Guide to Building a Successful VFX Workflow

The various aspects of a VFX workflow include multifarious Visual Effects or VFX process like composting, rotoscoping, object removal and tracking. A VFX pipeline is a process or a workflow rather than being a technology. A workflow refers to the pipeline of how VFX works from the beginning to the post-production stage. The initial step in this regard is research and development on which it depends how the work will be done. In the next step a choice has to be made of the software and techniques to be used. There are a various types of VFX workflows and it can prove a quite arduous task to start one from the scratch. There is nothing to be afraid of a VFX pipeline and once you are aware of the fundamental components, you will be able to build new and varied workflows depending on the creative needs and technical acumen. If you are interested in learning about detail regarding VFX and its contingent activities, you can opt for doing a VFX course in Kolkata.

Types of VFX Work

When we think of composting in VFX, usually the images of explosions and rampant destruction in superhero movies or fantastical Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) in films like Avatar comes to our mind. What we generally tend to dismiss is that action sequences or stunning imagery like these have been created not by an individual but by a team of experienced professionals. The workflows for these scenes are created much earlier by someone of a superior VFX Supervisor or team leader. It is their job to make decisions about the working colour spaces, folder structures, and naming conventions during the pre-production stage. While most of us are familiar with the VFX used in blockbuster films, they are used in other industries too such as commercial, corporate, and television. VFX has the power to make a shadow disappear or painting out bumps on skin. For creating VFX for the latter categories, a smaller team would be needed and a different workflow will have to be created. A certain workflow is appropriate for that particular project; it would be wise to consider the various factors involved in this.

Colour Management

The primary thing to consider even before deciding on a workflow is the colour management. There are two ways in which this can be done – either by scene-referred or by display-referred.

Title Formats

As the initial significant is over, the next important step is to choose a file format. The two chief methods of storing data are integer data and floating point data. Data stored in Floating point values yield better results for VFX.

Resolution, Bit-depth, and Compression

The bit-depth of the shorts is the next important point to consider. In majority of the workflows, a compromise has to be reached between the source resolution and deliverable resolution. The final thing to consider here is compression which will decides that what amalgamates together or stands in the scene. You have to take care that visual continuity is not broken.

Software

There are numerous software and tolls which uses the latest technology to easily facilitate the work of composting. Flame, After Effects, and Nuke are the three most commonly used software while doing this task.

Hardware

The image files used in a VFX workflow usually are large and take up more space to store. Possessing superior-quality hardware is extremely important as high-quality files require more storage space and efficient processing power.

Naming Conventions and Folder Structure

This is a key part of the workflow. You will need to name each asset of your pipeline carefully and decide where to store them.

File Names

At first it might appear that deciding what information to include in a file name, and what type of metadata to embed. The crucial information you can include in a VFX shot are the shot number, the shot name, and version number, among others.

Folder Structure

It is important to create separate folders and decide where to store what. At first, plates are rendered out from OCNs, and then they are imported into a scene, after which composited scenes are rendered out. It is much better to create shot-numbered folders rather than date-wise folders.

Budget and Time

Above and beyond all the aforementioned points, you need to keep in mind the budget and time allotted for this project. Before initiating the actual work on the project, you can test the method. This will give you a fairly good idea about how length and expensive the process is going to be.

Conclusion

The process of creating a VFX workflow can be complicated and one has to be an expert in this field in order to work effectively. Once you get actively engaged in this process, you will acquire the relevant skills even to the extent of predicting how much time a particular workflow will need. The VFX teams which coordinate, cooperate, and work collaboratively prove successful in their work. Starblast Animation is the best VFX institute in Kolkata which provides courses on Visual Effects, Animation, and Graphics Designing. If you have outstanding creative and artistic skills and want to be behind- the-screen person producing captivating visuals, make sure to check out the website of Starblast Animation to know about the courses in detail.