Do you squirm when you see bad compositing in television shows? Does the haze around the actor’s head make you flinch? If so, you are a visual artist who sees what many others cannot. Students at Animation Mentor often say that one of the best parts of the school is that they finally are surrounded by people who they can relate to. From your mentors, to classmates, to alumni – this community is made up of inspired artists ready to push their skills to the next level.

In January 2014, Animation Mentor students will – for the first time ever – be able to learn about compositing in the third class of our VFX program. There is so much awesome packed into this class, you will conquer compositing for both live-action and greenscreen projects to realistically integrate CG elements into your final shot.

Currently, this amazing educational experience is available to students in Animation Mentor’s VF02 Lighting Basics class. If you’re in VF02 Lighting Basics and are excited to learn about compositing, don’t wait register here today!

What Will I Learn Each Week in VF03 Compositing Basics?
Week 1: Nuke Setup & Composition Preparation
Week 2: Image Integration Process – AOVs, Filters & Color
Week 3: Image Integration Process – Depth, Shadows & Reflections
Week 4: Matte Painting Elements
Week 5: Adding the Special FX
Week 6: Special FX, Tech Fixes & Final Comps
Week 7: Plate Review, Cleanup & Comp Prep
Week 8: Understanding the Matte
Week 9: Exploring the Keyers – Luma & Chroma
Week 10: Tracking
Week 11: Finessing the Final Image
Week 12: Paint Fix & Final Color Grading

Get the detailed curriculum breakdown here.

Who Gives Me 1:1 Feedback On My Work?
Animation Mentor was the first online school to pioneer the mentor model. Animation Mentor’s courses are taught by professionals within the visual effects industry because we believe this to be the best way for students to learn animation and industry practices. The mentors run their classes like real productions, ensuring that you learn how to take important feedback and direction while still meeting your deadlines with the best possible results.

In January, these two pros will classes of 8 students:

1. Sebastian Feldman: VFX artist at Industrial Light & Magic, who has worked on films like Pacific Rim, The Lone Ranger, and The Avengers

2. Jen Howard: VFX artist at Industrial Light & Magic, who has worked on films like Star Trek Into Darkness, Avatar and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Why Should I Take Animation Mentor’s VF03 Compositing Basics Class?
“Compositing is often considered the Finishing Touch of any VFX or animated shot, the place where it all comes together. And while that’s really true, it’s really more then the sum of those parts: all the work that goes into the performance of the characters, the development of the look, the lighting, the FX elements, it all has to come together in the comp, or the shot isn’t going to work. In Compositing Basics we take a look at a wide range of comp processes, and apply them directly in-context, on shots where students can apply these concepts directly, while working with some of the most talented working Mentor Compositors in the business. Students who have taken CG Basics and Lighting Basics will be able to take their work to the next level by incorporating more sophisticated techniques and workflows, while building on the foundation they’ve built in the earlier classes.” – Ben Fischler (Curriculum Director & VFX Pro)

How Do I Take This Class?
If you are a current Lighting Basics student, you can learn compositing by registering today.

If you’re passionate about VFX, but aren’t ready for advanced classes, be sure to check out our Maya Workshop or our CG Basics class, where you’ll learn the visual effects pipeline, modeling, surfacing, and compositing. If you have questions or would like more information contact us at [email protected] and we’ll answer any and all of your questions.