Syllabus - Visual Effects (AG702(A))

Visual Effects (AG702(A))

UNIT I

Introduction to Visual Effects (VFX)

The aim of visual effects, Special effects vs Visual effects, The origins of visual effects, VFX pipeline, VFX Cues, Data Transfer, Color Depth, and Compression, Resolution and Aspect Ratio Comparisons, Digital formats, VFX Concepts, CGI

UNIT II

Compositing

Applications, purpose of compositing, compositing techniques, Digital Compositing with CGI, Compositing Visual Effects, The CGI Composite, Multipass Compositing, Depth Compositing, Multiplane Compositing, Bluescreen Compositing, Creating Masks

UNIT III

Rotoscoping

concept and applications, Introducing Roto, Splines, Articulated Rotos, Interpolation, key frames, Motion Blur, Semi transparency

UNIT IV

Image Blending

various operations like Mix, Multiply, Screen, Maximum, Minimum, Add, Subtract, Blending modes, speed changes, Animation: Transforms and pixels, filters, pivot points, transformation order, keyframe animation, motion blur, motion tracking, warps, morphs

UNIT V

Digital Environment Applications

Film Colorization, Digital Beauty, Particle Systems, Dynamics, 2.5D vs. 3D Particle-Based Crowd Replications, Digital Destruction, Methods of 2D-to-3D Stereoscopic Conversions

The VFX Workflow

Preproduction, Camera Tracking, Layout, Modeling, Texturing and Shading, Rigging, Animation, Lighting and Rendering, Composting, Matte painting, Dynamic Simulations, Particle Systems, Crowd Simulation

Course Objective

Enable the students to gain a comprehensive understanding on how Visual Effects are created.

Course Outcome

["Understand visual effects basic concepts", "Understand Compositing techniques and applications", "Describe rotoscoping process", "Understand image blending operations", "Apply the knowledge of VFX Workflow in projects"]

Practicals

Reference Books

  • Compositing Visual Effects, Steve Wright, Focal Press, Elsevier

  • Visual Effects and Composting, Jon Gress, New Riders, Pearson Education

  • Filming the Fantastic A Guide to Visual Effects Cinematography, Mark Sawicki, Elsevier

  • The Film Makers Guide to Visual Effects, Eran Dinur, Taylor and Francis