Clean up plates for compositing

This standard is about removing or “painting out” unwanted content from plates. This could include rigs, scratches, dust, blemishes from developing chemicals, company logos, safety harnesses, markers used for blue or green screen, modern elements from period drama and people that should not be in shot such as animal handlers or puppeteers.

This standard is for those involved with Paint and Prep or Compositing.

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1. interpret the brief for paint and preparation work
2. retain details of grain composition, colour and artefacts, only making essential changes identified in the brief
3. check and confirm that you only clean up those parts of plates that will show in the final image
4. degrain plates to allow paint and preparation work to be carried out effectively
5. select techniques to achieve work of the desired quality in the shortest amount of time
6. check and confirm that clean up activity leaves no traces
7. work in correct colour channels to achieve the desired effect
8. paint with subtlety and accuracy
9. check and confirm that the contents of cleaned up plates are believable
10. use consistent paint-strokes when carrying out any frame by frame painting
11. check and confirm consistency between frames
12. regrain plates to the same level as the original
13. check and confirm that that the end result is what is needed for compositing
14. deliver work in line with production schedules and milestones

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1. the advantages, disadvantages and uses of different clean up techniques and the relative time taken by each
2. the importance of respecting the creative vision of the client or director
3. when it is appropriate to use patches
4. how light behaves on different surfaces and in different situations
5. the colour channels, how they interact with each other and how to select which ones to work with when cleaning up plates
6. what computers and software can and can’t do in relation to paint and preparation
7. how to establish when a 3D solution is more appropriate, efficient or viable than a 'Paint' solution.
8. how to use the required software
9. the advantages and disadvantages of different matte generation techniques and how to use them
10. how to track in patches using point, planar or image projection techniques
11. how to clean up plates to get believable results without blurring or inconsistencies
12. the impact of boiling or bubbling on consistency and how to paint frame by frame without getting it
13. the purpose and methods of degraining and regraining
14. the importance of delivering work in line with production schedules and milestones

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3

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2027

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Current

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Original

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ScreenSkills

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SKSVFX12

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VFX Technical Director , VFX Artist , VFX Junior Artist , VFX Assistant Technical Director , VFX Producer , VFX Supervisor , VFX Assistant Supervisor

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compositing; plates; VFX; visual effects; production requirements; production; graining; cleaning;

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