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

English [Auto],

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
Explore combustion, an all-in-one visual effects suite for vector paint, motion graphics, animation, and non-destructive compositing on Windows and Mac. Master 3D compositing, color correction, tracking, particles, and rotoscoping tools.
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
Import two JPEG images, Eiffel Tower and Mustang, into a new Autodesk Combustion composition, scale them proportionally, pan the view, and save the workspace as intro_01.
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
Learn to navigate viewport layouts in Autodesk Combustion, switching between single, dual, and multi-view configurations, and use zoom, pan, and layout controls to compare original and composite footage.
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
Explore alpha channels and transparency to create seamless composites. Import park backgrounds, scale and feather cutouts, preserve color plus alpha in png 32-bit, and apply color correction for believable results.
Working with Layer Blending Part 112:22
Explore transfer modes and layer blending in 2D composites, seeing normal, dissolve, and add affect RGB values. Adjust opacity to refine blends and create subtle effects.
Working with Layer Blending Part 29:27
Explore layer blending modes such as subtract, multiply, and screen to see how they affect rgb values and the overall composite, darkening, brightening, and colorizing layers in motion graphics.
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
Discover how the overlay transfer mode blends the current layer with underlying layers to boost contrast and color saturation, using color correction, gamma, and opacity to create an orangish tint.
Working with Layer Blending Part 55:58
Explore layer blending techniques in Autodesk Combustion, including soft light, hard light, darken, lighten, and difference, and learn how opacity and transfer modes shape the final composite.
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
Master fully additive mix for cleaner edges during keying, then apply gray luma, gray hsv, shade, saturate, and desaturate to control luminance and saturation behind your footage.
Working with Layer Blending Part 89:22
Learn how to use layer blending in Autodesk Combustion, exploring saturate and desaturate, behind mode with alpha masks, and exclusion, color dodge, and color burn on layers.
Preserve Alpha8:23
Preserve alpha uses the underlying layer's alpha to determine where the current layer shows, enabling the opaque regions to reveal the above layer's texture (PNG 32-bit alpha).
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
Explore stencil layer workflows in Autodesk Combustion, switching between luma and alpha, animating position and scale with x, y, and keyframes, and linking alpha layers to reveal text and cutouts.
Stencil Layer Part 34:55
Create basic shapes and text, save as design.png, then apply a stencil layer to overlay design with footage using alpha channels, and explore inversion and luma options.
Animation to Scale and Y AXIS9:08
Learn to animate still images in a 2d composite by applying scale animations on x and y, timing with keyframes, and using bezier and ease interpolation.
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
Get an overview of the Combustion interface and workflow, including workspace panel, media importing, viewports, playback controls, file browser, composites and layer animation with alpha, 2D composites, and timeline timing.

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
Learn practical rotoscoping in combustion by drawing a polygon mask on five frames, zeroing feather for a clean cut, and animating the mask with keyframes for a tight, frame-by-frame roto.
Extracting Rope and Analyzing Shot6:49
Learn to extract a rope and analyze a moving bird shot by drawing masks, painting with color, and animating two polygons for precise roto and spline control across ten frames.
Add Key4:10
Learn to create a freeze frame by adding a key on frame three, rename and organize layers, and animate subsequent frames with the animate button to manage in-between motion.
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
Refine torso and head animation by fixing distortions, backing up files, and copying control point data between frames, then animate the left arms and apply discrete color correction.
Animating Left Arms8:44
Animate the left arms by cleaning up motion across frames, deleting and pasting control points and transforms, enabling precise keyframe control with the animate button for smooth upper body motion.
Animating Front Thigh6:28
Animate the front thigh by selecting and adjusting control points across frames, duplicating keyframes, and copying and pasting points, then save and proceed to the shoe.
Animating Front Shoe7:15
Execute advanced rotoscoping by copying and pasting control points across frames, adjusting the front leg, back leg, and behind leg to produce a multi-frame, complex animation.
Further Animating Mask9:47
Advance mask animation by shifting key frames from six to eight, refining in-betweens for smoother motion, and adjusting the torso and left arms while ensuring the animate controls are active.
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
Break tangents by pressing Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) to isolate a single control point, then manipulate only one tangent as you adjust frames.
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
Explore techniques for controlling motion blur and polygon manipulation to integrate a moving hand into a torso, adjusting frames and maintaining realistic deformation in Autodesk Combustion.
Manipulate Left Thigh10:19
Advance animation by creating separate polygons for left arm and left thigh, animate the front thigh and leg behind, and add polygons between frames using transform and shift keys.
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
Learn to refine roto masks with Bezier mask tools, creating and adjusting extra polygons for the torso and hand across key frames, handling motion and shape transformations including motion blur.
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
Adjust control points to smooth the roto shape across frames 10 to 14, refine the extra polygon, and prevent hand deformation while addressing motion blur.
Refine Tuning Shapes10:22
Refine tuning the rotoscoping animations from frames 1–14, adjusting polygons and control points for the torso and shoes, avoiding the background, and smoothing keyframes for precise, clean composites.
Continue on Refine Tuning Shapes8:24
Refine Tuning front Thigh6:27
Compositing Extracted Character10:14
Learn to composite an extracted character over a new background using rotoscoping techniques, masks, feathering, and color correction to create a natural shot with depth of field.
Importance and Purpose of Stereoscopic Roto5:36
Continue on Stereoscopic Roto5:58
Explore stereo roto versus vfx roto techniques, detailing how polygons are drawn, depth mapping with draw mask operator, and depth parallax for stereoscopic 3D cinema.
Rotoscopy Summary0:51
Review rotoscoping tools, mask shapes, and techniques for creating, editing, and animating masks, plus opacity and color feathering. Contrast vfx and stereo roto, transform layers, and work with two-dimensional composites.

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
Discover how to import an image sequence in Autodesk Combustion by collapsing image sequences to import all frames (PNG, 349 frames at 30 fps) for precise rotoscoping and chroma keying.
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
learn how to create a garbage matte in combustion using roto and masking techniques, preserving subject details, shadows, and breathing space while removing background garbage through alpha matte and keying.
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
Learn the fundamentals of chroma keying and compositing, using blue or green screens to remove backgrounds and reveal another image behind, with applications in weather broadcasts and films.
Process of Keying4:17
Master the chroma keying process with blue or green backdrops, explain why green dominates due to skin-tone separation and sensor sensitivity, and learn to create alpha mattes for background replacement.
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
Master keying in combustion with the keyer tools to generate mattes, remove color spill, and fine-tune alpha through luminance or color, using the linear, discrete, and diamond keyers.
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
Explore matte controls in the keyer, adjusting shrink, erode, and blur to shape edges, then fine-tune with curves and color suppression to reduce green color.
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
Master the matte control operator to refine key edges with invert, shrink, and erode, control transparency, adjust blur with the matte filter, and support RGB and channel keying.
Summary of Keying Operators0:37
Explore the keying operators in Combustion, including linear gear, diamond gear, and discrete gear, along with color suppression operator, alpha level operator, and matte control operator.
Introduction to Bit Depth6:58
Master bit depth and its role in color correction, color grading, and compositing. Learn how higher bit depth yields more color detail for red, green, and blue, and memory trade-offs.
Different ways of Changing Bit Depth6:27
Explore multiple ways to change bit depth in Autodesk Combustion, including composition options, composite controls, and edit operators. Learn how higher bit depth preserves color detail for post-production.
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
Adjust shadows, midtones, and highlights with master and individual color controls to tweak gain, gamma, and offset for red, green, and blue, balance contrast and saturation, and avoid burning.
Using the Discreet CC Histogram8:37
Using the Discreet CC Curves7:00
Apply discrete CC curves to color correct footage by manipulating RGB and HLS curves, adding keys, and shaping an s-curve to balance red, green, and blue.
Using the Discreet CC Curves Continue8:01
Apply discrete CC curves to adjust RGB channels, preview live color variations, and refine frames by manipulating tangents and points, then cache to compare final composition of an eight-bit video.
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
Explore rewiring color channels in cc color wheel controls to map red, green, and blue to new targets, creating custom, monochromatic, or negated looks, and adjust shadows and highlights.
Color Suppression and Discreet Color Corrector8:09
Learn to remove green spill and fine-tune color with the discreet color wheel in combustion, using color suppression for chroma keying and integrated color correction.
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
explore movie color and gray transitions to move from black-and-white to saturated footage, then master color warper for precise, non-destructive color corrections across clips.
Using Selective Color Warper7:43
Explore Autodesk Combustion's color Warper to adjust shadows, midtones, and highlights, tune hue and saturation, and manage gamma and luminance in basic mode. Use selective for color-splash mattes across selections, and export or import customized Warper settings.
Selective Color Warper Continues7:55
Master the selective color warper to isolate hues, adjust tolerance and softness, desaturate non-target colors, and apply targeted blur for precise color grading in digital intermediaries.
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
Explore the paint module in Autodesk Combustion: a vector-based, interactive drawing tool for layers, enabling retouching, motion tracking, and cartoon animation with brushes and masks.
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
Create a logo using the stroked rectangular tool to form glasses, apply black fills and ellipses, then duplicate, offset, scale, and flip elements with bezier and rectangles to maintain uniformity.
Using The Basic Text Controls4:00
Create and style text using the basic text controls in Autodesk Combustion, adjusting color, size, tracking, and position, duplicating letters, choosing Arial font, and setting up animation.
Animating the Logo9:03
Animate the logo by keyframing scale, position, and opacity using paint controls and easing for a smooth reveal, with staggered text elements.
Animating the Logo Continues8:10
Animate the logo text with keyframes, scaling, position, and rotation using the paint operator to produce a dynamic intro, with CBA beneath the blue circle.
Working With Gradient9:40
Master gradient-based motion graphics by using paint controls to build linear, radial, four-corner, and circular gradients, apply them to the background, adjust colors and opacity, and style tagline text.
Working With Text and Animating11:50
Working With Brush Strokes4:57
Master the elliptical brush tool in Autodesk Combustion, choose colors and sizes, and animate brush strokes with spacing and angle, then apply tracking to real-time footage.
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
Remove text from a shaky handheld shot by cloning the area and using a paint tracker to drive the clone across frames, tracking in both axes.
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
Explore Autodesk Combustion's particle system using presets such as space explosion; adjust emitters, enable previews, and animate life, size, and velocity for dynamic VFX.
Particle Emitter11:14
Explore the emitter tool and particle controls to shape fireburst effects with adjustable size, velocity, life, and color, including center, sparks, and clouds.
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
Learn particle shape and emission techniques in Autodesk Combustion, using line, circle, and area emitter tools to create multi-line and circular emissions, and apply the deflector tool for motion.
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
Review the core topics of Autodesk Combustion, including building workspaces, using masks on layers, rotoscoping, chroma keying, color correction, paint tracking, particles, and rendering.

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

Explore related topics

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: