VFX News

Is Houdini 12 going to be a Maya killer?

2012-02-22T20:01:00.001-08:00

Side Effects software’s Houdini v12 is being pitched as a game changer for the current VFX pipeline. Already being preferred over Maya for ‘breaking stuff’, Houdini’s procedural approach is huge amongst hardcore VFX artists.

The only reason Id prefer breaking stuff in Maya over Houdini is because of Houdini’s too technical/too exposed workflow. But with the new instalment that is set too change.

The new version of Houdini comes with a New Geometry Engine, The Bullet Solver and Pyro FX 2.0. Also it will support multi-threaded systems which is gonna be a huge jump from its current standing. A better interface and a speedy workflow poses a big threat to its direct competitor – Autodesk Maya 2012.

The beta is set to be released in October this year but till then here’s a teaser -

Showreel of the Week!

2012-02-15T18:02:00.001-08:00

compositing reel 2010 from Sandro Blattner on Vimeo.

Pros: High-detailed work, fire&smoke

Cons: Blacks didn't match in the first shot.

Showreel of the Week!

2012-02-09T20:14:00.001-08:00

VFX_ShowReel_2008 from mathieu chardonnet on Vimeo.

Pros: Professional, variety

Cons: Breakdowns would have been awesome

DMM(Maya) vs. Voronoi(Houdini)

2012-02-03T10:22:00.001-08:00

In my constant search for a Houdini alternative I came across DMM, a Maya plugin for breaking stuff based on the materials. And I think its pretty good, get the job done without going through the tacky Houdini interface. Watch the video and decide for yourself -

DMM -

R&D | DESTRUCTION WITH DMM | PIRATES from Sylvain Nouveau on Vimeo.

Voronoi Fracturing -

Houdini 11 voronoi fracture test from Oleg Sharabanov on Vimeo.

Shit VFX Artists Say!

2012-01-30T15:19:00.001-08:00

Hilarious!

X-Men – First Class – VFX Breakdown

2012-01-29T18:06:00.001-08:00

Showreel of the Week

2012-01-28T18:23:00.001-08:00

Pros – Tracking, Smoke, CG Compositing

Cons – Color Correction, Grading

Why texture when you can use materials?

2012-01-22T20:11:00.001-08:00

Exactly, why would you waste time UV-ing your models and then texturing them when you can just use a photorealistic material instead. Im currently working on 1 FX shot where I have to make 10 cars float in the air. Now If I’d sit texturing each of them It’s gonna take me atleast a month(texturing alone)!

Now I know there are times when texturing is indispensable but most of the times you can get away with materials, mental ray materials. Now in this fx shot the no. plates are not visible neither can you you see the insides so Im just using the mental ray materials.

Use Materials, Save Time!

Final Destination – Behind the Scenes!

2012-01-21T08:37:00.001-08:00

Realflow 2012 vs Naiad!

2012-01-19T22:44:00.001-08:00

Watch the videos first -

1. Realflow 2012

part count: ~23mil particles calc time: 02:07:55 preview: ~2h

2. Naiad

part count: ~7mil particles
calc time: ~6.5h
preview: ~3min

Man, Naiad is way fasterr!!! what do you think?

Showreel of the week

2012-01-19T22:04:00.001-08:00

Pros – Lighting, Breakdowns

Cons - color correction(sound waves) in the last shot.

Tinker Tailor–VFX Breakdown

2012-01-18T21:11:00.001-08:00

The Best VFX Software?!

2012-01-16T14:49:00.001-08:00

Well, obviously there are many and each has its own speciality. Here, I am listing some of them I have been using for the last few years being a VFX/Animation student. (not ranked in any order)

1. Autodesk Maya -

Main Uses – 3d Modeling, Animation, Dynamics, Simulation

Maya, hands down, is the most used 3d application in the Industry. Although, I was a bit hesitant at first in making the transition from 3ds Max to Maya because the complex UI scared me, Ive never looked back once I moved to Maya, be it for modeling, animation or, most importantly, dynamics/fx.

2. Adobe After Effects -

Main Uses – Motion Graphics, Compositing

Almost every VFX artist’s first love! Simple yet powerful.

AE has the most user-friendly interface as opposed to any other VFX software that exists. Although its mostly used for motion graphics these days, its a great tool for both fx and compositing. Remember to check Andrew Kramer’s http://www.videocopilot.net/ if you haven’t yet!

3. The Foundry Nuke -

Main Uses – Compositing

Used by most of the post-production facilities all over the world. While it's an excellent VFX system, Nuke isn't a motion-graphics tool. I never wanted to switch from AE to Nuke cuz I was in love with AE’s interface and although I still use AE for some motion design stuff Nuke is my main compositing tool.

4. SynthEyes -

Main Uses – Camera/Object Tracking, Match-moving

The easiest tracking software. SynthEyes’ super-simple UI is its biggest asset and it didnt take more than an hour to know it in and out. I haven’t tried PFTrack yet but I have heard that its much more complex.

5. Adobe Photoshop

Last, but not the least, the software used alike by both advanced users and noobs. Photoshop has been a part of almost all of my projects ever! Used by almost every one in the multimedia industry, it never gets old!

Working with new stereo 3D glasses

2012-01-16T09:04:00.001-08:00

In class working with stereo footage..

GoPro + VFX = Awesome!

2012-01-14T08:06:00.001-08:00

I came around this video while watching some GoPro videos on Vimeo. Guess what happens when you give a GoPro in the hands of a VFX artist, Awesome!
I know the explosion color correction isnt that good but the ships are spectacular!

The Making of Battle LA

2012-01-12T13:25:00.001-08:00

Project: Battle: Los Angeles
Budget: $70 million
Project duration: Approx. 22 months (March 2009-Jan 2011)
No. of shots: Approx. 1,000
Studios: Cinesite, SPIN VFX, Hydraulx, Shade VFX, Matte World Digital, Intelligent Creatures, AXISvfx, Luma Pictures, The Embassy, Soho VFX, MPC
Running time: 112 minutes

Just imagine: your military career is about to come to an end when, just days before your long-awaited retirement, hostile alien forces invade the world.

Talk about bad luck.

Unfortunately for Sgt Nantz (Aaron Eckhart), that’s exactly what happens in the movie Battle: Los Angeles, which is out on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK this week.

The original idea for the film was based on events that occurred in 1942, when an unidentified aircraft hovered ominously over LA.

The uncertainty surrounding the mystery object has left it open to much speculation over the years. In this version, the enemy is aliens – lots of them.

With the city of Los Angeles not keen on hosting huge pyrotechnics, director Jonathan Liebesman and the Battle: Los Angeles crew travelled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to shoot the live action and get a bargain on their explosives.

Huge 3D environments were created by the SPIN VFX crew using predominantly Maya and Nuke, with help from Flame

That left room within the relatively modest $70 million budget for plenty of CG work: the film features approximately a thousand CG shots, many full of complicated visual effects.

After being noticed for its impressive work on the TV series Generation Kill, VFX house Cinesite was awarded 100 shots.

With a crew of 32 and a 10-month deadline, the workload pushed production to its limit.

Like the movie itself, the workflow was somewhat unconventional. “It had to be simple, quick and efficient – different from other pipelines,” says Cinesite’s VFX supervisor Ben Shepherd.

further reading - http://www.3dworldmag.com/2011/07/12/battle-la-the-making-of/comment-page-1/?mtc=comment-7658#comment-7658

Showreel of the week – Sheer Genius!

2012-01-11T20:08:00.001-08:00

One word- BLOWN! This guy is a creative genius to say the least.

Pros – mindblowing use of timelapse, awesome tracking, uhh umm.. brilliance!

Cons- …u kidding me?

Render a 2-hour 3D animation in a matter of seconds with this!

2012-01-10T21:52:00.001-08:00

Just imagine how fast you can render a heavy animation with this -

.. on mental ray! ..in HD!

Behind the Magic of Rango – The Characters!

2012-01-10T12:01:00.001-08:00

Excerpts -
“..Everything in the film was key frame animated..” – Tim Alexander, VFX Supervisor
“..All the characters in the film are asymmetrical, which makes them look more organic..” – Tim

Nuke was the main compositing package used by the artists at ILM in the film.

The 10th Annual VES Awards!

2012-01-10T10:32:00.001-08:00

The VES Awards recognizes and honors the most outstanding visual effects work of the year and honors the artists who created them. The 10th Annual VES awards are being held February 7, 2012!

The VFX behind Mission Impossible 4!

2012-01-09T21:58:00.001-08:00

The Best VFX School? The ‘A’ list of VFX schools!

2012-01-08T11:27:00.001-08:00

I've been looking for the answer myself for the last 3-4 years and after doing a lot of research(internet and otherwise), I am finally now a student of Seneca College(Toronto, Canada), but I had my own reasons and restrictions and the case might be completely different for you(so read ahead before making any decisions).
Here’s a list of schools that I considered, and the positives and negatives that I weighed before shortlisting Seneca -
1. Gnomon School of Visual Effects, California (USA) - http://www.gnomonschool.com/

Well, I like calling it ‘Kind-of-a-Big-Deal’ School! One, It’s hard to get in! and Two, It’s probably the most expensive out there. I spoke to 2 of their alumni and they spoke very highly of it, not just that, their showreel speaks for itself -

Gnomon Student Work Compilation 2011 from Gnomon School of Visual Effects on Vimeo.

Positives – High Profile, Great Reviews, Proximity to Hollywood.
Negatives – Really Expensive

2. Academy of Art University, California (USA)

The only school(now, SCAD does too) I know of which offers a master’s degree(MFA) in visual effects. This was a sure-fire choice for me, it’s not that difficult to get in and its not that expensive either. The only reason I didn't go for it is because they don’t recognise 3-year degrees(most US universities don’t) and hence were offering me to enrol in their undergrad program(which I wasn't interested in). Every year they have a huge showcase of their student’s work and a lot of students are hired by renowned employers on this occasion.

Positives – Master’s degree in VFX, yearly student showcase attended by BIG studios.
Negatives – Doesn’t recognise 3-year degrees

3. Savannah College of Art & Design(SCAD), Atlanta&Savannah (USA)

SCAD, has very recently started offering Master’s in VFX as well(In fact, i wasn’t aware of this before writing this article). I didn’t even try applying as it was really expensive!
Positives – Master’s degree in VFX, An established brand name.
Negatives – Doesn’t recognise 3-year degrees, difficult to get in.

4. Sheridan Institute of Technology, Oakville, Canada -http://cfprod.sheridaninstitute.ca/program_micro/pcanm/

Now, Sheridan is known as one of the best animation schools in the world! but, according to my research, their VFX programs are not as good! Frankly, since I was keen on doing VFX from Canada, I was confused between Sheridan and Seneca(my final shortlist) but then a few reviews from alumni of both the school made me decide on Seneca. The review from the Sheridan grad was great as well but I couldn't find many showreels of this the graduates of this program online(as opposed to Seneca). Also, it is slightly more expensive than Seneca. Both of these colleges offer an 8-month PG diploma in VFX, which, depending on your situation might be good or bad!
Positives – An established brand name, not that expensive
Negatives – not many student showreels online(I could only find one)

5. Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology, Toronto, Canada - http://www.senecavfx.com/

I got to talk with a lot of Seneca-VFX graduates and all of them said nice things about the program and professors. After one semester, I am glad I made the right choice. The professors are really amazing and are all working in the Industry so they keep us updated about the latest tools&techniques. Here’s their latest Students Showcase -

Positives – Not that expensive, a lot of student showreels online.
Negatives – Not as easy to get in.

5. Vancouver Film School(VFS), Vancouver, Canada - http://www.vfs.com/

Hands down, the best VFX school. EVER! But, its so expensive that you might think twice before even thinking! That being said, there are a lot of student showreels online to watch and all of them are phenomenal. Also voted as the ‘Best 1-year 3d Animation and VFX program in the world’ by 3D World Magazine.
Positives – A HUGE brand name, a lot of student show reels online, recommended by almost everyone.
Negatives – EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE(international students)

6. Bournemouth University, Dorset, UK - http://ncca.bournemouth.ac.uk/courses/?sub=41

Bournemouth is a pretty famous university but there master’s program in visual effects is completely based on programming and technical troubleshooting rather than making(or breaking) stuff.
Positives – One year Master’s degree
Negatives – technical course, requires a technical background

7. Escape Studios, London, UK

Escape studios is known for offering short-term intensive courses in visual effects, in specific VFX fields(compositing, etc.)
Positives – Short-Term courses, In-house Studio
Negatives – Really Expensive

Final Thoughts – Being an international student I was more bent towards Canadian Schools than US or UK schools because of the easier immigration laws and usually cheaper tuition fees. You get to work for 3 years after a 2 year program in Canada which might not be the case if you study in UK or the US. Getting a job in the field of visual effects totally depends on your portfolio, so as long as you are dedicated towards a great looking portfolio you WILL get a job no matter which school you are from(or even home or internet-schooled).That being said, I chose Seneca for its in Canada(easy immigration laws), its not-that-expensive and the great alumni feedback.

Oscars Trailer – “Off The Grid”

2012-01-07T10:50:00.001-08:00

Where to Look for VFX jobs?

2012-01-06T22:48:00.001-08:00

Ive been pondering over the same thing myself for sometime now, but recently found this amazing website for jobs specific to our field. Its called VFX JOB HUNT(click to go to the site).

The jobs are posted on an hourly basis for motion graphics, compositing, graphic design, fx etc.

Houdini 12–The new features!

2012-01-06T10:02:00.001-08:00

SideFX softwares is coming up with this much awaited version of Houdini this year.

Houdini 12 is expected to be a game-changing release and the following list shows you some of the new version’s key features.

1. New Geometry Engine - Houdini 12 includes a completely new geometry engine which will make Houdini faster and more memory efficient. Also, we will finally be able to work on multiple threads!

2. Pyro FX 2.0 - The creation of fire and smoke is a staple in the VFX industry and Pyro FX has been put to the test by many Houdini artists. With Pyro FX 2.0, you will see significant speed improvements as well as a new workflow which uses simpler dynamics networks and lets artists control simulations with artist-friendly geometry nodes.

here’s the Houdini 121 trailer unveiled at the SIGGRAPH 2011 conference -

For more details follow this link - http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2005&Itemid=66