Fix-it VFX

06/17/2020

Hi, I’m Steven Javitz, your fix-it expert. Have you ever realized there is something in a shot you want to remove, like a logo, production equipment, shadow, license plate, crew reflection, etc? I can fix your filming mistakes in post so you can save your favorite take. Think of it like photoshop, but by using Rotoscoping and tracking techniques, we can composite the fixes onto moving footage. My goal is to make the problem invisible on the final result.

I’d love to answer your questions, so please contact me now by phone or email. Maybe I’ll even do a shot for free if you’re a new customer.

06/17/2020

VFX DEEP THOUGHTS

by Steven Javitz

For doing tacking/fix-it work, After effects with Mocha is my favorite, even better when coupled with the Mocha import + plugin using stabilized precomps. On very difficult 2D mocha tracks, I do a simple translation only track and do the rotation/scale/etc manually in compositing. Manually using levels adjustment and masks can match lighting changes on your tracked patch. Use mocha tracking to drive masks to save 20%-80% of the time required for rotoscoping.

Red cinema and Sony Venice are the best cameras I’ve seen for doing a green screen keying. Don’t just key to replace a white sky, multiply the new sky over the background and key just a smoothly eroded hold-out patch on top, results are amazing. Don’t try to roto tall brush and plants, find a similar looking tree or plant png mask to use and just re-create the cuts. Substance painter is fantastic for texturing 3D objects. I like after effects, but sometimes Nuke is best for fancy 3D tracking and rendered 3D object integration, as well as using exr’s with many channels. It’s important to communicate clearly exactly what it is that needs to be done because this work is time consuming and it’s best to get it right the first time.

06/17/2020

06/17/2020

OH CRUD, THAT GOT IN THE SHOT!

Written by Ben Thayer & Don Thatt


You didn’t notice on filming day,

But now in post, you feel dismay.

Logos, text and wires, oh my!

Don't blur it out, give me a try.

Don’t table flip and slap DP.

All you do, is contact me!

Let’s just patch that ugly spot,

Change it, fix it, save the shot!