ClassInfo

VFX 278 Compositing I

Savvas Paritsis

Office: CDM 404
Spring 2012-2013
Class number: 35317
Section number: 601
Tu 1:30PM - 4:45PM
DPAUL C106C Loop Campus

Download syllabus

Summary

This course is an introduction to the field of Compositing: the art of putting together all components of a special effect shot. The course has two targets:

  • Introduce the fundamental techniques of compositing (transparency, keying, tracking) in After Effects.
  • Learn how visual effects are conceived, broken down, planned and executed.

Course Objectives

The course is designed to prepare the student for practical work in visual effects. We will:

  • Analyze effects from Hollywood movies to illustrate the principles and practice
  • Learn how visual effects fit into the post-production workflow
  • Introduce the technical background necessary to deliver high-quality media
  • Develop and refine techniques for visual effects & compositing using After Effects

The students will go through a series of simple assignments to master simple compositing techniques and they will also work on a group project that will allow them to create their own versions of a visual effects showreel.



Texts

After Effects Apprentice - Real World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics Artist

  • Publisher: Focal Press; 3 edition (August 23, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 0240817362
  • ISBN-13: 978-0240817361

After Effects Apprentice: Real World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics Artist: Chris Meyer, Trish Meyer: 9780240817361: Amazon.com: Books



Grading

Assignments 50%
Final Project 25%
Attendance 25%


Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course, but some familiarity with Photoshop, the Final Cut Studio suite and Adobe Premiere Pro would be most helpful.


Notes

The week by week schedule is subject to change. The overall speed and rhythm of instruction will be determined by the abilities and needs of the students.


Required Supplies

External Firewire Drive

All our class exercises and home assignments deal with projects and media. It is the responsibility of the student to back up all projects & all media. Do not leave your projects on the lab computer and always make sure to back up your portable drive to another drive back home.



Introduction to Compositing and After Effects: Fundamental concepts of Compositing, Introduction to the AE Interface & Tools

Basic Animation: Fundamentals of animation, keyframes & Transform properties, Anchor Point, Keyframe types, Motion Sketch, Smoother, Project Settings & Parameters Layer Control & Blending: Layer Editing, Stacking, Work Area, Effects & Presets Transparency - Part A: Mask & Pen tool, Bezier took & shortcuts Transparency - Part B: Track Matte, Luma Matte, Stencils, Render Queue Keying: Import Issues, Footage Interpretation, Color Space, Codecs, Formats (short lecture), Keylight basics Tracking: Stabilization, 1-point tracking, 4-point tracking Type Animation Shape Layers Recap & Final Project: Wish list, Questions, Final project

School policies:

Changes to Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.

Online Course Evaluations

Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.

All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.

Academic Policies

All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.

Students with Disabilities

Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296