The course introduces students to professional digital compositing processes, focusing on color handling, format management, and the use of nodal tools to integrate audiovisual elements. It combines demonstrative and practical sessions in which students apply the content through guided exercises, consolidating concepts through hands-on experience and continuous feedback.
Titular Professors
Professors
You must have the basic knowledge of digital compositing and color acquired in the introductory course (Digital Compositing I), since this course delves deeper into nodal techniques and professional compositing workflows. In addition, you are required to have a basic command of the compositing software used, Nuke.
The course aims for students to acquire a solid foundation in digital color and nodal compositing, developing the essential techniques and procedures required for rigorous professional practice. It seeks to ensure that students integrate these concepts into practical exercises in order to build a coherent and well?reasoned methodology, progressing through concept definition, creative execution, and quality control. The course also aims to foster critical reflection on the elements that define high?quality compositing and to strengthen learning through a learn by doing approach with continuous feedback. A specific objective is for students to understand and correctly use node?based digital compositing systems.
- Camera Track and transfer to Maya, with sequence rendering
- Object Track and Point Cloud for element integration
- Introduction to Keying, including Luma Keyer and Keylight
- Advanced chroma keying (IBK) and green?screen cleanup techniques
- Set extension combining Luma Keyer and Camera Track
- Work with EXR, channel management, relighting, and integration
- Integration of 2D/3D elements into video sequences
- Node organization and project structure in a nodal compositing environment
- Development of the final project, applying the full compositing workflow and quality control
The course is delivered through active learning methodologies, with a strong emphasis on project?based learning, combining demonstrative sessions, individual practice, and some lectures. At the beginning of each session, any pending questions are addressed, followed by the theoretical?practical content needed to tackle the proposed challenges.
Students work individually with ongoing supervision and continuous feedback from the instructor, both individually and in groups. Didactic activities using specific audiovisual material are also employed to support familiarization with technical vocabulary and professional workflows. At the start of the course, the exercises that form part of continuous assessment and the learning path are defined, and each practical assignment includes an introduction and a final wrap?up session to reflect on mistakes and improvements.
The course is assessed through continuous evaluation, based on various practical activities carried out throughout the semester. Some submissions are mandatory to ensure student progress and sustained learning.
The assessment is based on the quality of both the process and the final outcome of the digital compositing exercises completed throughout the course. It takes into account the student’s ability to correctly apply nodal compositing concepts and techniques, methodological coherence, precision in execution, and the quality of visual integration. Active participation in practical sessions, continuous task follow?up, and the ability to improve work based on the feedback received are also valued. In addition, all submissions must meet the established criteria to ensure the achievement of the course’s learning outcomes.
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FXPHD. (2016, December 13). The art of digital color. Fxguide. https://www.fxguide.com/fxfeatured/the-art-of-digital-color/
OpenEXR Project. (2021). OpenEXR documentation (Release 3.1.0). Academy Software Foundation. https://openexr.com
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Foundry. (2026). Nuke user guide (v17.0). The Foundry Visionmongers Ltd. https://learn.foundry.com/nuke
Hullfish, S. (2012). Art and technique of digital color correction (2nd ed.). Focal Press / Taylor & Francis
Poynton, C. (2012). Digital video and HD: Algorithms and interfaces (2nd ed.). Morgan Kaufmann
Brinkmann, R. (2008). The art and science of digital compositing (2nd ed.). Morgan Kaufmann
Academy Software Foundation. (2026). OpenColorIO documentation. https://opencolorio.org
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. (2022). ACES: Academy Color Encoding System documentation. https://acescentral.com