VPT 7 for a creative projection

[M N]

I am new to VPT and learning its features, I plan to illuminate a building and create it into an art object. I see VPT is a 'live' program - but can I export my video to, let's say, an .AVI file to play the show without my intervention? Or do I have to bring a laptop with VPT installed to the location? Second, I have watched many examples of projection mapping buildings on Vimeo, Sometimes they show different clips in the windows, or doors, then they shoot a video across the whole facade. I assume this is done with masking? But how do you switch the masks in and out, or group several masks together so the video plays through them all at once? Thanks for your reply.

[hc]

on mac you can record the output via syphon using syphon recorder. The best alternative on windows would be some kind of screen capture program, but not sure you would get great results from that.
Most facade projection are usually premade videos where they have made a template of the building facade which they then work with in after effects/cinema4d etc.
In VPT you could assign different layers to different parts of the building and adjust transparencies of the layers according to what you want to show.

[M N]

Please elaborate on your comment - for a building projection, should I use After Effects as an input to VPT, or would After Effects be the solution by itself?

[hc]

You can render content for VPT using After Effects or any other program that can create quicktime content.
If you use mac you can send content from syphon enabled applications (like VDMX, modul8, processing, max/jitter, openframeworks apps etc) live to VPT.

[M N]

Unfortunately I use the windows platform, so syphon isn't available. I would like to use After Effects for content, but I am a starving artist and hope there is a free download somewhere. I've been looking into vvvv and processing, but After Effects is probably more suitable as I'm already familiar with Photoshop.
If I understand you correctly, you are saying that I should create the .mov content and bring it into VPT to size the frames on each layer, save my presets and sequences, then play them, do screen capture of the output into video production software to create an .avi file of the finished show to then project on the building.
I have a meeting with the historic preservation commission of an old industrial town here, I would like to interest them in converting some factories into art, or maybe history exhibits.
btw, I just downloaded VPT 7R4 - I hope I have better luck learning with it because R2 was prone to crashing (windows 8, intel i7 w/integrated hd graphics) 'runtime errorR6025 pure virtual function call'

[hc]

integrated hd graphics is not going to give you good results unfortunately

[M N]

no problem I will buy a better graphics card when I actually do the project, right now I'm learning what projection mapping is all about - - this is a new thing for me, I am primarily a jazz musician (www.sebastianmoon.com) - - unless, are you saying that the max runtime errors are a result of the integrated graphics? by the way, I want to thank you for creating VPT, it is an amazing tool and a great contribution you have made for artists around the world to explore. 

[hc]

it´s hard to know what causes your problems, but VPT 7 has been tested on quite a lot of different windows computers during various workshops I have been teaching, and 90% of the problems are related to graphic cards, opengl drivers and quicktime drivers.

One question, you haven´t moved the VPT exe file out of the VPT folder? If you manage to get VPT opened could you copy the contents of the message window (ctrl M) and post it here?

I don´t think rc4 would change things much as there are only small adjustments from rc2.

[M N]

Here is my message window - VPT7 is in its original location - my graphics card supports openGL 4.0 - I have the latest version of quicktime - didn't experience problem yesterday with a lot of time spent learning vpt7

On Thursday, November 21, 2013 1:53:40 PM UTC-5, M N wrote:

[hc]

thanks,
there is nothing that indicates any problems there so that´s a good sign!

[M N]

ok great then I'm just zooming forward learning VPT,  plus I have obtained After Effects, I already know Photoshop and Avid Studio, and the people sponsoring this project introduced me to guys in an A/V business with heavy duty projectors who will help me light up the buildings!!!

On Thursday, November 21, 2013 1:53:40 PM UTC-5, M N wrote:

[hc]

good luck!
there will be updated documentation coming in the next few days which will help you to get the most out of VPT 7.