VFX compositing requires lots of steps and knowledge about lots of tools. But with some practice, you can get comfortable with it.
Complex node graphs start to become simpler when you realize that every single step is visualized.
Non-node based workflows often hide a lot of the settings behind menus, but in Fusion everything is in the node flow.
To get a good overview of the main tasks you’ll want to practice for compositing, check out this walkthrough from ResolveCon 2022.
In this video from Casey Faris, you’ll learn about:
- Overview of finished product
- Adding the shot to the timeline
- Identifying tasks to be done
- Adding todo list with the note tool
- Importing an EXR image
- Merging ship on top of background plate
- Adjusting size with Transform node
- Color managing each element
- Applying a preview LUT to the viewer
- Tracking background with Planar Tracker
- Creating Planar Transform and applying to Foreground element
- Adding crop tool to resize foreground
- Getting ready to paint, using Timespeed node to freeze a frame
- Going into Clone Mode using the Paint node
- Merging the paint over background
- Masking the painted area
- Adding tracking data to the painted area and mask
- Organizing the comp with the Underlay tool
- Using a new EXR layer to adjust colors
- Alpha Multiplication
- Adding a shadow
Gedaly is the Founder and Lead Educator of DVResolve.com and is Blackmagic Design Certified Master Trainer. He’s edited commercials for major brands and has done color & VFX for independent films. He consults on post-production workflow and creating online education. Gedaly is the co-founder of Working.Actor, a former marketing manager for large brands, and creates original film projects with his production company Razee.