3d animation is everywhere you look nowadays. From simple user interfaces to complex character animation in feature films.  3d gives you total freedom and makes the impossible possible.

My first contact with 3d animation was on an amiga 1200 computer with lightwave installed. Later on I moved to autodesk maya. The flexibility and performance makes this package the most used software in high-end postproduction companies.

As a generalist I have a broad experience with 3d computergraphics including modeling, shading, lighting, rendering, dynamics and animation.

Wikipedia says this about compositing:

“Compositing is the combining of visual elements from separate sources into single images, often to create the illusion that all those elements are parts of the same scene. Live-action shooting for compositing is variously called “blue screen,” “green screen,” “chroma key,” and other names. Today, most, though not all, compositing is achieved through digital image manipulation. Pre-digital compositing techniques, however, go back as far as the trick films of Georges Méliès in the late 19th century; and some are still in use.”

A quick explanation of compositing that I like is “photoshopping at 25 frames per second” (or 24 of course in case of film). I started compositing using Adobe Aftereffects and later on moved to node based compositing using Eyeon Fusion. Currently I am in the process of studying Nuke from The Foundry. I am familiar with using tracking data, various renderlayer/renderpasses and chromakeying within compositing software among other skills.

Match moving is primarily used to track the movement of a camera through a shot so that an identical virtual camera move can be reproduced in a 3D animation or compositing program. When new (animated) elements are composited back into the original live-action shot, they will appear in perfectly-matched perspective and therefore appear seamless.

Besides from reproducing camera movement tracking software can also be used to reproduce object movement making it the ideal tool for replacing or enhancing elements within a shot.

I have extensive on set experience with optimising shots for 3d tracking. Pftrack is my package of choice because of the intuitive user interface, good results and the option to motiontrack objects although I do have some experience with other software (syntheyes, boujou).

The term is pretty self explanatory. Motion graphics are graphics that use video and/or animation technology to create the illusion of motion or a transforming appearance. These motion graphics are usually combined with audio for use in multimedia projects. Common uses of motion graphics are logo/title animation and infographics.

Most of the time motion graphics don’t need to be photoreal. This gives you a lot of design freedom to incorperate a mood or emotion.

A good supervision from preproduction, production to postproduction can make the difference between failure or succes. Knowing how to get optimal results before doing principal shooting can save a lot of time and money. Should we build this piece on set or can it be done digitally? Should we shoot on location or can we fake it in a studio? How long does it all take? What’s the budget?

When shooting VFX shots its essential to have a VFX supervisor on set. He has the technical knowhow and can direct the photograpy in a way that there are no or less surprises afterwards in postproduction.

During postproduction the VFX supervisor manages all the assets, looks after the schedule and budget. Together with the director shots are reviewed and finalized.