Table of Contents Introduction Part 1: Visual effects overview Visual effects in contemporary film & TV The invisible art of supporting VFX Why use VFX? VFX as a story-telling tool Reducing costs Creating the impossible Fixing mistakes Supporting the visual language CGI: preconceptions and misconceptions Visual effects in production: 3 case studies Case study 1 Case study 2 Case study 3 Working with Key people in the VFX team The VFX supervisor The VFX producer 3D, 2D and 2.5D Camera movement and parallax Working in 2D Working in 3D "Fake" 3D: 2.5D projections 2D or 3D? Advantages and disadvantages Part 2: VFX in depth Introduction The VFX chain in small and large facilities 2D tracking & Match move 2D tracking Camera tracking Modeling Hard surface modeling Organic modeling Texturing Shading & lighting Shaders Direct and ambient lights Global illumination, ambient occlusion and HDRI Animation Technical animation Character animation Motion capture Rigging Simulations Hard-body Particles Fluid Cloth Matte painting Compositing Rotoscoping Keying The final stage - how everything comes together Compositing as a VFX powerhouse for the budget-conscious Part 3: photorealism Introduction The search for clues The integration checklist Context Movement and motion blur Perspective Light Depth and atmosphere Color Focus Optical phenomena Grain Part 4: Preproduction Script-based VFX breakdown Storyboarding The bidding process Initial meetings with the VFX team Location scouting with the VFX team Previz Planning the shoot Part 5: On set The importance of a second unit Shooting Green/blue screens Crowd tiling VFX vs. SFX Dos and don'ts Part 6: Postproduction Understanding delivery formats Establishing the color pipeline The reviewing process RND, assets, style frames and temps The approval stages Turntable Layout Primary animation Secondary animation AO Textured Final Effective communication with the VFX team The DI review Glossary.