That might mean trying new options, but if it cuts down on exporting, it’ll save you time in the end. (Floating point numbers might be the best data storage option for VFX work, so keep that in mind when choosing a format.) If possible, pick a file format that everyone can agree on. You can avoid losing hours by planning out your workflow and syncing up which format you need files and when you need them. One of the most common time-wasters is encoding and reformatting files over and over and over. Think about the formats you need as early as possible. For color, you can choose scene-referred data (basically the equivalent of using raw data as it was captured on-set) or display-referred (which means choosing a delivery format and stick with that color space across the whole project).Īnd once you have a standard, you can start to make it a habit to stay consistent over time.
You have two options on how to deal with this in your VFX workflow. One person’s mistake can derail the entire workflow for all artists involved. Workflows Set Color Management StandardsĬolor management can make or break a project. If you work on a team or with partners, setting these things in stone makes sure you know exactly what you’ll need to finish your piece of the work.
One extra bonus of VFX workflows is knowing which software and hardware you’ll need to do your part of the job. You can also assign which metadata types matter and which don’t, so none of these small details get lost as a project moves from one person to another. We’ve all been there before, and we all can relate to the nightmare of losing a file and spending an entire night trying to track it down again.Įstablishing a VFX workflow gives you an opportunity to think about that ahead of time, which will help any collaborators you’ll work with on the project. Different people use different naming conventions or folder structures, and that means it’s easy for files or locations to slip through the cracks.
One of the biggest obstacles for teams and even freelance artists is organization. But setting a standard means everyone knows their role, when they should work on things, and what state things should be in if/when an artist passes on their part of the work. More importantly, if you work on a team, the best (and I would say only) way to succeed is by making VFX workflows a standard part of your job.ĭifferent artists might specialize in different areas, which can lead to very focused workflows and processes. While your own process will probably take a very different shape from anyone else’s, these six points are the most common things VFX artists take into consideration when planning their workflows.Įvery artist will have a different workflow because every project has different demands. These six topics are all benefits of a VFX workflow, and you can treat them as steps to take or questions to think about. And while the brunt of your work will be done in post-production, a big part of establishing a workflow is setting up systems to stop problems before they get in your way. 6 Things To Know About Building A VFX WorkflowĪ VFX workflow includes every stage of VFX work that’s done on a project.
It’s a vicious cycle that we all know well, which means we’re all looking for things to help us make the most of our time while also staying organized.Īnd that’s where a VFX workflow can save you. Video production costs money, but you won’t get paid unless you finish projects. The three biggest obstacles for filmmakers are budget, workload, and time, and all three of these issues revolve around one familiar dilemma. That idea is a thing of nightmares for filmmakers, editors, content creators, and anyone else in a production role. We’ve all heard the phrase, “Time is money.” This universal truth can apply to just about anything in life, because limited resources create tough decisions for us to make.