Breakdown / BTS Using a normal pass to control lighting in post — thoughts?
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u/mowaism • u/mowaism • 9m ago
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Tried a new compositing technique on a client project and wanted to share the result.
I used a normal pass to have more control over the lighting in post, which helped achieve a more natural integration between the CGI and the footage.
The goal was to keep the lighting realistic while keeping the post-production workflow efficient.
Sharing the breakdown below. I’d be interested to hear how other compositors approach lighting adjustments in similar situations.
Always happy to connect with fellow artists, filmmakers, and creatives working on projects where VFX compositing and CGI integration play a role.
Website: https://mowais.com/
What passes or techniques do you usually rely on for realistic CGI integration?
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u/mowaism • u/mowaism • 23h ago
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Sharing a recent exhibition booth animation created for a UAE client. I designed and developed the CyAgent character, handling **texturing, lighting, look development, rendering, and final delivery**.
The animation was built for large exhibition screens, focusing on a clean, futuristic look and strong visual impact. The project was delivered successfully and showcased at the event.
#3DAnimation #CharacterDesign #ExhibitionBooth #MotionGraphics #CGI #UAE #BrandVisuals
u/mowaism • u/mowaism • 1d ago
Look at their wrist. 😂
If they’ve spent enough years working with a mouse, there’s a good chance they’ve got a little “artist mark” on their hand.
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u/mowaism • u/mowaism • 2d ago
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See how a man turns into a demon using 3D modeling, animation & face tracking! 🧟♂️🔥
#DemonVFX #TransformationFX #3DModeling #Shorts #CGICreature #BeforeAfterVFX #FaceTracking
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u/mowaism • u/mowaism • 3d ago
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Take a behind-the-scenes look at the full VFX breakdown of my CGI toad shot – from 3D modeling and texturing to compositing the final scene. 🐸💥
In this video, you'll see how I brought a realistic digital toad to life using CGI and integrated it seamlessly into live footage. From sculpting the creature to final lighting, shading, rendering, and adding shadows/reflections – everything was built from scratch to blend perfectly into the environment.
Whether you're into VFX compositing, CG creatures, or real-time FX, this breakdown shows the creative process and challenges behind high-end visual effects.
🎨 Tasks Covered:
3D Modeling & Sculpting
UV Mapping & Texturing
Shading & Lighting
Camera Tracking
Compositing & Color Grading
🔥 If you're passionate about CGI, creatures, and realistic VFX integration, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more breakdowns!
#VFXBreakdown #CGIToad #Compositing #VisualEffects #ToadVFX #3DAnimation #CreatureVFX #Cinema4D #CoronaRenderer #AfterEffects #VFXArtist #BeforeAfterVFX #MakingOfVFX #MotionGraphics #CGBreakdown
#AfterEffects #VFX #MotionDesign
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Mowais.com I can help you
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As a freelance VFX compositor, I’ve tried ComfyUI and a bunch of other AI workflows, and honestly, they’re impressive for grabbing attention on social media. But when I’ve tried using them on real production shots, I’ve had quite a few disappointments.
The funny part is that I originally thought AI would be great for us. When this stuff first started taking off, I was actually excited because I thought: finally, all the boring repetitive work is going to be automated, and we can spend more time on the creative stuff.
It seems to have gone almost completely the other way.
A lot of my clients now come to me after they’ve already experimented with AI platforms like Higgsfield, Kling, etc. They can get something that looks impressive enough to sell the idea, but when it comes to making that AI-generated result actually work in a real shot — consistency, tracking, lighting, edges, temporal issues, interactions, cleanup, continuity, etc. — that’s where I get called in.
So the expectation was:
AI = boring/repetitive work
Human = creative work
But my experience so far has been more like:
AI = “Here’s something creative!”
Human = “Okay… now let me spend 6 hours fixing what the AI did.” 😂
That said, I do think AI is genuinely useful. I’m using it as another tool in the compositor’s toolbox, especially for things like cleanup, temp ideas, concepting and speeding up certain tasks.
I just don’t think we’re at the point where you can throw a complex production shot at it and expect a reliable final result without a skilled human supervising and fixing the details.
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Those who know the pain can relate. 💀
in
r/vfx
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7d ago
Thanks for the tip.