VISUAL EFFECTS COMPOSITING
Visual effects and compositing expand students' visual vocabulary for creative realization in media production. This studio course introduces current compositing and effects software through creative projects, assignments and exercises. The artistry and illusion achieved through a variety of techniques is explored, including multi-layered compositions that incorporate digital painting, masking, key frame animation, and colour grading, as well as how to convincingly colour key and combine live action with digital elements. Students learn essential workflow strategies and develop a greater understanding of critical and aesthetic implications in media.
STUDENT WORK
Students have explored projects enabling them to pursue Junior Compositor positions in the visual effects industry, freelance portfolio opportunities, special techniques for independent filmmaking needs, advanced technical foundations for still and moving image making, and unorthodox applications for artistic expression.
LINKS
Course + Community Resources
MODULE 1
Overview, Image Components, Layering
A brief history of visual effects, the phases of the visual effects process, creative outlets beyond the VFX industry, the fundamentals of digital images, assembling digital images.
SCREENINGS
Intro to Visual Effects + Compositing
THE VISUAL EFFECTS PIPELINE
The steps of the VFX process include modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, lighting and rendering, dynamics simulations, and compositing. A VFX artist may specialize in one area or become a "generalist."
THE COMPOSITING PIPELINE
The Compositing specialization is the fastest, most flexible, most wide ranging and perhaps the most powerful in VFX. Although it is 2D-driven, it can create the illusion of 3D or accommodate some 3D assets.
A HISTORY OF VFX
Even the oldest techniques and their evolution continue to inspire modern and emerging practices.
THE MAGIC INGREDIENT THAT BRINGS PIXAR MOVIES TO LIFE
The world of VFX can bring inspiration to life from any range of backgrounds and interests. Danielle Feinberg, Pixar's director of photography, creates stories with soul and wonder using math, science and code. Go behind the scenes of Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Brave, WALL-E and more, and discover how Pixar interweaves art and science to create fantastic worlds where the things you imagine can become real.
SCREENINGS
Inspiration: The Industry and Beyond
DEMO 1
Image Components, Nuke Interface
Assignment: Practice the demo until you can do it from memory from scratch within a couple of minutes.
DEMO 2
Layering, Nuke Interface
Assignment: Practice the demo until you can do it from memory from scratch within a couple of minutes.
MODULE 2
Color and Light
DEMO 2
Color Match by Channel
Assignment: Practice the demo and try with different images.
MODULE 3
Integration
SCREENING
Art in the Age of Machine Intelligence
What does it look like inside the mind of a machine? Inspired by the architectural vision of a futuristic Los Angeles in "Blade Runner," media artist Refik Anadol melds art with artificial intelligence in his studio's collaborations with architects, data scientists, neuroscientists, musicians and more. Witness otherworldly installations that might make you rethink the future of tech and creativity.
DEMO 1
Integration
Assignment: Practice the demo until you can do it from scratch without looking at the reference. Try with different backgrounds.
DEMO 2
Layers + Passes
MODULE 4
Color + Cinematography
DEMO 1
FAQ: Managing Image Size
DEMO 3
Shooting and compositing day for night
Assignment: Shoot footage or a photograph in the daytime and composite it to look like night time.
DEMO 4
Color flexibility
Applying compositing knowledge and techniques across software platforms and practices.