I have been involved in computer graphics for a little over five years; only recently in the past year and a half have I really explored the realm of compositing. I began my computer graphics adventure solely uncovering motion graphics. At first (and now) I admired what motion graphics offered to my own personal artistic fulfillment.
My last semester of college, I was in an introduction compositing class. This is where I had a proclamation with myself. I was enthralled by the concept and functions that went into compositing not just a movie, but a single frame in a shot. Now after a year and a half, and a relatively decent understanding of what it takes to composite accurately, I want to share my experience with what a hopeful compositor is required to begin compiling their own body of work.
The Camera
I am assuming at this point the budget for this venture is relatively small. Not a problem! For those who do have the financials to purchase a proper camera, I suggest a DSLR camera. My two suggestions are the Sony a7S II and the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. On top of that, I suggest an additional wide angle lens to accompany the default lens that comes with the camera.
If you are unable to access a DSLR, the majority of smartphones can get the job done. Having experience shooting with a smartphone, I personally suggest avoiding capturing footage at night and in the middle of the afternoon. If so, when accompanying footage to post to color-correct, you will notice the darks full of noise, or the whites blown out. Not a good look.
The RIG
Second to the camera, having an outfitted machine to perform a multitude of tasks is a necessity. For basic compositing needs, stack up on the processor and RAM. I have an Intel i5 6600K. Downgrading to the 6500 will still produce great results, and even dropping to the 6400 will get the job done. My RIG has 16GBs DDR4 RAM. For a smooth compositing experience, 16GBs of RAM is the least I would personally suggest.A few more additions to suggest is a prestine graphics card. I have a Gefore GTX 960. Adobe has been incorporating more GPU functions within their software packages, and the results pay dividends. To wrap-up the RIG discussion, having a solid state drive (SSD) alternately dedicated for the operating system, and the source files creates crisp and quick playbacks of composited shots.
The Software
The industry standard compositing software is The Foundry's Nuke Studio. Not only is it the standard, but Nuke is a remarkable piece of software that has a tremendous capabilities. It is an expensive purchase, but The Foundry offers a free version of the software. Autodesk's Flame is the second most popular compositing option. I have found that Flame is used by studios that are focused in commercial work. Flame allows for quicker real-time compositing and is client-friendly when showcasing the compositing process. Flame does not have the vastness of the 3rd party support, and some key features only available on the Nuke platform. Blackmagic's Fusion is another compositing package found in fewer studios, buy a powerhouse that should not be underestimated.
Adobe plays a heavy role in the compositing process. Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere Pro are must haves for compositing tasks. Photoshop provides the abilities to composite images together to create a matte background/painting; while also providing the ability to paint out objects and other abnormalities in the frame. After Effects also contains compositing functions, but in most instances provides an array of simple to advanced visual effects. Premiere is the standard video editing software and in my cases the color-correcting package as well. Premiere is also my choice for outputing the final render sequence. Premiere's render options are customizable and provide a sense that I dictate the final quality of the video.
The Wrap
I encourage those who stuck around to read my suggestions to do their own research. I do not proclaim to be a guru in the tech field. I am simply passing along my own personal experience and what I have learned throughout my journey. Below I have provided several outlets to learn more compositing techniques. Good luck on your journey!
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