The Visual FX Production Pipeline

 

The Visual FX pipeline is somewhat flexible in its structure and can vary in different studios.

The Pre-production phase consists of research and development, storyboarding, basic tests and modelling. This is usually roughly done to begin with, so the team will be able to pre-visualise how the visual fx will work once the final models have been completed.

The Production phase is when the final high resolution modelling begins and once completed they're rigged to be animated. When the video shoot begins, the selected sequences of the scenes to include visual fx will have numerous reference photos taken. This is useful for the modelling, texturing and lighting.

The Post-Production phase is when the shoot has finished and the editing begins, the selected film is scanned and motion tracking begins. The camera's lens measurements would have been taken on set so they could be applied to the CG camera in order to get the correct focal length. Once an accurate camera track exists, any match moving or body tracking can be done. A body tracking is an animated CG character or object which perfectly mimics what the on set equivalent did. This would be used for things such as placing an CG element onto a on-set character.

 

The last process in the pipeline is compositing. This is where all the CG elements and the scanned images are brought together to create a seamless finished image. Once the compositing is approved, it is supplied back to the client in the same form as the scan was received, usually a series of digital image files. The client can then use these finished composited frames for creative grading and eventually to be shot out onto film or DCP for release in cinemas.