{"id":33,"date":"2026-01-30T22:10:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T22:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/?page_id=33"},"modified":"2026-04-25T17:21:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T17:21:11","slug":"week-3-blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/week-3-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 3 Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Week 3 marks an exciting pivot in our project \u2014 the moment just before a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. We\u2019ve hit several major milestones: we started drafting a storyboard and a logo, three Insta360 X5 cameras are ready for rigging, and we\u2019ve secured filming permission at a local supermarket. We are also in ongoing discussions with the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heinzhistorycenter.org\/\">Heinz History Center<\/a><\/strong>, the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pittsburghkids.org\/\">Children\u2019s Museum of Pittsburgh<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.phipps.conservatory.org\/\">Phipps Conservatory<\/a><\/strong> to finalize scouting and filming in those locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Storyboard drafts: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2238\" height=\"1193\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-30-164029.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-42\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-30-164029.png 2238w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-30-164029-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-30-164029-1024x546.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-30-164029-768x409.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-30-164029-1536x819.png 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-30-164029-2048x1092.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2238px) 100vw, 2238px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Logo drafts: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo-draft-1024x590.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41\" style=\"width:1024px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo-draft-1024x590.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo-draft-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo-draft-768x443.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo-draft-1536x885.png 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo-draft-2048x1180.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From Hazel Li<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with the visual art assets, we also have some initial soundtrack from our Sound Designer, Oliver Zhu. Here&#8217;s a taste: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/9-second-soundtrack-3.wav\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/10-second-soundtrack-2.wav\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Technical Hurdle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>However, before we begin official production, we need to resolve a significant rendering issue. Currently, our footage is not yielding the high-quality results we expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using <strong>PostShot<\/strong>, we discovered a physical &#8220;gap&#8221; in our captures \u2014 a section of the scene where little to no data was recorded. For <strong>3D Gaussian Splatting<\/strong> to function correctly, the software requires a &#8220;closed loop.&#8221; This allows the computer to recognize when it has returned to a previously seen point, enabling it to accurately reconstruct the 3D environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cameras-w-gap-1024x611.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34\" style=\"width:1024px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cameras-w-gap-1024x611.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cameras-w-gap-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cameras-w-gap-768x458.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cameras-w-gap-1536x917.png 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cameras-w-gap-2048x1222.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This is a scan of a fake plant. The white blocks represent captured data. The more white blocks, the more data there is. Some parts of the loop lack any data. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Rendered-quality-1024x611.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35\" srcset=\"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Rendered-quality-1024x611.png 1024w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Rendered-quality-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Rendered-quality-768x458.png 768w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Rendered-quality-1536x917.png 1536w, https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Rendered-quality-2048x1222.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This is a rendered view of the same scan. This angle shows the part of the loop that has the least amount of data captured. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our Strategy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We are currently investigating the root cause of this data gap by testing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Camera Handling:<\/strong> Refining how we physically hold and move the 360-degree camera.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Import Optimization:<\/strong> Experimenting with various video import settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Remapping Research:<\/strong> Studying how to properly process 4K, 360-degree footage for digital reconstruction using the Gaussian Splatting technique.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If these internal tests don&#8217;t resolve the issue, our next step is to consult with our faculty advisors and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to get the render back on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>January 26-30, 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Week 3 marks an exciting pivot in our project \u2014 the moment just before a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. We\u2019ve hit several major milestones: we started drafting a storyboard and a logo, three Insta360 X5 cameras are ready for rigging, and we\u2019ve secured filming permission at a local supermarket. We are also in ongoing discussions [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-33","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":534,"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33\/revisions\/534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}