EZlineup has been meticulously crafted by Miraxyz’s R&D department to provide any virtual studio with one universal, dedicated solution being very easy to operate in just a matter of minutes! Thanks to the tool, we promise camera operators to save time by not having to manually calculate their various camera offsets, while ensuring the best possible level of precision compared with the manual measurement method with a basic ruler for instance.

Similarly to our universal lens profiling workflow EZlineup, any camera operator using EZlineup will greatly benefits from an automatic workflow to process and store all its various camera offsets as the solver spans across 4 main processing steps:

 STEP #1 – THE SOFTWARE AUTOMATICALLY DETECTS THE ORIGIN POINT IN TAKING REFERENCE PICTURES OF THE CUBE CALIBRATOR ON THE GROUND

STEP #2 – THE OFFSET DATA IS AUTOMATICALLY COMPUTED INTO THE INTERFACE OF THE SOFTWARE

STEP #3 – USER VISUALLY CHECKS THE RESULT OF THE COMPUTATION DIRECTLY ON SCREEN SO HE CAN ASSESS COMFORMITY OF THE DATA

STEP #4 – USER CAN THEN PROCEED WITH OFFSET DATA VERIFICATION BEFORE SETTING SUCH OFFSETS DIRECTLY INTO ITS TRACKING DEVICE

Yet to be available in June 2024, EZlineup will be proposed as two distinct purchase plans:

• EZlineup “STARTER KIT”: provides one EZlineup seat license as well as one unit of our hard-printed calibration cube. The user will have to already own one activated license of our EZprofile software.
• “STUDIO CALIBRATION” BUNDLE: here is our complete, ready-to-use bundle encompassing all necessary software licenses plus their calibration gear to generate lens profiles and camera offsets seamlessly. In this bundle, both the EZprofile and the EZlineup perpetual licenses are provided to the user.

Whether for the first plan or the second, user has also the possibility to purchase additional support services: remote training and/or software maintenance plan following purchase.

In releasing such a new software innovation, Miraxyz addresses this time again critical challenges met by virtual studio operators for the daily maintenance and configuration of their camera tracking setup as EZlineup primarily aims at leveraging both the overall tracking accuracy and its spatial consistency as well.

Want to learn more about EZlineup and the way to purchase it through a dedicated sales representative?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team: contact@eztrack.studio