The Art and Science of Digital Compositing
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Table of contents
- Copyright Pageiv
- Contentsvii
- Acknowledgmentsxv
- Prefacexvii
- Chapter 1. Introduction to Digital Compositing1
- Definition2
- Historical Perspective4
- Terminology7
- Organization of the Book8
- Chapter 2. The Digital Representation of Visual Information13
- Image Generation13
- Image Input Devices22
- Digital Image File Formats23
- Chapter 3. Basic Image Manipulation33
- Terminology34
- Color Manipulations36
- Spatial Filters46
- Geometric Transformations52
- Chapter 4. Basic Image Compositing65
- The Matte Image66
- The Integrated Matte Channel67
- Multisource Operators68
- Masks74
- Compositing With Premultiplied Images74
- Chapter 5. Matte Creation and Manipulation79
- Procedural Matte Extraction80
- Matting Techniques86
- Chapter 6. Time and Temporal Manipulations93
- Apparent Motion93
- Temporal Resolution94
- Temporal Artifacts95
- Changing the Length or Timing of a Sequence96
- Keyframing99
- Chapter 7. Image Tracking and Stabilization103
- Tracking an Element Into a Plate104
- Human Intervention109
- Stabilizing a Plate111
- Tracking Multiple Points113
- Chapter 8. Interface Interactions115
- Workflow116
- Online Versus Batch118
- Methods of Representing the Compositing Process121
- Curve Editors126
- Working With Proxy Images130
- Chapter 9. Image Viewing and Analysis Tools133
- Image Viewers134
- Flipbooks134
- Image Statistics135
- Chapter 10. Formats: Media, Resolution, and Aspect Ratios141
- Aspect Ratio143
- Deciding on a Resolution When You Have an Aspect Ratio146
- Format Conversion Pipeline147
- Film Formats152
- Video Formats158
- Other Formats164
- Working With Nonsquare Pixels165
- Combining Formats170
- Converting Between Film and Video170
- Chapter 11. Quality and Efficiency173
- Quality173
- Efficiency174
- Minimizing Data Loss175
- Consolidating Operations180
- Region of Interest184
- Working in a Networked Environment185
- Disk Usage185
- Precompositing186
- Chapter 12. Learning to See189
- Judging Color, Brightness, and Contrast190
- The Camera192
- Distance and Perspective193
- Lens Flares200
- Focus201
- Motion Blur201
- Chapter 13. Creating Elements203
- Lighting204
- Matched Cameras207
- The Reference Stand-in209
- Clean Plates211
- Film Stock211
- Filters213
- Choosing a Format214
- Lighting and Shooting with Bluescreens216
- Shooting Order221
- Chapter 14. Integration Techniques223
- Scene Continuity224
- Lighting225
- Shadows226
- Lens Flares228
- Atmosphere229
- Camera Mismatches230
- Camera Movements232
- Focus233
- Motion Blur233
- Film Grain234
- Bluescreen Integration236
- Digital Integration238
- Chapter 15. Advanced Topics241
- Beyond Black and White241
- Nonlinear Color Spaces245
- Working with 3D Elements253
- Related 2D Disciplines261
- Chapter 16. Case Studies269
- James and the Giant Peach269
- Speed271
- Star Trek: Insurrection273
- Con Air274
- Budweiser Lizards Commercial276
- Independence Day278
- X-Files: Fight the Future280
- T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous281
- The Prince of Egypt285
- Titanic288
- Appendix A: Digital Compositing Software: Tools and Features291
- Color Correction292
- Spatial Filtering293
- Geometric Transformation294
- Miscellaneous295
- Image Combination295
- Control296
- Field Controls297
- Matte Generation297
- Timing/Duration297
- Image Generation298
- Tracking298
- Other299
- Appendix B: Digital Compositing Software: Manufacturers301
- Appendix C: Digital Image File Formats303
- Common File Formats303
- The Cineon File Format306
- Appendix D: Common Film and Video Formats313
- Film313
- Video317
- Bibliography321
- Glossary325
- Index355
Computer-generated visual effects are now used extensively in feature films, commercials, music videos, and multimedia. The backbone of this process, the final and most important step, is known as digital compositing. The Art and Science of Digital Compositing is a comprehensive reference that provides a complete overview of the technical and the artistic nature of this process. This book covers a wide range of topics from basic image creation, representation, and manipulation, to a look at the visual cues that are necessary to create a believable composite. Designed as both an introduction to the field as well as a valuable technical reference, this book should be of interest to both novices and professionals alike.
Written by a working professional in the visual effects industry, the book provides over 250 different images and illustrations (including a 40-page color insert) as well as a complete glossary of compositing and visual-effects terminology. Also included are in-depth case studies from well-known films such as Speed, Independence Day, and Titanic.
Balances fundamental "hard science" topics with the more qualitative/artistic challenges which face anyone involved in a digital composition project
Provides examples and illustrations from motion picture work
CD-ROM contains additional composition examples, illustrations, and development software
Includes 32 pages of colour