History of Animation & Visual Effects
Module IV - Class 3
Prepared by George John. H.O.D. Animation. SJCC
The Digital Era
Visual Effects
Prepared by George John. H.O.D. Animation. SJCC
What is digital compositing?
Digital compositing is the process of digitally
assembling multiple images to make a final image,
typically for print, motion pictures or screen display. It
is the digital analogue of optical printers for film
compositing era.
Compared to optical compositing, digital compositing
provides significantly more flexibility and creative
freedom. In comparison to analogue format, the digital
format does not degrade the image over time. Analog
image processing is a slower and costlier process.
Digital image processing is a cheaper and easy to store
and retrieve. It is generally continuous and not broken
into tiny components.
Video - The Art of Compositing
CGI - Computer Generated Imagery
CGI is the acronym of Computer Generated Imagery. In terms of movies and
TV production CGI is a part of the VFX. VFX is the digital manipulation by
combining two or more of live action footages, or created entirely of CGI, and
even sometimes by combining both live action footage with CGI to achieve the
desired realistic environment.
Visual effects encompass any kind of effect that wasn't shot directly in the
camera and was created in post production. CGI involves modelling 3D objects
in a computer and rendering out images of those objects. CGI has enabled us to
create fully realized characters with the malleability of computer software.
Article - Extra reading
Camera Tracking
What is Camera Tracking?
Camera Tracking is a process which involves taking a post that has been filmed with a real live camera and tracking it's motion so that 3D
elements can be added to it. This process is used countless times throughout movies and tv shows to add special effects, backdrops,
robots, you name it. 3D tracking softwares like Boujou, Cinema 4D, PFTrack, After Effects, Matchmover etc. are some of the professional
tools used for camera tracking.
Motion Tracking
What is Motion Tracking?
Motion tracking, in its simplest form of tracking. It is the process of
tracking the movement of an object within a piece of footage. Once
you've collected this trackdata from the selected point, you then
apply it to another element or object.
Motion Capture (Mo-cap)
What is Motion Capture?
Motion capture (sometimes referred as mo-cap or mocap, for
short) is the process of recording the movement of objects or
people. In filmmaking and video game development, it refers
to recording actions of human actors, and using that
information to animate digital character models in 2D or 3D
computer animation. When it includes face and fingers or
captures subtle expressions, it is often referred to as
performance capture.
Rotoscope
What is Rotoscope?
In the visual effects industry, rotoscoping is the technique of
manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate
so it may be composited over another background.
These days chroma key is more often used for this, as it is
faster and requires less work, however rotoscopy is still used
on subjects that are not in front of a green screen. Rotoscoping
in the digital domain is often aided by software like Silhouette,
Mocha, After effects etc.
Fusion Camera System
The Fusion Camera was invented by James Cameron and Vince Pace, and was
said to be “the most elaborate and advanced camera system ever devised”. The
Fusion camera combines the two images into a single image with realistic depth”
which made the 3D more enjoyable to watch.
The Fusion camera is a combination of two independent camera packages tied
physically together. The camera created two images with the same approximate
distance between a human’s two eyes. The line of sight of the lenses is
adjustable so that, during a shot, they can be angled closer together to focus on
nearby objects, or farther apart for those in the distance, just as your eyes do.
Avatar (2010), Hugo (2011), Life of Pi (2012) are some of the movies that used
this system.
Digital Matte Painting
What is Digital Matte Painting?
Digital matte painting, is today's modern form of a traditional matte painting that was used in the entertainment industry. With the advantages
of the digital age, matte painters have slowly transitioned to a digital work environment, using pressure-sensitive pens and graphic tablets in
conjunction with a painting software such as Adobe Photoshop. A digital matte painter is part of a visual effects team being involved in
post-production, as opposed to a traditional matte painter, who was a member of a special effects crew, often creating matte paintings on set
to be used as backdrops.
Dynamic Simulation
What is Dynamic simulation?
In computer animation, things like hair, cloth, liquid, fire, and
particles can be easily modeled and animated using dynamic
simulation. While the human animator animates simpler objects
like a car or a character.
Computer-based dynamic animation was first used at a very
simple level in the 1989 Pixar short film Knick Knack to move the
fake snow in the snowglobe and pebbles in a fish tank.
Questions
Part A
1. What is digital compositing?
2. What is motion capture?
3. What is camera tracking?
4. What is motion tracking?
5. What is digital matte painting?
6. What is dynamic simulation?
7. Give four examples of dynamic simulations used in movies?
8. What are the advantages of using digital matte painting?
9. What is camera tracking used for?
Part B
10. Write a short essay on CGI in VFx?
11. What are the uses of rotoscope in effects shots?
12. What is CGI? How is it used in movies?
13. What is the fusion camera system?