What is Compositing? The Video Editing Technique Explained
Let’s look into the art of compositing and how it fits into post-production workflows for film and video.
Behind the scenes of 'Guardians of the Galaxy'
When starting in the world of video production and—more specifically—video editing, there can be a lot to learn. There are all types of video editing approaches and techniques to explore. There are also all types of video editing terms and phrases to understand as well.
The art of compositing is one of the more advanced areas of video editing that can be used to create extraordinary results. If you’re interested in learning more about compositing as a video editing technique, let’s go over the basics of this approach and explore how you can use it for your projects.
What is Compositing?
According to Wikipedia, compositing is “ the process or technique of combining visual elements from separate sources into single images, often to create the illusion that all those elements are parts of the same scene.”
The art of compositing combines live-action shooting with post-production editing and design. Compositing makes use of many other types of techniques that you may be familiar with (at least in the name), like green screens, blue screens, and chroma keying.
If you watch any film or television at all these days (or, heck, even any commercials or corporate projects, to be honest), you’ll more than likely see compositing in action. With the advancements in digital video and sophisticated yet easy-to-use video editing apps, compositing has become a very practical option for filmmakers and content creators of all skill levels.
The History of Compositing
That wasn’t always the case, though. Compositing techniques can be traced back to the earliest days of video editing. Even some of the very first films created by Georges Méliès in the late 19th century use some pre-digital composting techniques.
The art of compositing advanced over the years and includes many different sub-categories, including:
- Physical compositing
- Multiple exposure
- Background projection
- Matting
And many other techniques and combinations of the above.
How to Learn Compositing
If you’re interested in learning more about the art of composting, including researching some guides to help you get started with the basics, here are some helpful YouTube channels and video series to check out.
- Professional Node-Based Compositing & 3D Animation Software Is Now at Everyone's Fingertips ›
- This Might Be the Fastest Way to Do Compositing In After Effects ›
- Watch: How to Composite with a Blue Screen Like Lucas in the '80s ›
- Blackmagic's Powerful (& Free) Compositing Software Is Coming to Mac Very Soon ›
- Three Quick Tips to Make Your After Effects Compositing Look Way Better ›
