The laboratory exercies bring you step-by-step through important tasks in creating digital special effects. These group and individual exercises are carried out in the Sensors Lab (AS6-05-23) or in Media Lab 1 (AS6-04-21).


Lab 1: Chroma Keying and Compositing

In this lab , you will learn about Chroma Keying, and use Adobe After Effects for digital compositing.
This is a critical task in creating digital special effects. Learn it well.

Please download the lab sheet and read the instructions before attending the lab session. This will save you time so you can complete the lab exercises within the allocated time period. You will be graded on the spot.

Download test images for this lab here:
>>> Test Set 1

After Effects help.

Keylight guide.

Selected student submissions:  h.mpg (5.7Mb), million.mp4 (3.6Mb), root3.mp4 (1.6Mb)
 
Lab 2: Cloning

In this lab, you will clone yourself.  You will also learn how to do matching, motion tracking and color grading.  Again, you will make use of Adobe After Effects.

Please download the files and instructions here.

Selected student submissions: c.mp4 (8Mb), pi.mp4 (2Mb), root2.mp4 (45Mb)
 
Lab 3: Forced Perspective

In this assignment, you will create forced perspective effects.  Please download the assignment from here.

Selected student submissions: e.mp4 (8.7Mb), one.avi (22Mb), googol.mp4 (13Mb)
 
Lab 4: Matchmoving, CG elements

In this assignment, you will learn matchmoving using Mocha in AE and Voodoo Tracker, color and texture application, and CG modeling using Google SketchUp. 

We chose SketchUp over Maya because the former is much easier to learn and use, and therefore more suitable as a pedagogical tool.  Once you understand the basic concepts, you can transfer them to Maya.  The skills in this lab are commonly used in VFX, so make sure you learn them well.  You may download the assignment here.
 

Updated: 23 March 2012