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Editorial - As the client approves shots or versions, the VFX editor incorporates them into the current cut (edit) and oversees the passing of work back to the team and is in keeping with what was signed off in previsualisation.
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Layout - Layout artists determine the position of the virtual camera and 'block' the characters for computer generated image (CG) shots of a VFX sequence. To 'block' the characters, means to choreograph where the characters are positioned and where they will move to over the course of a shot.
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Previz - Previsualisation (previs) artists help to plan out what a film is going to look like. Previs is the process of visualising a scene before creating it. The process is used to plan shots, work out the scale and timing and to show roughly where the characters are going to move. It’s used to map out how the visual effects (VFX) will fit into an otherwise live-action scene. Creating previs can save films and television series and shows valuable time and money on set or in post-production.
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Concept Artist - Concept artists create artwork to inspire the look of the visual effects (VFX) in a film or TV production. They draw the characters or creatures and environments as well as vehicles, props and buildings. They begin with a brief, which might be a script, or the original concept of a film as told by its filmmaker.
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Matte painting - Matte Painters are artists who create painted representations of landscapes, sets and other locations, as backgrounds for scenes that can be impossible or difficult to find and film.
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Modelling - Modelling artists create characters, weapons, plants and animals in 3D DCC tools. If a modelling artist specialises in creating a specific type of 3D model, for instance, characters, then they may refer to themselves as a character artist. In this case, they will likely create both the models and textures for characters.
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Sculpting
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Shading
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Texturing
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Rigging
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Animation
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Lighting
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Grooming
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FX
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Compositing
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TD (Technical Director)
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Software Developer
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IT
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Production
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Coordination
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Supervisor
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Houdini - SideFX Houdini is a nodal procedural FX and modelling software. It is a powerful tool that is attractive for technically skilled artists, as it offers nodal system for execution directives without code.
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Blender - Blender is the free and open source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, video editing and 2D animation pipeline.
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Maya - Autodesk Maya is a 3D computer animation and modeling suite. It is currently still industry standard, especially for animation.
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3DS Max - Autodesk 3DS Max is a 3D computer modeling suite. It is slowly being phased out, mainly due to misscommunication from Autodesk.
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Cinema 4D - Maxon Cinema 4D is mainly used in advertising and broadcasting. It is the preferred tool for motion graphic artists working in 3D.
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Substance Designer
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Substance Painter
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Photoshop
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After Effects
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Mari
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Nuke
- Arnold
- VRay
- Redshift
- Octane
- Renderman
- USD
- FBX
- Alembic
- OBJ
- OpenEXR
- OpenColorIO
- OpenTimelineIO
- OpenVDB
- ACES
- OpenSubDiv
- UDIM
- ShotGrid (formerly known as Shotgun)
- RV (now part of ShotGrid)
- Deadline
- FTrack
- Renderfarm
- NAS
- Licensing Server
- Virtual Machines
- Intranet
- Build machines for in-house software
- Version Control System (P4, Gitlab) Host
- Data Backup
- Security (Client audits)
- DCC - Digital Content Creation. Used as synonym for DCC tool to refer to 3D software such as Maya.
- Special Effects - Practical effects done on set with actual fire and explosions
- Visual Effects - Effects done in post processing with the help of digital work
- CGI - Computer generated images. Used synonymously with CG for computer graphics
- Pixel fucking - When someone pays way too much attention looking at a visual effects shot in a film. Often happens when examining the grain of a composite element.
- WETA Digital
- ILM
- Double Negative (DNEG)
- MPC
- Digital Domain
- RodeoFX
- Rhythm & Hues
- Cinesite
- Rise
- Scanline
- Technicolor
- PIXOMONDO