Eric Barba, Academy Award-winning VFX supervisor, returns to the podcast to discuss his latest work on Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede lvarez, for which he is nominated for an Oscar in 2025. He shares the challenges of bringing the world of Alien to life, from balancing practical effects with cutting-edge VFX to ensuring the film stays true to Ridley Scotts iconic franchise. Eric dives into the evolution of creature effects, how real-time technology is being used in production, and the meticulous process of creating photorealistic environments that blend seamlessly with on-set footage.Beyond Alien: Romulus, the conversation explores how VFX workflows are evolving, the increasing role of AI in production, and Erics thoughts on the future of the industry. He also reflects on his time at Digital Domain, leading teams on groundbreaking projects like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (David Fincher), Tron: Legacy (Joseph Kosinski), and Oblivion (Joseph Kosinski). With behind-the-scenes insights and expert knowledge, Eric offers a fascinating look into the state of visual effects today and where its heading next.Links:Eric Barba on LinkedIn >Eric Barba on IMDB >

Try V-Ray 7 for Rhino: https://www.chaos.com/vray/rhino Watch this video and learn how to quickly change the look of Chaos Cosmos assets directly within your V-Ray 7 for Rhino scenes. Enhance your workflow in Rhino by previewing and customizing the variants of a single asset in one convenient place.

Try V-Ray 7 for SketchUp: https://www.chaos.com/vray/sketchup In this video, we'll walk you through the latest VFB enhancements, which will enhance your post-editing experience.- Color Correction Filters, where you can experiment with various looks and customize presets to fit your creative vision. - Freeform Render Region, allowing you to focus on specific areas with custom polygon shapes for precise fine-tuning. - Add a subtle retro touch with the Vignette Layer, perfect for highlighting elements or adding a unique effect.

Try Vantage: https://www.chaos.com/vantage Unlock new levels of realism and gain more control over custom detailsdiscover the latest Vantage updates today! Key features include:- Scatter Surface Color - to colorize instances based on the color of the underlying object - Scatter Updates - to achieve different density styles and temporal consistency- Lens Distortion - to simulate the optical distorting of the image by the lens- Vignetting Effects - to control the visual focus and achieve artistic expressiveness - Color Corrections - new blur/sharpen effects- New Sky Model - nautical twilights support and sky renders at various observer altitudes- Dirt Texture - new procedural texture to create a more natural expression - OCIO and DLSS 4 support - to secure precise color fidelity and even higher visual quality For an extensive list of the new features, visit:https://docs.chaos.com/display/LAV/Release+Notes+for+Chaos+Vantage+2 For more information about our products, visit: https://www.chaos.com/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/ChaosGroupTV to get useful tutorials and the latest updates from ChaosFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaosgroup On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaosgroup/

Unlock new levels of realism and gain more control over custom details with the latest version of Chaos Vantage!Achieve natural scatter effects with improved color, distribution, and stability. Experiment with artistic camera and color correction effects, including lens distortion, cats eye bokeh, blur, and sharpen. V-Ray Dirt is now supported to help you achieve complex materials with aged surface effects and streaks. Plus, Vantage 2.7 introduces OCIO and DLSS 4 support for improved image quality in real-time.New in Vantage 2.7Scatter surface color:Distribution maps: Easily switch between different density styles for a given area with the new distribution patterns in Chaos Scatter and use instance distribution at an unprecedented speed.Lens distortion: Simulate lens distortion, making renders feel more natural and immersive.Vignetting effect: Add depth or mood to your renders by enhancing visual focus and realism with the vignette camera effect.Optical vignetting (also known as cats eye bokeh): Mimic real-world camera behavior for added authenticity and artistic expressiveness.Sharpen/Blur: Enhance batch image processing with the new Sharpen/Blur effects.Sun & Sky:Dirt Texture: Easily create weathered streaks and dirt in crevices with the highly-requested new Dirt Texture.OCIO support: Achieve precise color fidelity from asset creation to final output with Vantage support for OCIO.DLSS 4 support: Boost image quality with Vantage support for DLSS 4. Benefit from optimized settings for real-time rendering and improved temporal stability to minimize artifacts like ghosting and flickering.Learn more about the new and improved features in Vantage 2.7.

Try V-Ray 7 for SketchUp: https://www.chaos.com/vray/sketchup Discover the groundbreaking 3D Gaussian Splatting technology in V-Ray 7! Learn how to easily incorporate and render captures of complex 3D environments and objects. Perfect for creating lifelike backgrounds and interactive 3D scenes.

Try V-Ray 7 for SketchUp: https://www.chaos.com/vray/sketchup Explore how to use the Material Override settings in V-Ray for SketchUp to replace all scene materials with a single color or material for quick and clean test renders. Preserve specific material properties and apply predefined override presets, making iterations faster and more efficient.

Try V-Ray 7 for SketchUp: https://www.chaos.com/vray/sketchup Discover how V-Ray Luminaires in V-Ray 7 for SketchUp revolutionize rendering complex light fixtures! Learn how this new feature dramatically reduces render times while enhancing accuracy, making it easier than ever to achieve photorealistic lighting in your SketchUp scenes.

Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Steve Preeg joins Chris Nichols for CG Garages 500th episode! From virtual production to real-time rendering and AI in filmmakinghow has VFX evolved? Lets dive in.Steve Preeg was one of the first guests interviewed for CG Garage, and it is fitting that he would return to celebrate the remarkable milestone of the podcasts 500th episode! To walk down memory lane, have a listen to episode 3 here. What has changed since the days of working on land usage cases, legal animation, Tupac holograms, and digital humans for films like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Tron: Legacy? Dive into the 500th episode recap to find out.Memories made and collected: Chris Nichols captures the artistic spirit of each CG Garage guest with the snap of a Polaroid.SummaryIn the past decade, Steve shares that the VFX industry has evolved with virtual production, broader use, but also greater audience scrutiny, making careful planning essential to enhancing storytelling.Real-time rendering enhances pre-vis and post-vis by creating a more polished look earlier in production, reducing reliance on render farms for background elements, and accelerating the animation approval process.AI is rapidly evolving in filmmaking, making tools more accessible and enabling individual creators to generate entire films, though authentic artistic storytelling will remain essential.Newcomers should embrace new technologies, understand filmmaking language, and ensure their visual effects work aligns with the directors vision and overall story.Career transition from Digital Domain to MPCVFX Supervisor Steve Preeg transitioned from Digital Domain to MPC following his work on Cats. He then worked on Call of the Wild before embracing Rescue Rangers for its ambitious script and extensive VFX, including 1,200 unique characters and a late-stage human-to-cartoon transformation.Visual effects: Changes in the last 10 yearsSteve reflects on how VFX was so challenging in the past that every shot had to be meticulously planned in advance. This is not the case nowadays. Of course, now, with virtual production, everyone is aware of its many advantages but forgets that it requires earlier decision-makinga critical step that many people dislike. In his view, poor decision-making and being rushed are essentially what affect the quality of visual effects. Weak storytelling also often leads to misplaced blame on the visual effects team.Weve given directors so much freedom that now they think, Lets not write the third act until were in post and realize how we want the movie to end.Steve Preeg, VFX SupervisorIn addition, audiences have become more critical of visual effects, often focusing on minor flaws instead of appreciating the overall story. Steve likens this to focusing on a single tree rather than being in awe of the entire forest.Todays audience is obsessed with picking apart pixels instead of watching the story. Nobody looked at Jason and the Argonauts and asked, Is that a real Cyclops? They just enjoyed the story.Steve Preeg, VFX SupervisorReal-time rendering in action: Use case examplesReal-time rendering can be utilized in both pre-visualization (pre-vis) and post-visualization (post-vis) to achieve a more polished appearance earlier in the production process. It offers valuable benefits, such as reducing the load on render farms by rendering background elements in real-time and significantly speeding up the animation approval process.With real-time rendering, you could have something that looks like a cohesive film all the way from pre-vis rather than having gray-shaded playblasts and post-vis that looks really funky. You could start crafting the film.Steve Preeg, VFX SupervisorSteve gives the example of a scene in Rescue Rangers where the director chose to edit first and animate later, a process he found unusual. After editing, the director saw the completed animation and realized the emotional depth it added made the scene feel overly drawn out when combined with music. This forced a late-stage edit, frustrating the VFX team. Steve highlights this as a challenge in filmmaking.Directors often lack a way to visualize animated performances fully early on, making it difficult to structure scenes confidently without second-guessing. He suggests that real-time rendering could help bridge this gap by providing a more accurate preview, reducing the need for last-minute adjustments.Whats fascinating is that the challenge of visualizing animations early on to prevent high costs isnt limited to just VFX. Brick Visual, a leader in archviz, has significantly reduced iteration times by embracing real-time rendering to create high-quality animations with real-time ray tracing. Their workflow is a great example of how real-time tools like Vantage enhance storytelling while maintaining visual fidelity.AI in filmmakingAI tools are advancing rapidly, and Steve acknowledges that they will likely play a significant role in the future of filmmaking. Their potential uses include making the filmmaking process and tools more accessible to creators worldwide and enabling individuals with great ideas to generate entire films on their own, much like what open-source filmmaking has done but on a whole other level.AI is coming. You can either embrace it or stand in front of the tidal wave and drown In a few years, people will be making entire movies with AI from their basements.Steve Preeg, VFX SupervisorDespite this, its important to note that film genres are ever-evolving, and new authentic stories are essentialartists dedicated to creating highly specific content will always be in demand.To learn more about how Chaos plans to implement ethically sound machine learning and AI in its future visualization projects, listen to CG Garage episode 473, in which Dan Ring, Senior Machine Learning Team Lead, goes into generative AI, Gaussian Splats, NeRFs, and more!Advice for newcomers to the industrySteves primary advice to aspiring VFX artists is to be open to learning and understanding the language of film and filmmaking. They should understand how their work fits into the overall story and try their best to grasp the directors vision and what is expected of them.Embrace new toolsets, even if you dont like thempull a Phil Tippett And more important than understanding VFX is understanding the language of film and storytelling.Steve Preeg, VFX SupervisorWhat does the future of VFX look like?When asked about the future of VFX and what the industry should focus on going forward, Steve shares that collaboration is key. Directors and DPs should have greater control over visual effects, and they should remember that VFX is a hammer, not a Swiss Army knife. We dont need to eliminate VFX, but we definitely need to reevaluate the way we use it and integrate it more intelligently.Virtual production is at your fingertips.Explore Chaos Arena.Learn more

Try V-Ray 7 for SketchUp: https://www.chaos.com/vray/sketchup Learn how to quickly change the look of a Chaos Comos asset directly within your V-Ray 7 scenes. Enhance your workflow in SketchUp, by previewing and customizing all variants of a single asset in one convenient place.

0:06:44 Celebrating the 500th episode: Steves return after 10 years0:10:29 Career updates: From Digital Domain to new creative ventures0:14:04 Challenges working on Cats and creative direction lessons0:20:44 Reflections on Rescue Rangers: Comedy timing and VFX challenges0:27:29 Virtual production, LED volumes, and real-time rendering discussions0:35:19 How real-time rendering affects decision-making in post-production0:42:04 The rise of AI tools in concept art and VFX workflows0:49:29 The importance of understanding the filmmaking process for VFX artists0:56:54 Balancing practical and digital effects: Lessons from large-scale projects1:07:09 Reflections on how VFX workflows have evolved over the past decade1:16:54 Final thoughts on the future of filmmaking and Steves upcoming work

Try V-Ray 7 for Maya at https://www.chaos.com/vray7-maya Transform how you create and accelerate production. V-Ray 7 for Maya introduces cutting-edge technology and powerful new additions, enabling you to build and render more realistic scenes faster than ever. Unlock next-level creative control, seamless data exchange, consistent shaders, and much more.Highlights include:- Build environments faster than ever with support for rendering Gaussian splats. - Ensure consistent shading results with OpenPBR support.- Exchange data seamlessly with extended USD support.- Achieve cleaner renders in less time with the new firefly removal algorithm and updated Open Image Denoiser.- Gain next-level creative control with new scattering, compositing, and post-processing options.- Achieve even more realistic natural and artificial lighting instantly with an enhanced V-Ray Sun & Sky and new V-Ray Light Luminaires.- Bring your scenes to life faster with Chaos Cosmoss new asset variations and multi-asset selection.- Power up your GPU rendering with support for Caustics and numerous performance boosts for faster, more efficient rendering.See all that's new at https://www.chaos.com/vray/maya/whats-new

Our latest Chaos Campus show explores what a boutique visualization and creative studio wishes every young artist knew about creativity, business, and turning passion into success.Chaos Campus is the official Facebook community that brings together students, educators, and industry enthusiasts passionate about Chaos software, rendering, and 3D art across archviz, VFX, and animation, offering a space to share work, ask questions, and connect globally. As part of that initiative, Chaos Campus Live Show, a collaboration with Creative Lighting, hosted by Nikos Nikolopoulos and now in its fourth season, connects the global CG community through knowledge sharing, Q&A sessions, and live chats with industry leaders in a welcoming and interactive space.Join Chaos Campus to never miss a show and be a part of a vibrant community of creatives shaping the future of CG! Below are the key takeaways from episode 39, which featured Pedro Fernandez, Founder of Arqui9, a boutique visualization and creative studio, and Timon, Creative Director of the studio.SummaryCreativity requires blending personal expression, storytelling, and exploring diverse influences. Overcoming creative blocks requires stepping away and diving into new activities.Growth as a creative professional involves mastering business fundamentals, taking risks, and embracing lessons from experience.A strong portfolio should be concise, visually impactful, and highlight personal strengths. It is also important to balance client work with unique or experimental projects.When looking for work, seek out studios with values like Arqui9's that favor bold creativity, passion, and dedication and foster a collaborative team dynamic.Meet the minds behind Arqui 9: Pedro and TimonPedro Fernandez began his career as an architect with a passion for visualization, which he saw as a way to make ideas real. After studying and working in Australia and Portugal for a while, he moved to London and freelanced for various studios, including Bionics, which provided him with a valuable learning experience. He founded Arqui9 to explore his unique way of seeing the world and doing things. Pedro describes Arqui9 as being a little bit at the fringes when it comes to their approach and is inspired by studios like Luxigon, Bionic, and MIR. He believes in fostering team creativity and acknowledges that the studio has projects from top studios but has also diversified the types of clients they serve.My main focus from the get-go was not business. Being creative, being unique, and expressing yourself will, in some form or another, build your business.Pedro Fernandez, Founder, Arqui9 ArquilineIn his youth, Timon traveled extensively, finding inspiration in the various sights he encountered. Originally focused on drawing, he later pursued multimedia studies in Switzerland. He soon developed a passion for concept art, which drew him towards Arqui9s unique blend of art and architecture. After completing an internship at the studio, he was offered a full-time position and eventually became Creative Director at Arqui9. When asked about his views on creativity, he shares: "Everything has been created, but not by you. And I think everyone's got something different to say." ArquilineArqui9s manifesto and valuesThe studio centers its work around a manifesto of nine core principles created in collaboration with Gabrielle, a former client and now a member of the team. The most important principles that guide their work include "love of audacity," "passion, intensity, and dedication," and the belief that no work without a passionate character can be a masterpiece." Most employees at Arqui9 have worked together for four or more years, creating a highly intuitive environment where every idea is acknowledged, and everyone makes significant contributions.The Mercedes project: Redefining large-scale video productionThe Mercedes project was the first time Arqui9 was involved in video production on such a large scale. The goal of the projects was to be memorable and entertaining, and the studio had a clear vision for the film from the very start. The project represented a significant milestone for the studio, as it involved collaboration with models, a film crew, and directors. This experience helped the team gain confidence in their abilities to deliver high-quality work, which encouraged them to pursue new, similar projects. ArquilineAdvice for creatives who are starting their journeyArqui9 believes that creativity is about personal expression, storytelling, and pushing boundaries. They emphasize that combining influences from diverse cultures and industries can enhance creative output. You don't need to travel the world to gain a fresh perspective. Sometimes, simply taking a walk in nature or overhearing a conversation at the store can spark your imagination for your next project!Enhance your knowledge by improving any skills you lack and being receptive to learning from others' experiences. Arqui9 reminds us that growth as a creative professional involves understanding business fundamentals, taking risks, and learning from experience. When you have gathered enough projects to showcase, remember to keep your portfolio concise, visually striking, and reflective of your personal strengths. Also, be sure to include unique or experimental projects alongside client work.For more actionable insights on mastering archviz and building a strong foundation in the industry, check out our blog post on 11 Essential Lessons to Excel in Archviz. ArquilineUse AI to enhance, not replace, your workTo overcome creative blocks, creatives should try their best to step away from projects to regain perspective, explore other activities to reignite inspiration and remember not to be too hard on themselves. They should embrace mistakes as part of growth and remain curious about new techniques and tools.Both Pedro and Timon encourage creatives to embrace AI while not completely depending on it and keeping a curious mind. Arqui9 has introduced tools like Runway, Midjourney, 11 Labs, and ChatGPT into its workflow to help with idea and content generation, as well as video production. Pedro acknowledges that AI may seem concerning at first due to job security, but when used to assist creativity, it can be a useful tool. Timon adds that it should not be used to substitute fundamental skills and understanding of composition, color theory, and lighting.AI is a tool at the end of the day. Creativity is the motor that kind of runs that tool. It's using it as a tool and not as a motor.Pedro Fernandez, Founder, Arqui9Lets connect, learn, and create together!We hope episode 39 of Chaos Campus Live was insightful and motivated you to take the next step in your creative journey. If you want to soak in more information from Pedro and Timon, be sure to rewatch the episode. Dont forget to join the Chaos Campus community on Facebook to connect with fellow artists, share your work, getadvice from industry experts, and keep up with trends in archviz, VFX, and animation. Stay bold, stay curious, and keep making art that inspires.Show us what youve got.Share your best Chaos render and it may just get featured on our blog.Get started

With V-Ray 7s faster rendering, photorealistic materials, and powerful GPUs, the technical hurdles fade away, empowering you to build scenes faster, experiment freely, and push your creative boundaries.Effortlessly capture real-world locations in 3D as easily as snapping a photo with Gaussian splats, dropping highly detailed environments straight into your scene. Enjoy a new algorithm that eliminates fireflies automatically as you render, plus an updated Intel Open Image Denoiser, resulting in sharper and cleaner final images with less effort.V-Ray GPU for Maya and Houdini now supports Caustics, so you can render realistic lighting effects fast. Performance-wise, V-Ray GPU has also seen many improvements. This includes faster time to first pixel, even faster animation rendering, more efficient rendering of texture-heavy scenes, and a boost in performance thanks to new Metal support for Mac users. With enhanced V-Ray Sun and Sky and Light Path Expressions for shadows, V-Ray 7 gives you so much control over lighting and compositing. You can now render even more realistic natural daylight transitions, including nautical twilight. Plus, you also get even more control in compositing with LPEs for shadows.And this is just the beginning! Lets dive into the platform-specific features.V-Ray 7 for Maya: Key features and updatesOpen PBR supportWorking on a project that transitions between different applications like Autodesk Maya and Adobe Substance Painter? In the past, you might have had to tweak shaders repeatedly to maintain consistency between programs. With OpenPBR support, V-Ray 7 eliminates this hassle, ensuring your shaders maintain the same standard across platformsno rework required.Weve also ensured you can effortlessly create sophisticated effects within this shading standard. With a new layering scheme and an enhanced Sheen layer, you can easily craft complex, lifelike materials. From neon lights, dusty lacquered wood, and peach fuzz to velvet, satin, silk, and more, achieving realistic and intricate details has never been easier.Even more powerful VFBVFB enhancements in V-Ray 7 now offer even more creative control. You can create custom-shaped regions now, so you can isolate and render specific parts of your scene without re-rendering the whole thing. For example, you could just render a character's face to tweak the skin without rendering the entire environment, saving you a lot of time.To add to that, there's a new Vignette Layer for more artistic control, and new color correction presets built right in.More control with Chaos ScatterPopulating your scenes and art-directing your scatters just got easier with new, even more powerful Chaos Scatter controls. Objects can now automatically orient themselves towards a target, like palm trees leaning towards the sun thanks to the new Look at option. With Chaos Scatter, you can use splines as surfaces for scattering, so even more control over placement. The Falloff curve option gives you really precise control over things like altitude variance in vegetation, so you could create a super realistic landscape with just a few clicks.Chaos CosmosThe biggest new Chaos Cosmos feature is asset variants, which allows you to easily switch between different asset versions. For instance, if you're working with a tree model, you can instantly switch between a summer version with vibrant leaves and an autumn version to where they are beautifully falling. Additionally, there's multi-asset selection which lets you import tons of assets from Chaos Cosmos at the same time.V-Ray LuminairesWith support for V-Ray Luminaires complex light fixture assets available in our ever-growing Chaos Cosmos library, you can now achieve more physically accurate lighting faster and instantly elevate the quality and realism of artificial lights in your scenes.Extended USD supportV-Ray 7 for Maya supports the latest official version of MayaUSD 0.30.0. Weve also extended our support to include V-Ray Clipper alongside other enhancements to ensure seamless data exchange between V-Ray integrations.Learn moreV-Ray 7 for Houdini Davide ValvonaNew Volume ShaderV-Ray 7 for Houdini introduces powerful shading updates, starting with the new volume shaderan initial implementation that enables you to easily create amazing volumetric effects like clouds, smoke, and captivating atmospheres with magical effects that add depth and powerful storytelling to your scenes. You can build shading graphs to craft complex shaders and customize your effects, and enjoy greater control over your volumetrics in compositing thanks to light select support. Plus, the new volume shader renders up to x6 times faster.MaterialX support extendedYou can now create and render most MtlX procedural textures, including noises, patterns, and randomization options.Easier toon shadingWeve completely redesigned the toon shading workflow in V-Ray for Solaris to make it way more intuitive. If you want that classic look with the bold outlines and flat colors, it's easier than ever to achieve that. That's great news for anyone doing non-photorealistic, stylized work.Chaos Cosmos support in SolarisChaos Cosmos is fully integrated with V-Ray for Solaris now, so you have access to a massive library of assets including stones, vegetation, and other essential props. Users can populate their scenes with all those amazing models, materials, and HDRIs from Chaos Cosmos and make their stunning, immersive scenes with ease.VFB enhancementsV-Ray 7 also offers Houdini users some nice VFB enhancements, custom-shaped render regions, and color correction presets.Yeti cache support & Copernicus supportWith the new V-Ray yeti node, you can render Yeti cache files right in Solaris. So if you've created super detailed fur or hair grooms in another program like Maya, you can bring them straight into Houdini and render them without breaking a sweat. Plus, V-Ray for Solaris now supports Copernicus, a powerful procedural texturing tool, enabling more third-party plugin options and greater flexibility when working with V-Ray.Learn moreA whole new world of creative freedomWe've talked about a ton of new features in V-Ray 7 for both Maya and Houdini, but if we zoom out a bit and look at the bigger picture it's not just about the individual features themselves, but what becomes possible creatively when you combine them together.Artists can now create faster, experiment more freely, and really push their creative boundaries. V-Ray 7 is all about creative freedom. So what are you waiting for? Unleash your creativity and let the art, the story, and the fun of creation take center stage, while the technical fades away.Try nowGet started with V-Ray 7 for Maya & HoudiniTransform how you create.Get started

Learn more about V-Ray and get a free trial at https://bit.ly/vray-try Dive into a world where anything is possibleepic space battles, mythical creatures, breathtaking environments, and unforgettable characters. Every frame is a testament to the limitless possibilities of Chaos tools and the boundless creativity of the artists who wield them. So grab your favorite seat, press play, and get ready to be inspired. We are endlessly amazed by the artistry and innovation of the VFX community. To every artist and studio featured here, thank you for continuing to dream big and make magic:a52AreveraBUCKDeckard DigitalDigital DomainDreamWorks AnimationFlooulFrame 48Ghost VFXGoodbye Kansas StudiosJAMMKORBLunar AnimationMAKEREALTIMEScanline VFXSpace Office VFXTATUnit ImageZoic StudiosEditor: Andrs Garcia Diaz, FIUMUMusic: Elliot Middleton 'We Will Soar'Thumbnail credit: Scanline VFX

Dive into a world where anything is possibleepic space battles, mythical creatures, breathtaking environments, and unforgettable characters. Every frame is a testament to the limitless possibilities of Chaos tools and the boundless creativity of the artists who wield them. So grab your favorite seat, press play, and get ready to be inspired.We are endlessly amazed by the artistry and innovation of the VFX community. To every artist and studio featured here, thank you for continuing to dream big and make magic:a52AreveraBUCKDeckard DigitalDigital DomainDreamWorks AnimationFlooulFrame 48Ghost VFXGoodbye Kansas StudiosJAMMKORBLunar AnimationMAKEREALTIMEScanline VFXSpace Office VFXTATUnit ImageZoic StudiosEditor: Andrs Garcia Diaz, FIUMUMusic: Elliot Middleton 'We Will Soar'Thumbnail credit: Scanline VFXV-Ray brings visual effects to life. Take a look at some showcase projects here:

0:05:00 The journey to recording the podcast amidst LA fires0:09:30 Growing up in a creative household and early inspirations0:15:00 Early days at ILM and learning from top VFX supervisors0:20:40 Collaborating on Tron: Legacy with Paul Lambert0:25:25 Founding Wylie Co. and transitioning to running a VFX company0:30:10 Challenges of balancing creative and technical aspects in VFX0:35:45 Insights from Dune: Part One and preparing for Dune: Part Two0:41:20 How Wylie Co. adapted to the rise of AI in visual effects workflows0:47:15 Contributions to The Last of Us and episodic content0:53:50 Reflecting on Alien: Romulus and working on sci-fi projects1:00:10 The evolution of VFX and staying relevant in a competitive industry1:05:40 Final thoughts on the future of filmmaking and upcoming projects

Try V-Ray 7 for Cinema 4D: https://www.chaos.com/vray7-cinema4d Transform your creative process with V-Ray 7. Speed up environment creation, collaborate more efficiently, and deliver immersive experiences for your clients. Meet tight deadlines without compromising quality, and achieve more faster. Create highly detailed context for your scenes effortlessly Collaborate more efficiently in the Cloud and present more effectively through interactive virtual tours Achieve more accurate lighting, faster Explore new options for complete creative control Bring designs to life instantly with new render-ready asset types Render faster and more efficientlyAnd much more.00:00 - Intro00:09 - Gaussian splats support00:40 - OpenPBR support01:01 - Enhanced V-Ray Sun & Sky01:25 - V-Ray GPU: Caustics Support 01:38 - Chaos Cloud virtual tours01:57 - Firefly removal 02:12 - Color correction presets02:38 - Custom-shaped render regions03:03 - Vignette layer 03:19 - Chaos Cosmos asset variants and more!See all thats new in V-Ray 7 for Cinema 4Dhttps://www.chaos.com/vray/cinema-4d/whats-new For more information about our products, visit: https://www.chaos.com/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/ChaosGroupTV to get useful tutorials and the latest updates from ChaosFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaosgroup On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaosgroup/

Speed up environment creation, collaborate more efficiently, and deliver immersive experiences for your clients with the new V-Ray 7 for Cinema4D.

0:04:21 Todd Perrys early inspirations and journey into visual effects0:08:36 Discovering computer graphics and transitioning to 3D work0:14:41 Breaking into the industry and first big projects at Imageworks0:20:06 Transitioning to supervising roles on films like Age of Ultron0:24:31 Working on Doctor Strange and insights into Black Panther0:29:51 Innovations in practical effects versus digital effects0:35:06 Todds approach to remote work and distributed VFX pipelines0:41:11 Highlights of Todds Oscar-shortlisted live-action short film0:46:31 How AI is reshaping tools and workflows in filmmaking0:54:21 Reflections on the future of mid-budget films and storytelling1:01:56 Closing thoughts and Todds current projects

0:08:30 Andy Boyd shares updates since his last appearance0:10:10 Growth of Jam: From 25 to 75+ team members0:12:20 Challenges of sustaining commercial work and diversifying projects0:15:15 The state of the film industry and navigating tax incentives0:19:30 Jams niche: High-quality work with limited shot counts0:23:50 Discussing Brothers and creating the photoreal CG orangutan0:29:00 Transitioning to V-Ray and achieving realistic fur rendering0:33:40 On-set challenges and working with actors like Josh Brolin0:39:15 Reflections on Brothers: Blending comedy and realism in VFX0:45:20 The evolution of commercial work in the streaming age0:50:30 Using AI as a tool and balancing creative and technical workflows0:58:45 Future trends in VFX and staying competitive in a dynamic industry1:04:00 Closing thoughts and upcoming projects at Jam

What happens when an archviz master meets a global audience of archviz professionals eager to elevate their craft? Breakthroughs, inspiration, and stunning visuals.Throughout 2024, Chaos hosted a transformative series of live, online classes attracting over 4300 registrations from eager archviz artists. Led by Nikos Nikolopoulos, the Founder and Creative Director of Creative Lighting, the Archviz Masterclass series offered participants a rare opportunity to learn from a seasoned trainer who has worked with some of the worlds most renowned architects, designers, and visualization studios.Over eight lessons, Nikos covered topics from creating emotional narratives and exterior lighting strategies to mastering color psychology and professional-level post-processing. Under his guidance, the attendees found their creativity ignited and were pushed to elevate their craft. "I loved witnessing the creative breakthroughs participants experienced as they combined storytelling with technical expertise," Nikos said. "It was inspiring to see how each individual brought their perspective to their projects, creating visuals that felt personal yet universally compelling.A collaborative and creative community in actionBecause each Masterclass session was live, this added a liveliness and collaborative atmosphere to the classes. Fellow participants even introduced Nikos to fresh ways to use Chaos products, such as experimenting with V-Ray and Coronas LightMix feature to enhance their storytelling or integrating Vantage to explore real-time adjustments. Seeing these tools reimagined through fresh perspectives highlighted the incredible flexibility of Chaos software and the participants' creativity," Nikos shared.A competitive grand finaleWith the Masterclass series drawing to a close, Nikos introduced a competition for participants to channel their new skills into a challenge inspired by film or TV characters. They developed mood boards exploring light, design, and color palettes, submitting two images that showcased distinct moods. "I looked for designs that transcended technical skill to tell a meaningful story," Nikos explained.Three entries stood out among the other submissions, and each received an annual license for a Chaos product for their hard work. "The winners excelled in their ability to evoke emotion, capture their fictional client's essence, and deliver visuals that were not just stunning but also deeply resonant and memorable."Read on to learn more about the three winning entries and why Nikos found their work outstanding.

In virtual production, this previsualization step is roughly the same, but the construction of the set takes place in a virtual environment instead of a physical space. This is handled by a specific team, called the virtual art department, which collaborates with everyone from VFX supervisors to carpenters to ensure a seamless blend of digital and real.When the set is created in digital space, virtual scouting can take place. Via this process, filmmakers can explore the space with virtual reality headsets and work out the best angles and shots, just like they would with real-world locations. Movies such as The Jungle Book and Avengers: Endgame used real-time engines for on-set previews of how green screen shots would look in the finished movies.Main virtual production techniquesUse of LED wallsWithout good-quality LED screens, ICVFX would fall apart. These fundamentally rely on the same technology that displays imagery on your TV, monitor, or smartphone, with a few key differences:No bezels: LED stages are created by building literal walls or volumes of multiple panels that seamlessly link together. Bezels are obviously a no-go in this environment, so LED screens feature edge-to-edge displays.Sturdy and versatile: The panels also have to be tough enough to withstand temperamental directors boots and versatile enough to mount in various scenarios, from large flat walls to cavernous volumes, where they can form part of the wall or ceiling.Increased brightness: Film sets are surprisingly bright places. A specialized LED screen is much brighter so it's visible on camera, even with studio lights in front of it, and so it can cast realistic lighting and reflections on physical actors and props. It also has a matte finish to avoid unwanted reflections on the screen itself.Excellent viewing angles: Have you ever noticed how cheaper monitors can look washed out when viewed from a certain angle? This effect would ruin a virtual production, so most LED panels are designed to be viewed from any angle.Low pixel pitch: Likewise, the distance between pixels on the screen (known as pixel pitch) must be as low as possible. If the pixel pitch is too high, theres a risk of a moire effect when the camera is close to the screen, which can cause unwanted wavy or shimmering lines. Today, 1.8mm is considered a good pitch but panels used in the production of Tomorrowland in 2015 featured a pitch as high as 11mm!Color accuracy and calibration: Spot-on color reproduction is essential for seamlessly blending the LED wall or volume with real-world props and actors. For instance, a virtual desert shot might use real sand on set, so its crucial that the colors and lighting match accurately.Rear projection and virtual setsRear projection is nothing new. Those unconvincing shots of actors driving cars against shaky backgrounds in old films made use of this technology by placing a car in front of a projector and replaying footage of a road. Fortunately, its come a long way since then but the fundamental principle is the same.In an ICVFX production, a car can be placed in front of a moving CG landscape to create a convincing illusion that the vehicle is in motion. However, unlike old rear projection systems, the angle, lighting, and content of the backdrop can be changed if necessary. We used this technique to create the moving steam train footage for Ray Tracing FTW.

Photorealistic Renderers Add Over 30 Features/Improvements for Beginners and Specialists Working in AEC, Product Design and MoreKARLSRUHE, Germany December 10, 2024 Today, Chaos releases V-Ray 7 for SketchUp and V-Ray 7 for Rhino, helping designers tap the power of Gaussian Splats, virtual tours and eye-catching effects all in one place. With V-Ray 7, designers can start accelerating everything from 3D environments to immersive experiences, using presets and other tools that reduce most processes down to a couple of clicks.3D Gaussian Splats, the talk of this years SketchUp 3D Basecamp, are becoming prized as a rapid way to create complex 3D environments from photos or video. With native support for Gaussian Splats, SketchUp and Rhino users can now leverage this trend, as they easily place buildings in context or render rich, detailed environments that can be reflected and accept shadows.V-Ray 7 is also a fast path to creating interactive virtual tours that will entice clients and effectively communicate design intent. These immersive, panoramic experiences can easily be customized with floor plans, personalized hotspots and other contextual details that will highlight a spaces unique attributes.New Material Override options have been added to make massing/form studies a breeze. While anyone can make a model monochrome with a click, V-Ray 7 allows them to also preserve specific surface details like bump maps, and material characteristics like refractions, reflections and self-illumination, offering more control over the final presentations. Stylized rendering presets are also available, including options for clay, plastic, wood and more.Additional Features and Improvements Include:V-Ray Frame Buffer UpdatesFreeform Render Region Designers can now re-render specific parts of their image with any shape they want. With limitless flexibility, users can render multiple regions at once, or hone in on a single area they want to fine-tune.Color-Correction Presets A new color-correction filters library can quickly boost the visual appearance of a render, providing users with quick access to many high-quality grading options.Vignetting Layer Vignette camera effects can now be added using quick shaping controls, helping users bring more attention to the center of an image.Artistic AidsLayered Textures A powerful new layering system will bring a Photoshop-esque experience to high-detail textures. Each texture layer can be stacked and tweaked with complete control over opacity, blending modes and more.Gradient Texture Remapping Advanced UV mapping capabilities now enable an advanced texture recoloring workflow. This is especially useful for procedural texture edits like pattern colorization, brick randomization and custom wallpaper designs.V-Ray Luminaires The ever-expanding Chaos Cosmos asset library, accessible through V-Ray, now brings a new light fixture optimization called Luminaires, which preserves the accurate light distribution while optimizing render times. Most of the light fixtures within Chaos Cosmos are now Luminaires in V-Ray 7.Light Mix for Emissive Materials Light Mix now lets designers adjust the intensity and color of specific emissive materials after rendering, for better lighting control and customizable renders.Enhanced V-Ray Sun & Sky For designers looking to create nautical twilight looks, V-Ray 7 offers an improved PRG sky model that can create more realistic images and immersive animations. V-Ray Sky can also now render various observer altitudes up to several kilometers.Firefly Removal V-Ray 7s new algorithm automatically detects and finishes unresolved pixels, known as fireflies, during bucket rendering, greatly reducing the time needed to produce final images.Scatter ToolsEdge Trimming Scattered elements now fit perfectly within set boundary lines, making it easier to populate any precisely defined area.Camera Clipping Users can now limit scattered instances to the current view of their camera.Chaos Cosmos ImprovementsNon-Destructive Material Override Users can now swap out Cosmos object materials without breaking the assets connection to Cosmos.Asset Variants Support Chaos Cosmos now has more asset variations to choose from, including seasonal options for 3D vegetation models (ex: summer or autumn leaves). Once users select their desired variant, they can just drag and drop it into their scene or even change the variant at a later stage.400 New Render-Ready Assets V-Ray 7 incorporates the latest Chaos Cosmos update, which is packed with 250+ vegetation models, 70+ static people featuring both single and couple-based poses and new furniture from IWC Home and Fanuli.GPU BoostsFaster Time to First Pixel New optimizations for scatter rendering, texture heavy scenes, data uploads and geometry compilations offer a better interactive rendering experience and a faster time to first pixel for speed-conscious users.Caustics Support V-Ray GPU now supports caustics, enabling realistic surface reflections and refractions in both production and interactive rendering. The new Caustics solver is also optimized to fully utilize GPU hardware, delivering significantly faster results than a CPU.RAM for Texture Memory Textures are no longer processed by V-Ray GPU, giving users the ability to employ even bigger textures without worrying about memory constraints.Up to 3X Faster on MacBooks New Metal support triples rendering performance when using both the GPU and CPU sides of Apple M4 processors, while doubling performance on M3 processors.SketchUp-Only UpdatesFaster Rendering in the SketchUp Viewport Users will find a significant speed boost when utilizing the viewport rendering overlay in SketchUp 2024.Simplified Material Binding Users can now configure the way V-Ray materials are displayed in the SketchUps viewport in a more intuitive and straightforward way.Rhino/Grasshopper-Only UpdatesNew Object Modifiers UI A new and improved user interface makes managing object modes like Fur, Clipper, Mesh Light, Displacement and Scatter a lot easier.Swarm in V-Ray for Grasshopper Distributed rendering is now possible in Grasshopper, making it easier to use the power of multiple machines to turn out faster renders.To see all the new features, explore the Whats New pages for V-Ray 7 for SketchUp and V-Ray 7 for Rhino/Grasshopper today.Pricing and AvailabilityV-Ray 7 for SketchUp is available now for Windows and MacOS, while V-Ray 7 for Rhino/Grasshopper is available for Windows. All V-Ray subscription plans work for all supported host applications, including Rhino, SketchUp, 3ds Max, Revit, Maya, Cinema 4D, Houdini and Blender. Pricing can be found on the Chaos website.About ChaosFounded in 1997, Chaos is a leading global visualization technology company. Chaos is defining visualization by offering accessible tools, simplifying and accelerating workflows, and empowering visual storytelling for artists, architects, designers and other creative professionals.Chaos portfolio of visualization technologies for architecture and design, media and entertainment, and product e-commerce includes:V-Ray, a physically based renderer that has been honored with an Academy Award and an Engineering EmmyEnscape, a high-quality real-time rendering and virtual reality pluginCorona, an artist-friendly photorealistic rendererCylindo, a 3D furniture product visualization platform for e-commerceAnima, a 3D/4D animation software to add realistic people and crowds to visualizationsHeadquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, Chaos has nearly 800 employees and offices in 11 cities worldwide. It is actively seeking new talent across multiple departments to continue expanding its ecosystem.For more information, visit chaos.com, chaos-enscape.com, chaos-cylindo.com and axyz-design.com.Press ContactsChaosYara Ryabovayara.ryabova@chaos.comwww.chaos.com

Join the beta now at V-Ray for Blender at https://bit.ly/41orUMB Explore award-winning, production-proven rendering to achieve state-of-the-art results. This brand-new V-Ray for Blender includes all essential rendering features to craft any look and create stunning images and animations, whether photorealistic or stylistic. Plus, it expands your creative possibilities with tools that go beyond rendering essentials.

The renderer trusted by Oscar-winning filmmakers and artists around the world is coming to Blender. Join the V-Ray for Blender beta and help shape the best rendering workflow for you.

Accelerate 3D environment creation, streamline your design workflows, and deliver immersive experiences to your clients with V-Ray 7. Its innovative toolset is both intuitive for beginners and robust for experienced visualizers, empowering you to meet tight deadlines while achieving exceptional quality results effortlessly.00:00 Meet V-Ray 7 for Rhino00:08 Gaussian Splat00:45 V-Ray Luminaires01:17 Enhanced V-Ray Sun & Sky01:52 Shading Improvements03:14 Chaos Scatter Enhancements03:53 Chaos Cosmos Asset Variants04:28 Material Override & Presets05:22 Custom Render Regions06:32 Self-illuminated Materials & LightMix07:12 Automatic Denoiser Switch07:43 V-Ray GPU: Faster TTFP08:04 V-Ray GPU: Caustics SupportSee all thats new in V-Ray 7 for Rhino. https://www.chaos.com/vray/rhino/whats-new For more information about our products, visit: https://www.chaos.com/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/ChaosGroupTV to get useful tutorials and the latest updates from ChaosFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaosgroup On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaosgroup/

Create 3D environments faster, optimize your design workflows and deliver immersive experiences for your clients. With an innovative toolset that is intuitive for beginners and powerful for seasoned visualizers, with V-Ray 7 you can meet tight deadlines and produce high-quality results quickly. 00:00 Meet V-Ray 7.00:08 Gaussian Splat00:47 V-Ray Luminaires01:20 Enhanced V-Ray Sun & Sky01:55 Shading Improvements03:17 Chaos Scatter Enhancements03:56 Chaos Cosmos Asset Variants04:30 Material Override & Presets05:25 Custom Render Regions05:47 Vignette Layer06:06 Color Correction Presets06:35 Self-illuminated Materials & LightMix07:19 Automatic Denoiser Switch07:56 V-Ray GPU: Faster TTFP08:13 V-Ray GPU: Caustics SupportSee all thats new in V-Ray 7 for SketchUp. https://www.chaos.com/vray/sketchup/whats-new For more information about our products, visit: https://www.chaos.com/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/ChaosGroupTV to get useful tutorials and the latest updates from ChaosFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaosgroup On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaosgroup/

What is 3D modeling?3D modeling is the process of creating a digital object in a virtual space. Like sculpting, youre creating a three-dimensional digital representation of something, but instead of clay, you're using specialized software. In essence, its like sculpting with digital tools.Types of 3D modeling and its applicationsThere are several types of 3D modeling. Let's explore them below.Polygonal modelingPolygonal modeling involves building objects using polygons, which are flat shapes with three or more sides and hard edges. You can think of it like building something out of Legos. Each Lego brick is a polygon, and you put them together to create the overall shape. Polygonal modeling is particularly useful for visualizations, where large, detailed environments like architectural spaces need to be created quickly.NURBS modelingFor objects with smooth curves, like cars, handheld devices, or various mechanical parts, you would use NURBS modeling. NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) is a way of creating smooth-flowing surfaces using mathematical curves. To picture it better, just imagine bending a thin sheet of metal into any organic shape thats the power of NURBS.Subdivision surface modelingLike NURBS, subdivision surface modeling is often used to create smooth, organic shapes such as characters or vehicle bodies. The main difference is that subdivision surface smooths shapes by subdividing polygons for organic forms, while NURBS uses mathematical curves for precise, smooth surfaces in hard-surface designs.Digital sculptingFor modeling super realistic characters, or specialized architectural features such as detailed facades, or intricate ornamental designs, you would use digital sculpting. You use digital tools to shape and mold the virtual model, adding details like wrinkles and pores in a character, or use a V-Ray wood material to model scratches and wear in a wooden cabinet.BIMBuilding Information Modeling (BIM) is used in architecture, engineering, and construction. It focuses on creating a detailed, data-rich 3D model of a building or infrastructure project. It is especially useful for collaborative construction projects as it integrates data like materials, cost estimates, and project timelines, into the design.Procedural and Parametric ModelingProcedural and parametric modeling combine algorithms, rules, and parameters to generate objects and environments, rather than relying on manual creation. Procedural modeling is ideal for large-scale environments like cities or terrain, often used in game design and film production, while parametric modeling creates objects based on adjustable constraints, such as building height or gear radius, making it perfect for architecture and product design where flexibility and easy modifications are key.Volumetric modelingVolumetric modeling is used to create 3D models that represent volumes, such as smoke, fog, clouds, or liquids, and is commonly used in simulations and visual effects for movies and video games. Chaos Phoenix offers an easier, more dynamic approach than traditional modeling by simulating these effects in real-time, allowing for customizable and realistic results without pre-modeled assets.3D scanning3D scanning involves capturing real-world objects or environments using a 3D scanner, which creates a digital model based on the shape, size, and texture of the scanned object. This method is commonly used in industries like architecture, heritage preservation, and manufacturing for quickly creating accurate digital replicas of physical objects or spaces.Popular 3D modeling softwareFor animation and character designAutodesk Maya is known for its strengths in animation and character design, seamlessly integrating with V-Ray for cinematic visuals, while Cinema 4D is popular for motion graphics and 3D modeling, also integrating with V-Ray for detailed animation rendering.For architectural visualization and designAutodesk 3ds Max is a favorite for 3d modeling in architectural visualization and product design, heavily integrated with V-Ray for photorealistic images.SketchUp, widely used in architecture and interior design, supports both V-Ray and Enscape for intuitive, real-time, and photorealistic rendering.Revit, commonly used in architectural design and BIM (Building Information Modeling), is compatible with both Enscape and V-Ray for visualization, while Archicad and Vectorworks, also favored by architects, are supported by Enscape for real-time rendering and walkthroughs.Rhinoceros (Rhino) is ideal for industrial and architectural design, with V-Ray for detailed rendering and Enscape for real-time visualization.Archicad and Vectorwarks are useful for 2D and 3D drafting, parametric modelling, BIM and are both compatible with Enscape.

Leveraging V-Ray for photorealistic resultsOne of the key elements that allowed the Digital Domain artists to progress with the project so efficiently was their in-depth knowledge of V-Ray, the photo-realistic ray-traced rendering software created by Chaos. V-Ray has been Digital Domain's go-to render solution for almost all of their recent creative projects. Its versatility and ability to deliver stunning photorealist results made it an obvious choice for the project. V-Rays integration into Digital Domain's pipeline ensured not only speed and efficiency but also unparalleled visual quality.Ultimately, it just gets us to the finish line so quickly, compared to a lot of the other standards. You get 80 percent straight out of the box, and then you refine it a little bit from there, says Bob White, head of CG at Digital Domain. Its often the case with a lot of other rendersyou have to work your way up to get to that 80 percent, which is far more time-consuming when youre against a deadline.With Maya as their primary modeling and texturing tool and Houdini on hand for visual effects, the synergy between software components laid the groundwork for the projects success.Central to the creative vision of the project was the concept of beauty amidst decay, something that is a thematic cornerstone of the world of The Last of Us, both in the TV series and the video game. The team meticulously crafted environments that portrayed natures relentless overtaking of man-made structures. Drain explains, This was supposed to have almost a kind of beauty to it, and to convey that nature is taking over man. One of the main things that we got was this idea that its supposed to be beautiful in its own way. Theres decay, but in that decay, they wanted beauty.