Digital Compositing for Film and Video, Second Edition (Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation) (Paperback)

by Steve Wright (Author) "The ultimate artistic objective of a digital composite is to take images from a variety of different sources and combine them in such a way..." (more)
Key Phrases: raw matte density, despill operation, greenscreen plate, Adobe Photoshop, Channel Mixer (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"From start to finish, Digital Compositing for Film and Video gives you the much needed knowledge to be competitive in the business...If it's a process involved in compositing it is in this masterpiece of a book." - Filmmaking Central

"In Digital Compositing for Film and Video, his 400-page-plus bible for all things compositing, Wright painstakingly describes every step of pulling mattes, tracking pixels, correcting green-screen pill, working with film and video-you name it." -Ben Rock, Back Stage, Sept. 2006

"Anyone whose business it is to know how to do compositing, motion graphics, green - or blue-screen work, or even high-end titles must have this book in his or her collection."-Ben Rock, Back Stage, Sept. 2006

"Whilst some areas are specifically aimed at specialist compositors, it is nonetheless a very good book to have many areas of technical knowledge explained in a colourful and practical way. A vital book in the current technological age we now live and work in." British Cinematographer, Sept. 06

Book Description
Focused, In-Depth Explanations of Professional Methods!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 2 edition (May 16, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 024080760X
• ISBN-13: 978-0240807607
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #137,297 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Resource, December 4, 2006

By	Sean Devereaux "filmsoup" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Well written and good reference for technique, however a key tool the author uses throughout the book is not common in all applications and does not take 3d color space into account. Also check out The Art and Science of Digital Compositing, more expensive but a bit clearer in it's approach.
Not for the beginner, but for anyone with basic compositing knowledge ready to move past pro-sumer applications.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for your VFX library, January 5, 2007

By	A. Thompson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you're new to the effect industry or a seasoned pro this is still the bible for understanding what is happening under the hood of a compositing software. This is not software specific, but be it 'Shake' or 'an other' this will help you truly understand the what, when and why.

This book together with - Ron Brinkman's 'The Art and Science of Digital Compositing' - also available at Amazon, will hold you in good stead throughout your career.

It truly gives you the 'wow' factor.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Guide and not just for compositors, July 8, 2007

By	Mad Dog (Canada) - See all my reviews

If you've ever been on set and heard the catchphrase "fix it in post" this book is for you.

Not only is the information detailed and thorough, but also extremely readable. Some ironic asides demonstrate Wright has the experience to back up his text. He covers all levels of compositing, from basic luminance keying to green-screen/blue-screen, to color corection and matching foreground and background elements, motion tracking, alpha-channels (to premultiply or not premultiply) and the differences between film and video.

The book is not software specific, and the enclosed exercises and demonstrations can be done on most software with compositing features -- including Photoshop!

Why four stars and not five? The extra money demanded for addional exercises seems to be an unfair gouge. But the book is definitely worth the cover price! Even if you have no immediate aspirations at all to composite something, you'll at least see just how tough it can be.

Producers, Directors and Camera departments (aspiring or experienced) can all learn something here -- and with any luck they'll learn it before they light their next green/blue screen.

Too bad the cover is so damn ugly.