VFX and Compositing Guide

Advanced visual effects and compositing workflows for professional video production using the VFX MCP Server.

Visual Effects Pipeline

1. Pre-Production Planning

Plan your VFX workflow before shooting:

• Shot breakdown: Identify VFX requirements
• Resolution planning: Determine output formats
• Color space: Plan for color grading workflow
• Compositing strategy: Layer and effect organization

2. Asset Preparation

Prepare video assets for compositing:

# Extract frames for detailed work
await convert_format("source.mp4", "frames/frame_%04d.png")

# Stabilize shaky footage
await apply_stabilization("shaky.mp4", "stable.mp4", strength=0.8)

# Color correct base footage
await apply_filter("input.mp4", "corrected.mp4", "colorbalance", "rs=0.1:bs=-0.1")

3. Compositing Workflow

Layer multiple elements for final composite:

# Create picture-in-picture composites
await create_picture_in_picture("background.mp4", "foreground.mp4", "composite.mp4")

# Add text overlays
await add_text_overlay("composite.mp4", "titled.mp4", "TITLE", position="center", font_size=72)

# Add watermarks and graphics
await add_watermark("titled.mp4", "final.mp4", "logo.png", position="bottom-right", opacity=0.7)

Advanced Compositing Techniques

Green Screen Compositing

Remove and replace backgrounds:

# Apply chroma key filter to remove green screen
await apply_filter("greenscreen.mp4", "keyed.mp4", "chromakey", "color=green:similarity=0.3")

# Composite with new background
await create_picture_in_picture("background.mp4", "keyed.mp4", "composite.mp4", position="center", scale=1.0)

Motion Graphics Integration

Add animated elements to video:

# Create animated text sequences
await add_text_overlay("base.mp4", "animated.mp4", "Animated Title", position="top", font_size=48)

# Add logo animations
await add_watermark("video.mp4", "branded.mp4", "animated_logo.gif", position="center", opacity=0.9)

Multi-Layer Compositing

Build complex scenes with multiple layers:

1. Base layer: Primary video content
2. Background layer: Environmental elements
3. Foreground layer: Main subject matter
4. Graphics layer: Text and graphic overlays
5. Effects layer: Visual effects and filters

Color Grading for VFX

Primary Color Correction

Establish base color balance:

# Adjust overall color balance
await apply_filter("input.mp4", "balanced.mp4", "colorbalance", "rs=0.05:gs=0.02:bs=-0.03")

# Control contrast and exposure
await apply_filter("balanced.mp4", "exposed.mp4", "eq", "contrast=1.2:brightness=0.1")

Secondary Color Grading

Target specific color ranges:

# Enhance sky colors
await apply_filter("input.mp4", "sky.mp4", "selectivecolor", "blues=c=-10:m=5:y=-20")

# Adjust skin tones
await apply_filter("sky.mp4", "skin.mp4", "selectivecolor", "reds=c=-5:m=-3:y=10")

Creative Color Effects

Apply stylistic color treatments:

# Create cinematic look
await apply_filter("input.mp4", "cinematic.mp4", "colorchannelmixer", "rr=1.2:gg=0.9:bb=0.8")

# Apply vintage filter
await apply_filter("input.mp4", "vintage.mp4", "curves", "vintage")

Professional VFX Workflows

Action Sequence Enhancement

Enhance action and movement:

1. Stabilization: Smooth camera movement
2. Speed ramping: Dramatic speed changes
3. Motion blur: Enhance sense of movement
4. Impact effects: Add visual punch

Atmospheric Effects

Create environmental ambiance:

1. Particle systems: Dust, smoke, rain
2. Lighting effects: Lens flares, rim lighting
3. Weather simulation: Fog, mist, atmosphere
4. Time effects: Day/night transitions

Character Integration

Composite characters into scenes:

1. Edge refinement: Clean up compositing edges
2. Color matching: Match lighting conditions
3. Shadow generation: Create realistic shadows
4. Interaction simulation: Object interaction

Quality Control and Optimization

Technical Standards

Maintain professional quality:

• Resolution: 4K minimum for theatrical
• Frame rate: Match source material
• Color depth: 10-bit minimum for grading
• Compression: Use appropriate codecs

Rendering Optimization

Optimize render settings:

# High-quality output for final delivery
await convert_format("final.mp4", "delivery.mov", vcodec="prores", quality="high")

# Web-optimized version
await convert_format("final.mp4", "web.mp4", vcodec="h264", bitrate="5M")

Version Management

Track project iterations:

• Maintain raw footage backups
• Version control for project files
• Document effect parameters
• Archive final deliverables

Common VFX Challenges

Solving Technical Issues

• Compression artifacts: Use higher bitrates
• Color banding: Apply dithering
• Motion judder: Check frame rate matching
• Sync issues: Verify timecode alignment

Creative Problem Solving

• Continuity errors: Use replacement techniques
• Lighting mismatches: Apply selective correction
• Scale inconsistencies: Use reference objects
• Perspective issues: Apply geometric correction