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Motion capture: meaning, definitions and examples

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motion capture

[ ˈməʊʃən ˈkæptʃər ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

technology

Motion capture is the process of recording the movements of objects or people. It is commonly used in the entertainment industry to create realistic animations for movies, video games, and virtual reality experiences.

Synonyms

mocap, motion tracking.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
motion capture	See above for 'motion capture'. This can be used interchangeably with the first entry. See above for 'motion capture'
mocap	Casual or industry shorthand for 'motion capture'. Commonly used among professionals in the field who are familiar with the term. Best for informal settings or when speaking with someone who understands the jargon. We just finished setting up the mocap studio for our latest game project Our mocap data needs to be processed before we can start animating
motion tracking	Refers more specifically to the technology or process of tracking the movement of objects or people. This term is broader and encompasses more than just capturing human movement for animation. Suitable for contexts discussing tracking in general, beyond just animation or film. Motion tracking is essential for augmented reality applications The motion tracking system ensures that the camera can accurately follow the movements of the subject

Word

Description / Examples

motion capture

See above for 'motion capture'. This can be used interchangeably with the first entry.

See above for 'motion capture'

mocap

Casual or industry shorthand for 'motion capture'. Commonly used among professionals in the field who are familiar with the term. Best for informal settings or when speaking with someone who understands the jargon.

We just finished setting up the mocap studio for our latest game project
Our mocap data needs to be processed before we can start animating

motion tracking

Refers more specifically to the technology or process of tracking the movement of objects or people. This term is broader and encompasses more than just capturing human movement for animation. Suitable for contexts discussing tracking in general, beyond just animation or film.

Motion tracking is essential for augmented reality applications
The motion tracking system ensures that the camera can accurately follow the movements of the subject

Examples of usage

Motion capture technology was used to create the lifelike movements of the characters in the latest video game.
The actor's movements were captured using motion capture sensors to animate the digital character.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

film industry

Motion capture is a filming technique where actors wear special suits with sensors that track their movements. This data is then used to create computer-generated characters or enhance special effects in movies.

Synonyms

performance capture.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
motion capture	This term is typically used in animation, film, and video game development to describe the process of recording human movements and translating them into a digital model. It's broadly used and understood to mean the general process of capturing motion. The animated film used motion capture to create realistic movements for its characters. Game developers rely heavily on motion capture to ensure lifelike character actions.
performance capture	More specific than 'motion capture,' this term refers to the comprehensive recording of an actor's physical movements, facial expressions, and voice. It's commonly used in the context of bringing a character to life in a more immersive way, capturing the full performance. The latest blockbuster utilized performance capture to bring the alien characters to life with expressive detail. In performance capture sessions, actors often wear suits with markers and facial rigs to capture every nuance of their performance.

Word

Description / Examples

motion capture

This term is typically used in animation, film, and video game development to describe the process of recording human movements and translating them into a digital model. It's broadly used and understood to mean the general process of capturing motion.

The animated film used motion capture to create realistic movements for its characters.
Game developers rely heavily on motion capture to ensure lifelike character actions.

performance capture

More specific than 'motion capture,' this term refers to the comprehensive recording of an actor's physical movements, facial expressions, and voice. It's commonly used in the context of bringing a character to life in a more immersive way, capturing the full performance.

The latest blockbuster utilized performance capture to bring the alien characters to life with expressive detail.
In performance capture sessions, actors often wear suits with markers and facial rigs to capture every nuance of their performance.

Examples of usage

The director decided to use motion capture for the alien characters in the sci-fi film.
Motion capture allowed the animators to accurately recreate the actor's performance in the animated movie.

Translations

Translations of the word "motion capture" in other languages:

🇵🇹 captura de movimento

🇮🇳 मूवमेंट कैप्चर

🇩🇪 Bewegungserfassung

🇮🇩 penangkapan gerak

🇺🇦 захоплення руху

🇵🇱 przechwytywanie ruchu

🇯🇵 モーションキャプチャー

🇫🇷 capture de mouvement

🇪🇸 captura de movimiento

🇹🇷 hareket yakalama

🇰🇷 모션 캡처

🇸🇦 التقاط الحركة

🇨🇿 zachytávání pohybu

🇸🇰 zachytávanie pohybu

🇨🇳 动作捕捉

🇸🇮 zajem gibanja

🇮🇸 hreyfingarnám

🇰🇿 қозғалысты түсіру

🇬🇪 მოძრაობის აღება

🇦🇿 hərəkət tutma

🇲🇽 captura de movimiento

Etymology

The history of motion capture dates back to the 1970s when researchers began exploring ways to digitize human motion for computer graphics. Over the years, the technology has evolved and become a standard tool in the entertainment industry, revolutionizing the way animations are created and enhancing the realism of visual effects in films and video games.