Digital Compositing

Know what to look for in an image and how to break it down, understand what the tools are and what they do, explor how the tools combine to accomplish specific techniques. Digital Compositing is one of the most important aspects of filmmaking and one of the least understood. Simply put, it is the layering and manipulation of moving images to create a seamless shot. We regularly see examples of this in movies, but are not always aware of it. Not all shots requiring compositing contain visible special effects - while the addition of an effect or animation may be the obvious examples, a great deal of compositing work involves removing something - riggings or unwanted elements - from a shot. In either case, for a shot to be successful, the careful eye of an artist is required. In the past few years, products such as Combustion, Digital Fusion, and After Effects have gained enough power to be used for feature film work, making them more than adequate for television or hobbyist use. But as yet, the amount of information available to the aspiring artist has been slight and overly technical. There is almost nothing beyond the manuals that directly addresses the desire of the user to go beyond simple motion graphics. This is where (digital) Compositing enters the picture as a unique and valuable asset to the artist. This book, in keeping with the spirit of the (digital) series, will take the artist through the processes of compositing, and concentrate on the why and how of the process, instead of merely the what.