Introduction to VFX in Maya and After Effects

Learn the VFX pipeline from start to finish, and create a realistic video with surreal elements by rendering and compositing objects into live action footage
The art of VFX (visual effects) and CGI (computer-generated imagery) allows you to create seamless and mind-bending scenes thanks to software like Maya and After Effects. For renowned digital artist and director John Bashyam, this art form has led him to create striking visuals for Coachella’s top musical acts, as well as for Hollywood feature films.

In this online course, John teaches you to create surreal scenes that appear remarkably realistic step by step. He walks you through Maya + Redshift, After Effects, and SynthEyes to create a playful scene of giant, life-like donuts raining down on a classic American monument. Are you ready to amaze yourself with the power of VFX and CGI?

What will you learn in this online course?
Meet John Bashyam, a digital artist, director, entrepreneur, and your teacher for this course. He shares his creative journey, which has led him to a successful career in VFX. Hear about his inspirations, from YouTube creators, film directors, artists, and more.

Get a brief overview of the whole VFX process. John then walks you through the basic functions of Maya + Redshift, After Effects, and SynthEyes, before moving on to planning your shot.

Learn how to prep your footage in After Effects, then export it to SynthEyes, so for tracking. See how to move your workflow onto Maya for the scene layout and animation.

Next, John shows you how to fix the materials and textures by setting up a rig and keyframes for your animation. See how to add realistic lighting and reflections, and render your video.

Finally, take your CG renders back to After Effects, where John shows you how to composite the various layers, and do any necessary rotoscoping and color correction.

What is this course’s project?
Create a surreal video involving rendering and compositing giant life-like donuts into live-action footage.

Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who wants to create realistic VFX and CGI from scratch.

Requirements and materials
Basic understanding of 3D software (preferably Maya), After Effects, and live-action filming and 3D tracking principles is required to take this course.

In terms of equipment, you need a reasonably powerful PC with Nvidia graphics card and access to Maya, Redshift, After Effects, and SynthEyes software