Which industry standard compositing software works best with Maya?

[hairston630]

Hey guys (and gals),

Just wanting to ask which of the existing "industry standard" compositing softwares work well with Maya? I am about to start training courses with maya and im wanting a good compositing software that to use with it that will be useful when I start looking into industry jobs. I downloaded the Fusion PLE and will be starting it shortly but wanted to know if it will work well with maya as opposed to combustion, after effects, flame, etc. Some advice would be highly appreciated. Thank you!

Hairston

[mboden]

Nuke or Fusion. After Effects and Combustion have there place has well but a node based system is considered to be the "standard" for comping. I know that Toxic has some great interchangeability with Maya but Toxic has yet to position it's self as a major player. BTW what are you looking to do Lighter or Comper or something else?

[hairston630]

Nuke or Fusion. After Effects and Combustion have there place has well but a node based system is considered to be the "standard" for comping. I know that Toxic has some great interchangeability with Maya but Toxic has yet to position it's self as a major player. BTW what are you looking to do Lighter or Comper or something else?

Hey Boden,

Im kinda trying to kill 2 birds with one stone. I want to use industry standard software to make my independant films while at the same time educate myself so that I can work in the industry once I have the experience under my belt. To give an example of what I want to do, I plan on using animated cgi with live action film (like cloverfield and transformers). I want to be able to do set extensions and match moving as well. Hopefully I am answering your question correctly..im still a little green lol.

Edit: Oh and also, would you recommend me starting out with after effects as opposed to fusion when making my own films? I ask because of the price. With a student discount I can get After Effects for $350 but fusion is 3k+ and a PLE is not going to allow me to make a film using the software. Im a little confused as to the best route. Thanks.

[mboden]

Hey Boden,

Im kinda trying to kill 2 birds with one stone. I want to use industry standard software to make my independant films while at the same time educate myself so that I can work in the industry once I have the experience under my belt. To give an example of what I want to do, I plan on using animated cgi with live action film (like cloverfield and transformers). I want to be able to do set extensions and match moving as well. Hopefully I am answering your question correctly..im still a little green lol.

How long is this short film gonna be? I don't want to smash your dreams as a film maker but this idea that making a VFX short is gonna land you a staff job somewhere is kinda of a long shot way to go. I would much rather see various shots from different projects showing off well executed VFX techniques (Tracking, Set extentsion, CGI comps, keying and roto, etc..) then a one man remake of Cloverfield or Transfomer-esque project. Now if your goal is to become a commercial or film director like ole Mike Bay then make sure that you read Stu's Rebel Guide and make something that looks as good as Neil Blomkamp stuff.

Edit: Oh and also, would you recommend me starting out with after effects as opposed to fusion when making my own films? I ask because of the price. With a student discount I can get After Effects for $350 but fusion is 3k+ and a PLE is not going to allow me to make a film using the software. Im a little confused as to the best route. Thanks.

I always recommend to newbies that AE is a very good way of learning the techniques of film comping. I like AE for effects, design, and ease of use, but at some point you need to put AE away and move to a Node based system. Hope this helps.

[hairston630]

How long is this short film gonna be? I don't want to smash your dreams as a film maker but this idea that making a VFX short is gonna land you a staff job somewhere is kinda of a long shot way to go. I would much rather see various shots from different projects showing off well executed VFX techniques (Tracking, Set extentsion, CGI comps, keying and roto, etc..) then a one man remake of Cloverfield or Transfomer-esque project. Now if your goal is to become a commercial or film director like ole Mike Bay then make sure that you read Stu's Rebel Guide and make something that looks as good as Neil Blomkamp stuff.



I always recommend to newbies that AE is a very good way of learning the techniques of film comping. I like AE for effects, design, and ease of use, but at some point you need to put AE away and move to a Node based system. Hope this helps.

Oh no I dont plan on making it into the industry off one film and I dont plan on making a one man cloverfield or anything like that. What im saying is, I want to make my own films and use my own special effects in short films but I want to use the type of software that I would expect to use 2-3 years down the road in the industry (that is if I make it). I am only a beginner and I plan on gettin a few years of production and compositing under my belt before even considering getting into the field. I just want to start learning industry grade software NOW so I can not only make my own short films to build a demo reel, but also so that I can get as much knowledge under my belt for when I seek industry positions a few years down the road. I dont want to waste my time learning a piece of software that isnt going to benefit me in the whole scope of things. Sorry for the confusion.

As for after effects, you say that it would be something good to start with? I want to be able to use this in my own demo reels and im concerned that fusions ple version wouldnt be sufficient as copyright laws may not allow me to use it in my own demo reels. Am I correct on this? Thanks.


Hairston

[mboden]

I really like your enthusiasm but here are few things that may fast track you to getting a start in the industry as a 2D artist. First read the Art and Science of Digital Composting. Understanding Composting more valuable than knowing Nuke, Fusion, AE, Flame, etc.. Second take classes from FXPhD, learning how to use a piece of software while doing small projects will have a lot of value. Third try and position yourself to become an intern in a posthouse. Being on the job will teach a lot and you can really see what it's like to work in this industry.

I want to use the type of software that I would expect to use 2-3 years down the road in the industry

Dude, 2-3 years comp software will be so many versions ahead you wont be using the same version from that long ago

As for after effects, you say that it would be something good to start with? I want to be able to use this in my own demo reels and im concerned that fusions ple version wouldnt be sufficient as copyright laws may not allow me to use it in my own demo reels. Am I correct on this? Thanks.

AE is good for about anything you want to do at this stage. As for PLE if you have a watermark over your project is not a big problem as long it doesn't destroy the image. This is where being an intern has it's benefit as you could probably get your hands on a full version of high end software.

This week I had to start learning fusion, I still haven't wrapped my head fully around it but knowing Shake and Nuke, it hasn't been that hard to do. What I'm saying is worry about learning compositing and making good visually interesting images, with whatever piece of software you can get a hold of.

[krizard]

use autodesk toxic .....
or autodesk inferno....
if you have money to aford it....

[hairston630]

I really like your enthusiasm but here are few things that may fast track you to getting a start in the industry as a 2D artist. First read the Art and Science of Digital Composting. Understanding Composting more valuable than knowing Nuke, Fusion, AE, Flame, etc.. Second take classes from FXPhD, learning how to use a piece of software while doing small projects will have a lot of value. Third try and position yourself to become an intern in a posthouse. Being on the job will teach a lot and you can really see what it's like to work in this industry.



Dude, 2-3 years comp software will be so many versions ahead you wont be using the same version from that long ago


AE is good for about anything you want to do at this stage. As for PLE if you have a watermark over your project is not a big problem as long it doesn't destroy the image. This is where being an intern has it's benefit as you could probably get your hands on a full version of high end software.

This week I had to start learning fusion, I still haven't wrapped my head fully around it but knowing Shake and Nuke, it hasn't been that hard to do. What I'm saying is worry about learning compositing and making good visually interesting images, with whatever piece of software you can get a hold of.

Thank you for the guidance, I really appreciate it. Anything that I can glean off of those that are experienced is valuable to me. Last week I bought "compositing visual effects" by Steve Wright. It teaches all about compositing and animation. Im about 50 pages in and its been very informative. I have also contacted some of the local studios here in the area with some luck. One of the small companies advised that I can be a sit in if they receive any compositing or animation work in the future. Unfortunately the amount of compositing studios here in my area is scarse so im trying to get my hands on as much stuff as possible. I dont think having a watermark on my screen will be that big of a deal but do they really allow you to make a demo reel (non profit) using PLE versions? That doesnt break any of the copyright laws?

[mboden]

Thank you for the guidance, I really appreciate it. Anything that I can glean off of those that are experienced is valuable to me. Last week I bought "compositing visual effects" by Steve Wright. It teaches all about compositing and animation. Im about 50 pages in and its been very informative. I have also contacted some of the local studios here in the area with some luck. One of the small companies advised that I can be a sit in if they receive any compositing or animation work in the future. Unfortunately the amount of compositing studios here in my area is scarse so im trying to get my hands on as much stuff as possible. I dont think having a watermark on my screen will be that big of a deal but do they really allow you to make a demo reel (non profit) using PLE versions? That doesnt break any of the copyright laws?

Steven Wright Digital Compositing for Film and Video is the second in the standard works of comping. The one you got is a good read as well. Yeah I believe the consensus on the site is that PLE watermarks are ok as long they on Personal Demo reels and the dont ruin the image. Well keep in touch with that one studio and maybe you take a summer to come to LA, SF, NY to intern somewhere.

[hairston630]

Steven Wright Digital Compositing for Film and Video is the second in the standard works of comping. The one you got is a good read as well. Yeah I believe the consensus on the site is that PLE watermarks are ok as long they on Personal Demo reels and the dont ruin the image. Well keep in touch with that one studio and maybe you take a summer to come to LA, SF, NY to intern somewhere.

Yes, I plan on getting the second book once I finish reading this one. I want to start off with the absolute basic so I can build a good foundation. The reason why im so eager to get good software is because Im getting it through my cousins student discount and he graduates in May. So, Im trying to get something that will have some longetivity and will benefit me come time to seek industry jobs. Thats why I sound a little overzealous lol.