VFX (visual effects) is the profession which involves in the process by which digital imagery is created to enhance real world footage that has been filmed with a video camera. It involves the integration of video camera footage and generated imagery to create realistic wonders. Which would be dangerous, expensive, impractical, time consuming and impossible to capture on film.
Generally, VFX is not meant to be noticeable, and that takes some serious talent, patience and hard work. During this, you’ will work with lots of raw footage to transform it into realistic art work. All you will need is knowledge of relevant software to use, an artistic bent of mind, some engineering skills and a basic understanding of physics, which will help avoid glaring mistakes.
The sheer number of studios in India now along with the increased collaborations among them, has made this industry an undeniable breeding ground for aspiring VFX artists. TV networks, production houses and ad makers are sitting up and taking notice of this development, both abroad as well as locally ; and teaming up with special effects companies in India to reap the additional benefit of cost cutting made VFX exciting now-a-days.
Where to study?
There are different ways to get into the VFX industry. And not all of them require an education. However, one criteria in common with recruiting departments across the board - a set of skills, which includes technical problem solving skills, a good eye for detail, creative bent of mind, basic drawing skills (so a background in Fine Art would be great), a solid understanding of photography and the interplay of light, color and shadow, organization to bring complex concepts to life.
And Some of the technical skills needed to become a VFX artist: Adobe Creative Suite, UX wireframes, User interface (UI) design, Prototyping, JavaScript, 3D modeling and Maya key frames.
Coming to the Industry standard software, which are used for VFX?
Here are some of the most often softwares used by professionals. By the way, the software is being developed daily and different studios work with different packages, based on what the project in hand calls for, the skills you learn in one package will be transferrable to another.
- The Foundry Nuke X: Used for Compositing.
- Autodesk Maya: Used for 3D modelling and animation.
- Arnold: Used for rendering.
- Syntheyes / Bojou: Used for match moving.
- ftrack: Used for project management.
- Mocha Pro: Used for planar tracking and roto.
- Trapcode Particular: Used for 3D particle effects.
- Photoshop: Used for 2D image manipulation.
- Premiere: Used for editingResolve for Colour Grading.
Is VFX a good option to make a career in it? Yes, Because the use and demand of multimedia artists and VFX artists is increasing day by day. The projected developments are going to demand animation and visual effects in video games, films and TV. Animation career is one of the most attractive and desirable, and demand for VFX artist is constantly increasing day by day.
Now, let’s know about different types of VFX :
1.Computer-generated imagery(CGI): It is the most generally used technique for generating computer graphic images, which may be utilized in medium , films, art, video, television programs, and many more.
2.Bullet Time: It may be a visual effects technique that detects the situation and time of the camera from the visible subject. This will be seen in broadcast advertisements, movies, graphics in video games.
3.Virtual Cinematography: It includes a spread of subjects (such as real objects), multi-camera setups, etc. to make 3D-objects.
4.Digital Compositing: It involves combining multiple images to make a final image, screen display, or movie. And this process is administered using digital image manipulation.
5.Matte Painting: It may be a process of dying to represent a landscape or distant location. And this creates the illusion of an environment that can't be seen within the actual filming location.
6.Motion control Photography: It features a VFX technology that permits control and optional repetition of camera movements. And it involves filming different elements using an equivalent camera motion and, finally, combining these components into one image.
7.Stop-motion animation: It may be a effect where objects are still seen moving on their own. And this system may include an object, model, human, home appliance and more.
8.Prosthetic Makeup: It is that the VFX technique where a cosmetic effect is applied to the characters.
9.Chroma key: It is also referred to as a blue or green screen effect, where two different videos are combined. Chroma key is a replacement technology and may be seen as a traveling mat and therefore the Shafton process in most films.
What are the different job roles one can get in VFX feild?
1.Layout Artist: It is an important role in the creation of visual effects. A layout artist determines how scenes will look in a film and how they are produced eventually. Layout artists describe scripts and storyboards and create templates on how to transfer scripts or storyboards into visual media. Everything from scene creation to camera angles falls under this remit.
Average Salary: 300K-560K(Per annum)
2.Compositing Artist: The composing artist makes sure that the VFX scenes created in a film are working correctly or not. A composing artist is responsible for assisting in the creation of a finalized finished project by identifying flaws and developing compositing strategies without any visual glitches.
Average Salary: 12K-72K(Per month)
3. Lighting Artist: Lighting is one of the most crucial aspects of any film production in live action or animated. A lighting artist is in charge of understanding the behavior of light and its interaction with real world subjects and translating that into the visual effects world and able to deliver the perfect amount of illumination to make a scene pop.
Average Salary: 16K-74K(Per month)
4. Rendering Artist: The demand of rendering artists are increasing and it has high demand across major VFX studios and production houses. The rendering artist has to work closely with the lighting artist and it is a delicate and highly technical job, rendering artists make sure that the project is transformed from an idea to a visual approximately or not.
Average Salary: 70k(Per month)
5. Roto Artist: A roto artist has the difficult and imperative task of tracing all those areas of a frame where CG meets real life, in order to provide compositors with a framework from which to begin their project work. A job that offers great foundation in VFX and also has great demand.
Average Salary: 10K-30K(Per month)
6. Matte Painter: A matte painter has a huge hand in their creation, it is almost magical tapestries that only VFX films seem to have. A matte artist takes visual reference cues such as photographs, sketches or any other references and turns them into realistic VFX scenes that all the action will take place in.
Average Salary: 1,147k(Per year)
7. Match Mover Artist: A match mover artist is typically an expert in both 2D and 3D, has to work at the confluence of both worlds. An artist that works in CGI, tracking movements is an important part of the match mover’s responsibilities, as in this role, he/she would be typically responsible for ensuring that the computer-generated graphics integrate properly with the live-action footage, and proportions, movements and more all have a natural, seamless look and feel.
Average Salary-12K-40K(Per month)
And remember that freelancers are often paid more since they work on contract-based jobs, however, the amount of pay based on their level of talent and experience.
However, a career in VFX is today a rewarding and creatively satisfying option for young minds and the job opportunities in the VFX industry are booming.