Compositing for VFX Program

InFocus Film School’s Compositing for Visual Effects Program prepares you for an exciting career in the VFX industry. In just 12 weeks master the art of visual effects compositing and create a strong demo reel designed to catch the attention of VFX studios.

During this intense program, you will learn rotoscoping, camera stabilization techniques, green screen keying, and advanced 3D compositing in Nuke, the industry standard for compositing software. Skills are cemented through intensive projects involving roto, green screen elements, camera tracking and stabilization, dynamic effects and more.

Program Highlights

• Small class sizes maximize individual attention
• Private workstation for duration of program
• 2 projects build your reel and highlight skills taught
• Earn your certificate in just 3 months

Start Date

Next Intake: February 18, 2019 to May 10, 2019

View admission requirements

APPLY NOW

Program Cost

Domestic Students: $7,450

International Students: $7,900

Financial assistance may be available to eligible students

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

3D COMPOSITING

Compositing is the combining of visual elements into a single image. From major films to car commercials, nearly all professional modern video contains composited elements.

ROTOSCOPING

Rotoscoping is the creation of mattes for elements on a live-action plate, preparing it to be composited over another background.

GREEN SCREEN

Green screens (or blue screens) are used to insert background elements into a live action shot. Whether characters are on an alien world or just on a rooftop, greenscreens are ubiquitous in film.

CAMERA TRACKING

Camera tracking, or match moving, is a technique that allows the insertion of computer graphics into live-action footage with correct position, scale, orientation, and motion relative to the photographed objects in the shot.

NUKE

Nuke is a node-based digital compositing application developed by The Foundry, and used for film and television post-production. It is the industry standard compositing software.

STUDENT SUPPORT

Joining InFocus means you are more than just a student. We are dedicated to your success, both during the program and in launching your professional career after graduation. Many InFocus students have won awards, received grants, and made the selection of prestigious festivals right out of school. In addition to supporting and promoting your projects, we offer on-going assistance by building your network of industry contacts and connecting you with job opportunities.

SMALL CLASS SIZES

Our compositing instructors are industry professionals who deliver interactive lectures in a creative, project-based learning environment. Small class sizes emphasize personalized learning and maximize individual attention from instructors. Small classes, however, mean that space is limited. Apply early for your best chance of acceptance.

SPACE IS LIMITED

Intakes are capped and spaces fill quickly. Apply early for your best chance of acceptance.

APPLY NOW

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12

Week 1

Students are introduced to VFX, learning the process of shooting and preparing suitable footage for compositing.

Introduction to compositing theory
Understanding compositing workflow
Nuke import, element setup
Shooting video for compositing
Compositing and output file formats
Study of relevant nodes

Week 2

Students learn various 2D imagery manipulation techniques and simple compositing in Adobe Photoshop

Masks, selections, and cleaning
Color grading and correction
Typography
Photoshop Interface
Tools in Photoshop
Breaking down a composition in Photoshop

Week 3

Students learn Rotoscoping and various masking techniques for plate cleaning.

Understanding Rotoscoping and Masking
Shooting for Roto
Roto – Paint
Advanced Rotoscoping techniques
Nodes and Masking
Study of all relevant nodes

Week 4

Students are introduced to camera tracking, how to shoot video for tracking and techniques such as rig removal and set extensions.

Introduction to Tracking
2D Camera Tracking
Shooting for tracking
Rig removal
Replacements
Set Extensions
Study of all relevant nodes

Week 5

Students learn matchmoving and camera stabilization techniques. Additionally, students shoot a video in the studio to be used for stabilization practice.

Understanding stabilization
Matchmove studio shooting
3D matchmove
Shooting for stabilization
Stabilization and matchmoving
Study of all relevant nodes

Week 6

Students shoot various shots and work with The Foundry’s Nuke to experiment with multiple visual effects techniques.

Understanding the effects
Shooting for effects
Color channels and transform nodes
Layering of elements and color grading
Nuke interface tips and tricks
Study of all relevant nodes

Week 7

This is a self-study week where students use school equipment to shoot and practice everything they have learned so far. Instructors will work with students to build on any skills that need strengthening. Students will shoot studio footage with camera movement and complete a project where they can showcase all of their current skills.

Week 8

Students will shoot multiple shots against greenscreen and work with Nuke to learn the keying techniques in multiple scenarios.

Colors, channels and grading
Greenscreen Shooting
Nuke Keying Tools
Keying Techniques
Merge Nodes
Scene Assembly

Week 9

Students learn how to manipulate 3D imagery rendered files into final compositions.

Introduction to 3D Compositing
3D Asset Compositing and Integration
3D multi-pass workflows
Re-Lighting in Nuke
Study of all relevant nodes

Week 10

In this week students explore some of the most advanced aspects of working in Nuke.

Lens Distortion, Z Depth, Defocus
Time nodes and re-timing
Review of every node in Nuke
Distortion and displacement
Vectors, Motion Blurs and Time
Nuke Editing Tools, Flipbook
Camera Projection

Week11

In this week student will begin working on their final project. Students will conceptualize, shoot and clean the plates for the final scene.

Pitching ideas
Analyzing ideas into working breakdown
Animatics
Shooting for final project
Roto and clean up

Week 12

In this week, students will continue with their final project and work their way to completion. Students will have their final project finished and presented by the end of this week.

Tracking and Stabilization
Keying and Backdrops
Effects and rendering
Presentation and Discussions

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

Looking for more than compositing? Check out the 10-month 3D Animation and Visual Effects Diploma Program.

VFX Diploma Program

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Students must meet the terms of InFocus Film School’s English Proficiency Policy.
Students under the age of 19 must submit proof of successful completion of Grade 12 (or equivalent).