Nuke Projection Workflows for Feature Films: Using Maya, Nuke, Arnold & Photoshop

Discover how professional artists working in feature films use paint-overs and projections to speed up their workflow, allowing for more techniques to be accomplished in compositing without needing to jump back into 3D. Generalist Nacho Thomas shares non-destructive techniques to help artists level up their renders by creating comp-friendly projections using AOV sequences in Nuke.

This 7-hour workshop demonstrates production-ready techniques using non-destructive workflows. You’ll discover efficient solutions to create your own projections, giving you more time to focus on your art. Nacho begins with an overview of the Maya process, emphasizing how to work with large environments and handle the AOV outputs. Arnold is used to render, though the techniques demonstrated are common to most renderers. Nacho then progresses to Nuke, where the focus of this workshop lies. The workflow involves occasionally jumping into Photoshop to handle any digital painting work.

This tutorial is intended for both 2D and 3D artists looking to advance their skills; generalists and environment artists with some working knowledge of Nuke will also greatly benefit from the techniques showcased. In the Nuke segment of this workshop, you’ll learn how to work with an AOV sequence. You will discover how to build your own tools in Nuke, and create your own production-ready tools to add to your workflow. Nacho’s Nuke master file and three sequences used for the shot (Beauty, Utility, and Volumetrics) with light groups and all necessary passes to follow along are provided with this workshop as downloadable project files.