It’s Art. It’s Science. SIGGRAPH 2012 preview
We preview the key technical papers, visual effects production sessions, talks, courses and more in the upcoming SIGGRAPH 2012 conference being held from 5-9th August in LA. fxguide is a major media partner of Siggraph and will bring you heaps from the show…
Read the Article
Space Nazis: the making of Iron Sky
Iron Sky vfx supe Samuli Torssonen discusses the realities of making a moon Nazi film and how he created many ambitious visual effects with a small team of artists.
Read the Article
Alvy Ray Smith: RGBA, the birth of compositing & the founding of Pixar
Dr Alvy Ray Smith from Xerox to Lucasfilm, PIXAR to Microsoft – he is truly one of the founders of our industry.
Read the Article
Shooting diary of Spider-Man: bringing it to the screen
A Special RC Written Report: Light Iron’s Michael Cioni shares the early days of testing the brand new RED EPIC for shooting The Amazing Spider-Man in stereo, and how the filmmakers pulled it off.
Read the Article
Clarisse iFX: a new approach to 3D
Rarely do companies attempt to change the way we work, but Isotropix and its Clarisse iFX product is attempting just that. Clarisse iFX aims to change the way CGI pipelines work, via one central mantra: reduce to a minimum time to first pixel output in any situation. And that’s just the start. Exclusive high-res output samples and much more.
Read the Article
Spider-Man: the detailed vfx of spiders and lizards
We speak to SPI about lizard skins, spiders and vast city blocks.
Read the Article
Ted: the bear facts
Behind the scenes of Seth MacFarlane’s Ted, the very naughty bear brought to life by Tippett Studio, Iloura and The Creative-Cartel. Updated with several making of videos.
Read the Article
Vampire Hunter: two killer sequences
How Weta Digital and Method Studios used novel approaches for two sequences in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Features breakdown images and videos.
Read the Article
Academy Visual Effects Invites
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the names of those invited to become voting members. The 2012 invitees for Visual Effects are…
Read the Article
Effects you never knew were there
The invisible VFX of Hemingway & Gellhorn, Rock of Ages, Rust & Bone, Moonrise Kingdom, The Dictator and Safe.
Read the Article
Cannes Lions 2012 winners announced
Check out the Cannes Lions 2012 advertising winners in the Film Craft category, and read fxguide coverage of the visual effects work.
Read the Article
Brave New Hair
Sim Samurais, digital curling irons and the amazing world of Pixar’s Brave simulation team.
Read the Article
Prime Focus adopts Shotgun & Revolver starting with MIB3
Shotgun Software was founded in 2006 by a group of vfx professionals to build production tracking and pipeline solutions. Shotgun today has more than 350 animation, visual effects and game development clients including Digital Domain, Double Negative, Reliance, Framestore, Pixomondo, Playstation, Blizzard and Zoic Studios. The newest addition to this line up is Prime Focus.
Read the Article
RenderMan – new bundles and info from Pixar
A look at Pixar’s new website for RenderMan ahead of the RPS17 release. Also, RenderMan for Maya is to be combined with RenderMan Studio.
Read the Article
Prometheus: rebuilding hallowed vfx space
fxguide explores Ridley Scott’s alien world in Prometheus, with exclusive in-depth coverage of the VFX by Weta, Fuel, MPC and other vendors.
Read the Article
VES Job Fair this weekend
This weekend, Saturday, June 16, 2012, in Los Angeles, New York and London there is the second annual VES Career Fair & Tech Expo. fxguide has spoken to many of the VFX studios attending – here’s a quick guide to the Fair and Expo.
Read the Article
Prometheus: in-depth coverage on fxguide
fxguide will be covering Prometheus in-depth, with articles, an fxpodcast and fxguidetv all this week. To get an idea of what to expect, check out this excerpt including a breakdown of Fuel’s star map orrery sequence.
Read the Article
Alien versus a 5″ gun
Image Engine worked with Battleship lead vendor ILM on crafting the alien Thugs for two on-ship sequences. We break down the work with images and videos.
Read the Article
Huntsman: every trick in the fairytale book
How face replacements, shattering soldiers, CG trolls and magic metallic mirrors were made for Snow White and the Huntsman. fxinsider members can also watch an exclusive interview with Double Negative.
Read the Article
TV roundup: four shows with feature effects
We break down some notable VFX shots from TV shows The River, the Titanic mini-series, Inside the Human Body and Underbelly: Razor.
Read the Article
fxphd sale extended + free class from NUK217
fxguide’s sister site – VFX training provider fxphd.com – is extending its sale. Join for $199 and get two courses + extras for the April term. Plus see a sneak peak of NUK217 – NUKE and Digital Environments.
Read the Article
DeepX – Underwater @ Cine Gear
We preview Achtel’s Deep X underwater RED Epic camera rig, which will be launched at this weekend’s Cine Gear Expo in LA.
Read the Article
What does it take to make a CGI cookie?
A step-by-step, detailed look at a Ballerina cookie spot by Swedish studio Lost Liner, including breakdown videos from concept to final.
Read the Article
Breaking down Ghost Recon Alpha
We take a look at Mikros Image’s CG and compositing VFX for Ghost Recon Alpha, a short promo for Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Includes a breakdown video and bts images.
Read the Article
Paul Debevec and ICT: an fxphd BKD
Watch a full fxphd class featuring ICT’s Paul Debevec on the development of the Light Stage, plus find out about fxphd’s limited time special offer.
Read the Article
Comic effects: Men In Black 3
fxguide goes back to the Men In Black and back in time with MIB3 and the VFX artists at Sony Pictures Imageworks. Includes bonus fxinsider content.
Read the Article
MPC is berry nice to Ribena
We speak with the 3D and 2D artists behind a fully CG Ribena spot created by MPC, and feature behind the scenes videos from the TVC.
Read the Article
Battleship: tactical water and fluid sims (updated)
For a film to challenge the water pipelines of companies like ILM & Scanline it needs to be pushing the limit of cutting edge technology. Regardless of the box office success of Battleship, the water simulations are incredible, & the overall effects impressive. UPDATED: With new exclusive making of ILM clips.
Read the Article
Cinematics case study: Mass Effect 3
Digic Pictures breaks down its work for a Mass Effect 3 trailer with detailed behind the scenes videos, images and commentary.
Read the Article
Dark Shadows: retro old school VFX with a modern twist
Rarely do a film’s themes & conceptual approach match so nicely with the methodology of the vfx used to make it. Dark Shadows deploys miniatures, old fashion sets, water tanks: all using cutting edge vfx. (UPDATED + MPC)
Read the Article