Image Engine

Abstract: We present a simple, efficient, and reliable approach to denoising final ray traced renders during VFX production. Rather than seeking to remove all noise, we combine several simple steps that reduce noise dramatically. Our method has performed well on a wide variety of shows in Image Engine's recent portfolio, including Game of Thrones Season 7, Lost in Space, and Thor: Ragnarok.

Abstract: classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for third-party components of this work must be honored. For all other uses, contact the Owner/Author. SIGGRAPH 2014, August 10 – 14, 2014, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 2014 Copyright held by the Owner/Author. ACM 978-1-4503-2960-6/14/08 Silencing the noise on Elysium

Abstract: Photo-real digital characters and creatures have become an integral component of modern feature films. As audiences become more accustomed with visual effects, the demand for seamless reality is ever increasing. This in turn increases complexity of all aspects of character design, from the build phases: modelling, look development, and rigging; to the execution stages: animation, fx, and lighting. We sought to develop a vfx pipeline that was highly specialized in creature and character work, while maintaining maximum flexibility for the wide-ranging scope of work that accompanies it.This paper explains the evolution of our creature pipeline, focusing on look development/lighting and asset management. We detail specific software design choices, highlight successful intra and inter-studio collaborations, and discuss our current development efforts towards scalable, maintainable tools for the ever increasing complexity involved in visual effects production.