post- cgi work.. HELP

[Zakaree Sandberg]

Ok...
so I edit a project on final cut (not really me.. but an editor)
There are a few scenes that need to go to a CGI guy to have him add in matte backgrounds.. special effects.. whatever..

Do I
A. give him a locked edited version of the project file in final cut?
B. Give him just the clips needed and if so.. what project settings?

Then do I just get back what he did and do my color correction?

Super confused.. have a project coming up that needs CGI work..

never done it before.

 

[John Tissavary]

There's not one way to do vfx, you're best off consulting with your vfx person to create a workflow appropriate to the specifics of your project.

Standard practice is to provide only the footage expecting vfx. Unless vfx are being done in FCP, I'd not rely on the FCP project file. The polite thing to do would be to proved a transcoded imagefile sequence (16bit tiff, 10bit DPX, or floating point EXR). Doesn't have to be a final grade, if you're planning on doing final color that's best left to the last stage of post.


cheers,

John T.

 

[Leandro Marini]

John,

You are right on the money. Make sure you give you vfx person a high Rez uncolored format like 16bit tiff

 

[M Most]

Standard practice is to provide only the footage expecting vfx.

As a former and still sometimes visual effects supervisor, I would say that it is often very helpful to have a clip of either the scene the VFX shot is in, or at the very least, the shots surrounding it. VFX often involves timing, and that timing needs to work with the shots leading into and out of the VFX shot. When the surrounding footage is available to the animator or compositor and they can audition the VFX shot in context, this becomes much easier.

 

[Noah Kadner]

And any previs is helpful too...

Noah