“A Model of Madness” Scott Ross Why VFX Fails as a Business
Scott Ross: VFX is “a model of madness.” ILM, Digital Domain, and decades later, the business still cannot stand on three legs.
TD Meetup 21: VR, Quill & the Renaissance of Real-Time Storytelling
At TD Meetup #21, Dan Franke showed how Quill VR lets you literally paint, animate, and pivot scenes in real time—no rig, just hand and headset.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Gen2 and Gen4: Professional Audio for Creators?
The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Gen4 brings Auto Gain, Safe, and Air to content creators looking for reliable, studio-grade audio in a compact form. We tested it with the Shure SM7B and Rode PodMic USB. Here’s what you should know BEFORE you upgrade.
VFX Job Application | FMX 2025 [LIMITED TIME]
Applying for jobs in visual effects, animation and gaming can be challenging, so let’s reveal the secrets that…
Python for Artists Cohort starts soon
Repetitive tasks kill time. Python kills repetitive tasks. DP author Alexander Richter teaches scripting for Maya, Houdini, Nuke, and more.
TD-Meetup: Join us live, we talk about how VR Speeds Up Animation & Previz!
VR meets previs: Dan Franke shows how Quill VR fuels storytelling and rapid 3D iteration at the TD Meetup this thursday!
Goodbye Adobe Premiere
I whispered, "Goodbye, Adobe!" as I pressed the unsubscribe button. To me it sounded very much like “Hasta la vista” but less dramatic. We had a good run, but it was time to move on.
USDSkel: Optimized Character Rigging
USDSkel is an OpenUSD component that supports scalable, manipulable, and interchangeable skinned characters. Wanna know more?
Problem-solving is a key life and professional skill, especially for those working with technology. Technical artists and directors in visual effects, animation and games are constantly solving technical problems, such as software crashes and slowdowns. They create alternative workflows and write Python scripts to speed up the process.
TD Meetup 18: Financially Smart Freelancer
Anyone who has worked as a freelancer knows the feeling of not having enough clients or earning enough money by the end of the month. Many freelancers struggle to establish stable finances. One of the main reasons is job and income fluctuation. Some months, we work too much, others we work none at all.
TD Meetup 17: Contract Negotiation
Negotiating a new contract can be a confusing and nerve-racking experience. The thought of meeting a group of strangers, in-person or online, who hold the power to decide your future can be overwhelming.
TD Meetup 16: VFX Future
Join us at the VFX Future event where we’ll examine the recent closure of Technicolor, a major blow…
TD Meetup 15: Open Source Pipeline Plex
Plex is an Visual Effects, Animation and Games pipeline that manages critical workflows during production.
Inspiring Artists – Episode 08 | Ft Alexander Richter
In this episode, we dive into Alexander Richter’s inspiring journey as he shares insights into his career as…
Python Copilot: AI Coding Assistant
Discover the power of the Python Copilot: AI Coding Assistant. Advance your career as a technical artist or…
TD Meetup 14: GitHub Copilot
Imagine an AI assistant that saves you hours while making your Python code faster, cleaner, and more reliable.
Why learn Python when there is A.I.?
Have you ever wondered if Python is becoming obsolete with the rise of A.I. and tools like ChatGPT? Why spend years learning a skill that can be solved in a single prompt?
Will Multishot bring sequence compositing into Nuke 16’s release?
TD Meetup 12: Technical Interview
What Does It Take to Nail a Technical Interview in VFX, Animation, and Games?
TD Meetup 11: Capture Reality for Visual Effects
Let's us look on how capturing reality will improve our own creative output.
Motion Capture for Video Games w/ Adrian Perdjon | 21 Artist Show 031
Let's take a look at motion capture for video games. From The Witcher 1 & 2, The Medium to The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, all these game animations were (partially) created using motion capture. In the middle of it all is the Polish motion capture studio BONES, founded by actor and motion capture artist Adrian Perdjo in the wave of CG Projekt Red's smash hit The Witcher 1, 2 and 3.
TD Meetup 10: ComfyUI in Nuke
What if we could create AI images directly in Nuke using ComfyUI?
TD Meetup 09: Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry is an important part of digital asset creation and has helped countless projects create realistic digital actors, assets and environments.
Obsbot: 4K, CI, Gimbal, ..
In 2022, Obsbot surprised us with its 4K AI model (see issue DP 22:06). Now they're back with Obsbot Tiny 2. Is the upgrade really 2024 fair or just a warm rehash like the next FIFA [year]? Let's find out!
Baby’s first pipeline
The first big project with multiple stakeholders can feel like a rollercoaster ride! A clear workflow is the secret recipe for smooth collaboration and communication between departments. You often hear the term "pipeline" - sounds technical, doesn't it? Don't panic! In this article, I'll show you how to set up a pipeline for your project - without any magic or programming!
TD Meetup 08: Procedural Content Generation with Unreal
Procedural Content Generation is a technique in which content is generated through the application of an algorithm, as opposed to being created manually.
CopyCat is a Nuke node that “copies sequence-specific effects, such as garbage matting, beauty repairs, or deblurring, from a small number of frames in a sequence and then trains a network to replicate the effect on the entire sequence.
TD Meetup 06: USD for Visual Effects
USD is becoming an important standard file format for visual effects, animation and video game productions. Most of us have heard of USD, but what is it and how to use it in our next production is still a mystery to most.
TD Meetup 05: VFX Job Application
Applying for a new or next job can be a difficult and confusing experience, and it’s easy to…
TD Meetup 04: Visual Effects Job Security
How can we keep our jobs in an industry that has been unstable since its inception? How can we pursue our passions while providing for ourselves and our families?
TD Meetup 03: Visual Effects Pipelines
A clear workflow is essential for seamless collaboration and communication between departments. The term "pipeline" is often used in this context, but it can sound technical and complex. This article simplifies how to build a pipeline, with or without coding.
TD Meetup 02: Presentation Skills for Tech Nerds
Join us for an empowering session tailored specifically for technical directors and tech enthusiasts! This TD Meetup was designed to elevate your presentation skills, transforming how you communicate complex technical ideas into compelling narratives.
TD Meetup 01: A.I. Introduction
Our 1st TD Meetup event is about tackling the topic of A.I., Machine Learning and Deep Learning in Visual Effects, Animation, and Gaming industries.
Building a healthy and productive team w/ Christopher Hiess | 21 Artist Show 017
Lead Lighting Technical Director at Double Negative London talks about what makes a healthy corporate culture in the visual effects industry.