In this training package you will learn the technical and artistic secrets needed to create high quality matte paintings and learn about professional art direction to further understand what is needed to make a shot look photo-real.

Some topics covered include:

Setting up the canvas and going from concept to matte painting

Painting, cloning, photo manipulation and layer techniques

Color theory, perspective, and light/shadow concepts

Setting up 2D, 2.5D, and 3D projection and compositing techniques using Photoshop, After Effects, Nuke, and Maya

Week One

You will gather references for matte paintings later in class (such as photos self taken, or on copyright free high resolution images on the internet or scans). David will provide some references for you to start out with. Students are encouraged to use their own reference material for their matte paintings. You will be provided with links to recommended reading materials to enhance your knowledge of matte painting.

Video tuition includes:

An introduction to Photoshop tools and canvas, aspect ratio, and pixel resolution, and color space information (8bit/16bit/cineon/rgb)

sRGB and monitor color calibration; Mac vs PC ICC profiles

Composition and rule of thirds, tangent lines, atmospheric perspective, 1/2/3 point perspective.

You will also develop a concept for first your first matte painting built from concept work you will develop. Concepts can be made from any combination of paint sketches, rough photo stitching, texture work, and 3D proxy models.

Week Two, Video tuition includes:

Color correction tools in Photoshop: Curves, Levels, Hue/Saturation, and Brightness/Contrast

Layer management, Coloring Layers, Groups, Clipping Masks, and Adjustment Layers for non-destructive image editing

Extraction techniques: Extraction Tool, Marquee Tool, Quick Mask erasing

A study on Plate Extensions and how they are used as a basis for matte paintings

Grain averaging, and re-graining plates for matte painting work.

Week Three

This week focusses on Lighting/Shadow, sun direction, bounce light, specular/diffuse/reflection components of objects to consider while matte painting. Showing what the different Blend Options for layers – Multiply, Screen, Linear Dodge, Overlay, etc.

Video tuition includes: Sky replacement tutorial, matching lighting, black values, and perspective

Background, Mid-ground, Foreground elements, giving depth to a matte painting. Start thinking about breaking up painting into layers for compositing later on and giving control over animating it later.

Art Direction: You will experiment with different color schemes before settling, giving focus to the piece and having an interesting subject.

Week Four

This week includes cloning techniques, painting back in texture detail using the Levels tool and adjustment layers to paint in highlights.

Now you will move on to create a new concept for final matte painting and conceptualize it so you can break up the painting layers, which can then be animated in a compositing package or be projected in 3D on cards and/or objects. Students are encouraged to use their own footage in a locked-off position on a tripod, if possible, or moving freely if they are ambitious to match-move on their own.

Week Five, Video tuition includes:

Day for night tutorial, using curves, painting in lights, and shadows

Using After Effects to import in Photoshop matte painting layers and preparing them for some 2.5D animation. Think about adding in practical elements or CG elements to liven up matte painting

Using MeshWrap to animate your footage

How to animate water in 2D using Displacement.

Week Six, Video tuition includes:

Preparing Photoshop layers in matte painting and exporting them with Alpha channels for non Adobe programs (they handle Alpha Channels differently)

Using Nuke to import in Photoshop layers, and preparing them for 2.5D/3D compositing. Show basic nodes to attach to make it work for students

Setting up a 2.5D camera move for a matte painting using AfterEffects.

You can also view ongoing paint overs and critiques for students who worked with David during the CGWorkshop.

Week Seven, Video tuition includes:

Setting up Photoshop to export your layers to Maya

Using Maya for 3D matte painting projections and techniques to render out for compositing

Shader setup, animating cameras, and rendering your matte painting in Maya

Setting up a 3D Cityscape matte painting and matching camera data for animation

Setting up a 3D Matte Painting Projection in Nuke.

Read critique of rough matte paintings for final project.

Week Eight

Continuation of lecture on the history of matte painting and the great artists of today.

Critique of final matte painting projects.

I am considering a career in digital matte painting, and this course will give me some of the experience I need.