Here Are 6 Core Concepts of Visual Effects for Newbies
Working in visual effects is awesome — there's no doubt about that. However, its concepts can be complicated and therefore a little intimidating for newbies.
If you are just starting out in VFX, this video from RocketJump Film School offers a great introduction into the art form, explaining core concepts like compositing, keying, and matte painting.
Core Concepts
- Compositing: combining different elements into a single image
- Tracking: matching the movements of live footage with your VFX elements (also called match moving or motion tracking)
- Rotoscoping: manually cutting out or tracing elements in the shot in order to add VFX elements
- Keying: using a color (typically green or blue) as a matte layer to allow you to incorporate VFX elements into a background
- Matte painting: painting on glass or other material to give the illusion of a landscape that isn't there
- 3D modeling: RocketJump lists a bunch of concepts in this section, but they'll cover it all more in depth in a later video.
Getting into VFX is an exciting decision for artists, because, quite literally, you can make anything you can think of. However, it's an incredibly technical craft that requires a ton of study and practice, but RocketJump did a great job of not only showing you the basics, but (hopefully) whetting your appetites to seek out more information.
Source: RocketJump Film School
