The war zone

This is the first instalment of a new three-part series of tutorials explaining how to create the dramatic visual effects sequence shown above. Starting from a simple background photograph, we will layer in other photographic and computer-generated elements to simulate handheld camera footage of a blazing skyscraper.

Many artists have the mentality that they can create ambitious VFX sequences straight out of 3D in a single render. The result is unwieldy scene files and massive render times – both of which are totally unnecessary if you understand the basic principles of postproduction. The majority of studios providing visual effects for films take a ‘2.5D’ approach, rendering individual elements out in layers and compositing them together to create a finished shot.

In this series of tutorials, we aim to set out those basic principles of post-production. Every artist dreads the moment at which they have to have their work approved by the director, as this may result in them being asked to modify the shot – a tedious, time-consuming process unless you have the workflow in place to deal with it. So in this first instalment, in addition to explaining how to modify and camera-match the background plate, we will look at how to set up a proper production pipeline. Next issue, we will take a look at rendering the CG elements of the shot – smoke, flames and falling debris – in 3ds Max. And in the final instalment, we will show you how to composite all of the elements together in Combustion and how to grade and finish the final shot.

In all three parts, you will be given source files for both the 3ds Max and Combustion workspaces, but you will follow the steps to render out the 3D scene frames on your own computer, as they’re very large files. You will also be working in a high-definition environment in order to be able to move the 3D camera in Combustion around the image without any loss of quality, and to allow for more creative freedom.

All of the supporting material is provided, along with a QuickTime of the finished shot. Watch it now, then we’ll begin.

Click here to download the support files (~23MB)