VFX 278 Compositing I
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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
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
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.
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.
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.
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 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