VFX Techniques: Creating a CG Flag with Nuke X and Cinema 4D

Learn how to composite a 3D-animated flag into a live-action shot using Nuke and CINEMA 4D.

Visual effects (VFX) don't necessarily need to involve explosions, magic, or giant robots. In fact, VFX can be as simple as a flag unfurling. CINEMA 4D and Nuke are a great combination for creating this type of shot. CINEMA 4D has fantastic rigid body and cloth systems, while Nuke, the industry's leading compositing tool, makes tracking and compositing a breeze. In this course, Craig Whitaker will guide you through the entire post-production process for creating a computer-generated flag—from creating a mock-up from reference material and tracking the camera movement to constructing the flag using CINEMA 4D's cloth simulation tools and compositing it back into the scene with Nuke. Each step of the process is rich with lessons applicable to similar situations CG and compositing artists will face in the real world.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files

1. Planning the Shot

• Collecting reference materials
• Creating a mock-up

2. Reviewing and Tracking the Footage

• Managing noise in the background shot
• Preparing the shot for 3D motion tracking
• Tracking the shot
• Solving the tracked shot and setting up the environment
• Exporting the tracked shot to CINEMA 4D

3. Creating the Flag

• Building the flag and establishing scale
• Building constraints and belts
• Setting up the simulation
• Building a collider object
• Caching and refining the simulation

4. Shading, Lighting, and Rendering

• Texturing the flag
• Matching CG light to the light in the background shot
• Adjusting the texture
• Setting up render passes

5. Compositing

• Reconstructing the beauty pass
• Adjusting passes to integrate into the footage
• Adding motion blur with the motion vector pass
• Addressing problems with quick fixes
• Color grading, adding grain, and working with lens distortion

Conclusion

• Next steps