Autodesk Combustion: Beginner to Advanced VFX Techniques

Name: Autodesk Combustion: Beginner to Advanced VFX Techniques
Rating: 4.9 (5 reviews)

Master the art of VFX with "Autodesk Combustion: Beginner to Advanced VFX Techniques."

Created byEDUCBA Bridging the Gap

Last updated 6/2024

English

What you'll learn

Navigate and understand the Autodesk Combustion interface.
Create and edit new compositions for visual effects projects.
Import, manage, and replace video footage efficiently.
Use transform controls and animate them for dynamic effects.
Work with alpha channels to create and manipulate transparency.
Apply layer blending techniques to enhance visual compositions.
Master keying techniques for extracting and compositing elements.
Perform color correction and understand its impact on visual quality.
Utilize rotoscopy for detailed and precise animations.
Create and animate with paint and particle systems for advanced VFX.

Course content

4 sections • 117 lectures • 14h 56m total length

Introduction to Combustion2:56
Interface UI5:29
Explore the combustion interface, from the workspace panel showing layers and operators to the timeline, viewport, composite controls, and playback tools, enabling precise compositing and animation.
Creating New Composition9:03
Create a new composition in combustion, select composite type, review presets like NTSC, and set width, height, frame size ratio, pixel aspect ratio, and frame rate.
Creating New Composition Continue9:10
Importing Video11:30
Learn how to import video in combustion, explore supported formats (avi, bmp, jpg, png, exr), convert mp4 to avi, and configure composite settings for workflow.
Editing Timeline12:17
Replacing Footage10:57
Replace footage in a composition by adjusting in and out points and end frames with footage controls, then sync the timeline and composite to preserve applied effects.
Transform Controls of Layer6:48
Create a layer controls composite, import footage at 29 fps, and loop sequence. Rename layers, add PNG bird with transparency, and animate scale, position, and pivot from left to right.
Animating Transform Controls11:27
Animate a bird using transform controls with keyframes for x and y position, scale, and eased motion; apply discreet color correction, adjust opacity, and duplicate layers for follower birds.
Duplicating Animation4:14
Duplicate layers to copy animation across frames, then adjust scale and offset positions with composite controls while keeping the animate button off, creating multiple coordinated animations.
Viewport Layout5:51
Alpha Channel6:02
Explore the alpha channel and 32-bit RGBA data, and learn how transparency masks and alpha compositing merge images with backgrounds to create irregular shapes and animated visuals.
Creating Alpha Image8:25
Learn how to extract a subject from a JPEG, create a precise alpha channel, and export a 32-bit PNG for use in combustion, enabling clean alpha-driven compositing.
Creating Alpha Image Continue4:50
Working with Layer Blending Part 112:22
Working with Layer Blending Part 29:27
Working with Layer Blending Part 310:48
Explore layer blending with screen composite mode to reveal added elements like flowers over video, using composite controls, transforms, and frame-accurate timing to create polished motion graphics in Autodesk combustion.
Working with Layer Blending Part 48:32
Working with Layer Blending Part 55:58
Working with Layer Blending Part 612:21
Learn layer blending in Autodesk Combustion by mastering transfer modes like negative, u, saturation, colorize, and luminance to tint and invert colors from layers behind.
Working with Layer Blending Part 79:35
Working with Layer Blending Part 89:22
Preserve Alpha8:23
Preserve Alpha Continue9:34
Choose bold fonts like Arial Black to render text with a video texture using preserve alpha, and convert mp4 to avi for combustion compatibility.
Stencil Layer Part 16:37
Use a stencil layer in the same composite to drive an alpha channel by pulling pixels from a source layer; the stencil stays invisible and supports luma or invert options.
Stencil Layer Part 27:55
Stencil Layer Part 34:55
Animation to Scale and Y AXIS9:08
Animation to Rotation, Opacity and Interpolation8:14
Explore animation techniques in Autodesk Combustion, including x-axis motion, proportional scaling, rotation, and opacity interpolation with ease in and ease out across keyframes.
Summary of Introduction to Combustion1:31

Concept of Rotoscopy10:58
Explore the rotoscoping process from frame-by-frame tracing to creating a matte and alpha channel for live-action footage, enabling VFX compositing, wire removal, and CGI integration.
Introduction to Rotoscopy13:16
Extracting Rope and Analyzing Shot6:49
Add Key4:10
Animating Head9:31
Animate the head and torso by selecting control points, enabling the animate button, and setting keys across frames, offsetting positions to cover gaps in frames two to four.
Animating Torso9:19
Animating Left Arms8:44
Animating Front Thigh6:28
Animating Front Shoe7:15
Further Animating Mask9:47
Continue on Animating Mask10:54
Continue animating the mask across frames, refine left and right hands with polygons, move masks outside the frame when hidden, and plan frame-by-frame adjustments from seventh to eighth frames.
Further Animating Front Thigh6:01
Further Animating Front Shoe6:52
Animate the front shoe by selecting three points and adjusting frames, then move the back leg outside if it's not visible.
Animating Leg Behind9:26
Animate the leg behind the eighth frame by adding keyframes, sculpting motion with tangents, masks, and smooth bezier or B-spline curves, while refining the extra polygon hand and torso.
Extra Poly Hand9:21
Manipulate Left Thigh10:19
Adding Extra polygon of Hand9:30
Add an extra polygon for the hand when it extends beyond the torso, refine the roto mask, and adjust the front thigh, shoe, and back leg.
Adding Extra Polygon of Torso9:03
Adjust Below Portion Body10:38
Adjust the below portion of the body by refining control points and polygons for a tight roto, ensuring smooth animation across frames 11 to 14 with in-between frames.
Use of Bezier Mask Tool8:02
Use the bezier mask tool to draw and refine a hand shape on frame 14, then rename the mask and adjust its start frame to align across frames.
Adjusting Extra Hand7:46
Refine Tuning Shapes10:22
Continue on Refine Tuning Shapes8:24
Refine Tuning front Thigh6:27
Compositing Extracted Character10:14
Importance and Purpose of Stereoscopic Roto5:36
Continue on Stereoscopic Roto5:58
Rotoscopy Summary0:51

Using Diamond Keyer12:03
Learn to key green screen footage with Autodesk Combustion's Diamond Gear, adjusting tolerance and softness to remove greens and generate an alpha matte for background replacement.
Importing Image Sequence10:24
Using Tolerance In Diamond Keyer9:15
Apply the diamond keyer to remove green spill by tweaking tolerance and softness, then use color suppression inside keying to preserve hair and semi-transparent cloth before compositing with a background.
Creating Garbage Matte10:35
Using Linear Keyer8:58
Learn how to apply a linear keyer in Autodesk Combustion, adjust tolerance, store keying presets, and refine the matte and alpha output for clean chroma key compositing.
Continue on Using Linear Keyer9:45
Master linear keyer techniques to refine greenscreen mats with tolerance, cleanup, and spill removal, preserving shadows and natural transparency for a seamless composite.
Fundamental of Keying2:25
Process of Keying4:17
Major Factors While Keying4:21
Identify the three major factors for chroma key shoots—clothing, even lighting, and exposure—and learn how to optimize them for clean green or blue screen compositing.
Keying in Combustion1:50
Introduction to Discreet Keyer1:59
Learn the discrete keyer, a toolset for keying with per-channel color ranges, matte refinement, edge blur, and color correction to remove spill and blend foreground with background.
Applying Discreet Keyer7:58
Apply discreet keyer to import a frame sequence, adjust tolerance and softness, refine the alpha matte, and switch between alpha and RGB views for clean composite results.
Stores inside Discreet Keyer4:40
Adjust tolerance offset and softness offset in the discrete keyer stores, fix green visibility by tweaking alpha and color channels, and proceed to shrink, erode, and blur.
Matte and Color Suppression Controls in Discreet Keyer8:03
Keying out through Channel in Discreet Keyer11:02
Applying Alpha Level Operator for Refining Matte7:59
Refine your mattes in Autodesk combustion by adjusting alpha levels and using the discrete keyer to create a tight, opaque matte, reduce ghosting, and produce precise composites.
Matte Control Operator6:22
Summary of Keying Operators0:37
Introduction to Bit Depth6:58
Different ways of Changing Bit Depth6:27
Fundamentals and Importance of Color Correction3:25
Color correction alters color balance to set emotional tone, achieve a natural look in compositing, and color-match footage for realistic results.
Understanding the Histogram5:31
Understand how image histograms graph tonal distribution across shadows, midtones, and highlights, and use them to assess exposure, detail retention, and dynamic range in VFX.
Learning Offset Gamma and Gain2:16
Using the Discreet CC Basic Operator9:38
Apply the discrete cc basics operator in Autodesk Combustion to color-correct footage by adjusting gamma, gain, offset, and RGB channels across shadows, midtones, and highlights.
Using the Discreet CC Basic Operator Continue8:43
Using the Discreet CC Histogram8:37
Using the Discreet CC Curves7:00
Using the Discreet CC Curves Continue8:01
Discreet Color Wheel6:21
Apply the discrete color wheel to color correct footage, adjusting master, shadows, midtones, and highlights, with saturation and contrast controls, and use color suppression for green spills.
Discreet Color Wheel Continues5:42
Rewiring Colors Inside Color Wheel5:07
Color Suppression and Discreet Color Corrector8:09
Color Shift and Equalize Operators7:42
Explore color shift within the color correction controls, adjusting per-channel (RGB and CMYK) hue, saturation, and lightness to shape the overall mood, then balance and equalize for blending.
Movie Color and Color Warper6:50
Using Selective Color Warper7:43
Selective Color Warper Continues7:55
Exporting and importing the data from Color Warper8:22
Master color warper controls to adjust shadows, midtones, highlights, and gamma, apply mood with color shifts, and export or import color corrections as CBS/CBZ presets for collaboration.

Introduction to Paint8:25
Creating Logo Through Filled Rectangle8:19
Ellipse and Bezier Tool7:52
Offset and scale shapes, tweak with control points, and switch views to draw ellipse, circles, and other shapes using bezier and b-spline tools, then color and compose with paint tools.
Creating Logo Using Stroked Rectangular Tool11:01
Using The Basic Text Controls4:00
Animating the Logo9:03
Animating the Logo Continues8:10
Working With Gradient9:40
Working With Text and Animating11:50
Working With Brush Strokes4:57
Cloning Brush2:58
Clone texture from the first frame using the paint brush in Autodesk Combustion, removing unwanted elements and revealing clouds, then extend brush strokes across the timeline for a natural result.
Tracking11:33
Paint Summary0:32
Explore the paint summary, detailing the paint interface, editing and animating objects, using paint in a composite transform, and mastering brush, gradient, and color controls, plus tracking.
Introduction to Particle System6:54
Particle Emitter11:14
Understanding the Behavior Controls of Particles9:32
Explore how Autodesk Combustion's particle behavior controls shape sparks and clouds with life, velocity, motion, randomness, size, spin, and color gradients.
Line and Area Emitter Tool6:07
Changing Particle Shape8:58
Swap particle shapes in Autodesk Combustion using the library to replace squares with leaves, splashes, flames, or illusion text, while adjusting emitter size and life for smoother performance.
Importing and Customizing Particle10:01
Learn to import and customize particle shapes in Autodesk Combustion by swapping in your own image, adjusting size, count, velocity, and color, and exporting crafted shapes.
Rendering in Combustion8:18
Render from combustion by using the render queue, set output to targa sequence at 1920x1080 in color, and export frames or avi video with chosen ranges.
Rendering in Combustion Continue7:52
Explore rendering in combustion with QuickTime mov and AVI options, JPEG and PNG sequence outputs. See how frames drive compositing, editing, and final delivery for web or theaters.
Course Summary0:35

Requirements

Basic computer skills and familiarity with operating systems.
A computer capable of running Autodesk Combustion.
Internet access for downloading course materials and software.
A passion for learning visual effects and animation.
No prior experience with Autodesk Combustion is required, but basic knowledge of video editing is helpful.

Description

Course Introduction

Welcome to "Autodesk Combustion: Beginner to Advanced VFX Techniques." This comprehensive course is designed to take you from the fundamentals of Autodesk Combustion to advanced visual effects and compositing techniques. Whether you are new to the software or looking to refine your skills, this course will provide you with the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to master Autodesk Combustion.

Section 1: Autodesk Combustion - Beginners

In this section, you'll be introduced to the basics of Autodesk Combustion. We will start with an overview of the software interface and essential features. You will learn how to create new compositions, import video footage, and understand the timeline for effective editing. By the end of this section, you will be comfortable navigating the interface and performing basic compositing tasks.

Section 2: Autodesk Combustion Practical - Masks

Building on the basics, this section delves into the practical use of masks in Autodesk Combustion. You'll explore the concept of rotoscopy and learn how to create and animate masks for detailed compositing work. Through practical exercises, you will gain proficiency in manipulating various parts of an image, ensuring precise and professional results.

Section 3: Autodesk Combustion Practical - Keying and Color Correction

This section focuses on keying and color correction, two critical aspects of visual effects. You will learn to use different keyers, such as the Diamond Keyer and Linear Keyer, to isolate elements within your footage. Additionally, you will explore color correction techniques to enhance the visual appeal of your projects. Understanding histograms, gamma, and color balance will enable you to produce high-quality, color-accurate compositions.

Section 4: Autodesk Combustion Practical - Paint and Particles

In the final section, you will discover the paint and particle tools within Autodesk Combustion. You will learn to create and animate logos, work with gradients, and apply various brush strokes. The particle system will be covered in detail, including how to use emitters and customize particle behavior. This section will enhance your creative capabilities, allowing you to add dynamic elements to your compositions.

Course Conclusion

By the end of "Autodesk Combustion: Beginner to Advanced VFX Techniques," you will have a thorough understanding of Autodesk Combustion's features and capabilities. From basic editing and compositing to advanced visual effects, this course equips you with the skills to create professional-grade projects. Continue practicing and experimenting with the techniques learned, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a proficient VFX artist.

Who this course is for:

Aspiring VFX artists looking to break into the industry.
Graphic designers wanting to enhance their skills with visual effects.
Filmmakers interested in adding professional-grade effects to their projects.
Students of animation and digital media seeking practical experience.
Professionals looking to expand their skill set in visual effects and compositing.
Hobbyists and enthusiasts eager to learn about VFX.
Freelancers wanting to offer more comprehensive services to their clients.
Anyone curious about the world of visual effects and animation.

Autodesk Combustion: Beginner to Advanced VFX Techniques

What you'll learn

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Course content

Autodesk Combustion - Beginners30 lectures • 4hr 4min

Autodesk Combustion Practical - Masks28 lectures • 3hr 52min

Autodesk Combustion Practical - Keying and Color Correction37 lectures • 4hr 13min

Autodesk Combustion Practical - Paint and Particles22 lectures • 2hr 48min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: