The weightages for the various components of the project have been slightly revised to better reflect      their importance in the project. Please refer to project webpage for details. Video for Critique 1 is ready for viewing. Please refer to critique webpage for details.
	This module introduces the main stages in the production of a special effects video, and teaches computer vision and graphics techniques that are useful for creating special effects in digital video. It allows the students to explore their creativity while extending their skills in computer vision and graphics by producing a special effects video.
	After taking the module, a student should be able to perform the following research tasks: Analyze and critique special effects in existing movies and videos. Generate realistic special effects by implementing algorithms and/or using existing software       to express technical and artistic skills. Produce a short video that demonstrates creative and innovative use of techniques for producing       visual special effects. Check here for Showcase Projects and all Student Projects.
	CS3241 Introduction to Computer Graphics, or CS4243 Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition. Here is a list of prerequisite topics that you should be familiar with. Note that you can still register for this module if you don't have the prerequisites. But, you are expected to be familiar with the materials covered in the prerequisites. If you are not familiar with them, then, you should learn the materials by either taking the modules concurrently or learning them yourself. This is because it is not possible to cover the basic computer vision and computer graphics topics within the time span of this module.You should be familiar with various software tools for computer vision and/or graphics and animation. The following modules are useful and relevant to this course, but are not listed as prerequisites: CS4247 Image Synthesis and Computer Animation CS5240 Theory and Practice of Multimedia
	schedule, topics, lecture materials
	Critiques      (critique special effects video) 40% Group project & presentation      (special effects video project) 60% Total 100% Self-learning lab exercises Your current grades
	It would be nice to have a textbook. Unfortunately, there's not a good textbook that covers all aspects of this module. The followings are possible reference books: D. Kelly, Digital Compositing In Depth, Coriolis Group, 2000.      This book is about digital compositing only, but it covers the topic in great depth. It contains       many detailed tips, examples, and exercises on compositing professional quality special       effects, as well as case studies of real compositing projects done by DFX professionals. It also       covers valuable discussion about the roles of digital compositors, production team, and business       aspects. The accompanying CD-ROMs come with demo versions of useful compositing software.       This is a valuable book for serious students of digital compositing. G. Kindem and R. Musburge, Introduction to Media Production: The Path to Digital Media Production,        3rd Ed., Focal Press, 2004.      G. Kindem and R. Musburge, Introduction to Media Production: From Analog to Digital, 2nd Ed.        Focal Press, 2001.       These two books give very good introduction to the whole process of media production. T. Dobbert, Matchmoving: The Invisible Art of Camera Tracking, Sybex, 2005.       This book covers many topics about matchmoving---tracking of camera motion in video.       The accompanying CD-ROM comes with practical exercises. R. Brinkmann, The Art and Science of Digital Compositing, Academic Press, 1999.      This book covers many topics in digital compositing and some interesting case studies. But, it       lacks the breadth of Wittenburg's book and the depth of Kelly's book.
	labs, hardware, software, 3D models, special media equipment
	A/Prof. Leow Wee Kheng

Last updated: 6 Mar 2008