Smoke Learning Channel

In this video, we cover the one-way workflow of creating a Smoke archive and restoring it in smoke 2017. This workflow enables to you to promote any Smoke projects to the Flame 2017 products for further finishing capability. Please note this is not a bi-directional workflow. You can only open Smoke archives in Flame and not Flame Archives in Smoke.

This video covers the redesigned proxy workflow in Smoke 2017. This new proxy workflow is clip-based and allows you to boost interactivity and performances when you need it. Learn about the proxy quality to view everything scaled to a proxy in real-time without generating media. Great for for ConnectFX setups where processing is intense and the media is not an issue. You also go through the process of localised Proxy Generation at the clip, ConnectFX setup and Sequence level. This is great for any situation where the media is bottlenecking your system and you need a performance boost. Work fast and interactively with Proxy Quality and Proxy Media On-Demand!

In this video, we cover the redesigned Output menu in Action which now supports Render Layers and Render Passes. Similar to other Autodesk 3D Applications, you now define a Render Layer and assign multiple render passes to the Render Layer. Managing Render Passes is much more efficient compared to previous versions of Smoke.

This video will cover a major new improvement to Action known as the Live Preview Viewer. This is a pixel-based “What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get” viewer and will give you accurate representations with all Action processing effects including lighting, anti-aliasing and motion blur. So even when working in Action, everything you see is actually the final render. This has major implications for all aspects of Action. This also allows for icons in the context view and timeline views. Please note that the old 3D view no longer shows any shader or processing effects, you need to be looking through the Live Preview in Smoke 2017.

This video goes through the new source timeline workflow that allows you to make editorial and VFX decisions at the source clip level within ConnectFX. You can adjust an edit for timings, add transitions between segments or TimelineFX for image manipulation directly with the source clip. You can do all of this while monitoring the context of your VFX composite. So many useful applications in production!

The Context Views have been upgraded in Smoke 2017. The contextual views have now been increased from 2 views to 10 views! This will certainly make life a lot easier for most of you constantly using this tool. In addition to this, the workflows for working with 10 context views have been enhanced to allow you to work as quick and as efficiently as possible with the 10 context views. Contextual Menus, Interface Button and Keyboard shortcuts are covered! Watch the entire video so you don’t miss out!

In this video, we’ll look at the workflow of the new Burn-In Metadata tool in Smoke 2017. This replaces the old Burn-In Timecode which is no longer available in the application. With Burn-In Metadata, you have access to loads more information you can burn into an image and it’s also more customizable the the retired Burn-In Timecode. One final big benefit is that Burn-In Metadata is now available as a TimelineFX, as a node in Batch and BatchFX and as a separate module in the Tools Area of the Desktop. So its accessible every where when you need it.

In this video, we cover the new ability to adjust icons and widgets in the player at the sequence level. So if you like to use gestural actions to adjust setting in the viewer, you no longer need to do it in a VFX editor. Making adjustments at the sequence level is a massive timesaver with fewer menus to navigate.

Sometimes no matter how well we organise things, we just can find what we'd looking for. So in this video we go through the new advanced searching in the Media Panel. You can specify a huge range of criteria and arguements for a search to for a clip or clips. It's very flexible and extremely useful in Smoke 2017.

This video goes through the new sorting workflows for clips and components in the Media Panel. So you can organise your media and folders in ascending, descending or manual order. We also cover localised sorting per component for even greater control in the Media Panel.

This video goes through the Media Panel dual viewer functionality for easier clip organisation. We also cover component creation dates as well as avoiding duplicate name entries in Smoke 2017.

This video covers the updates to the MediaHub in Smoke 2017. This includes general settings, audio frame rates and export functionality. Please check out the Smoke 2017 "What's New" documentation for new formats support and additional MediaHub features.

I have posted another tutorial of round-tripping videos supported in Smoke 2016. In this video, I’ll show you how to take a sequence with all its effects and send it back to Avid Media Composer via AAF. This keeps the full editorial structure of the sequence as well as different options on dealing with media and effects.

I have posted the first tutorial of round-tripping videos supported in Smoke 2016. In this video, I’ll show you how to take a sequence with all its effects and send it back to Final Cut Pro X via XML. This keeps the full editorial structure of the sequence as well as different options on dealing with media and effects.

In this video, we go through the new updates and features to the ConnectFX workflow to enhance its usability and give you a better compositing experience.

In this video, we look at the new functions of selecting before or after the cursor position. You can do a forward or backward selection on one track. Or a forward or backward selection with all tracks. Brand new to Smoke 2016.

In this video, we go through the updated matching workflow when working in the sequence with Smoke 2016.

In this video, we cover three new features when exporting from Smoke 2016. Export always using the top track, range export with in and out markers as well as foreground exporting.

In this video, we go through all aspects of the new proxy workflow in Smoke 2016. We cover project setup, editorial and effects workflows. Speed up interactivity with high resolution media.

In this video, we go through the workflows of conforming XMLs (AAFs) in Smoke 2016. We cover a few scenarios as well as new features in the conforming workflows.

In this video, we look at the Workspace via the Media Panel. We’ll go through the new tiles view as well as the various workflows now available in the Media Panel. Don’t miss the Dual monitor setup now available in Smoke 2016.

In this video, we cover the updated project and settings when starting up Smoke 2016.

In this video, we take a look at how you can create animation in separate parts and combine them together to create complex animations without writing expressions. This includes instancing and mimicking in the Action schematic.

In this video, we take a look at a requested workflow of creating transitions from elements created elsewhere. Take an existing black and white animated clip and use it as a travelling matte between two shots in the sequence. Layers or Nodes.

In this video, we import a Photoshop PSD file into Smoke. You can than position the layers in 3D space and animate them to create a moving 3D environmentment. Great uses for motion graphics, bring stills to life and set extensions.

In honour of all things ghoulish, this video shows introduces a friend using a FBX 3D model, lighting, expressions and much more! A bit of scary but and I laugh at myself … Sleep well………… Happy Halloween!

This video shows a VFX workflow using the Auto-Stabilizer to stabilise an image, perform a composite in Action and bring back the camera movement but inverting the Stabilize data. Very useful for screen replacements and plate clean-up.

Part 2 pick ups from after the first expression as you continue to set expressions for rotation and scale. Track the surface object as well as use another expression to offset the extended bicubic surface. Remodel using extended bicubics and composite.

Part 1 introduces the situation where you have been asked to do beauty work on a model. This video will show you the workflow as well as explain the reasons behind all the steps taken.

This video discusses how the resolution for a ConnectFX segment is created. We also look at what happens when you apply a ConnectFX to a segment with a different resolution to the sequence and how to deal with it.

The final video goes through the workflow of converting the Gmask to a 2d Text Path. This is not something that everyone knows but I thought you may find it useful on the odd occasion.

This video shows how how to work with Gmask in the context of all the other tools in Smoke. A number of workflows are covered!

This video shows you how to track Gmasks. This includes object tracking and vertex point tracking.

This video shows how to apply motion blur to animated Gmasks. Learn how to control motion blur on object and vertex animation.

This video shows the types of animation that can be created with Gmasks. This includes object animation and shape animation. Each one has their uses and advantages. All good stuff you need to know!

This video shows all the different methods of combining Gmasks in the Gmask tools. This includes creating Unions, Subtraction and Intersections. These are common techniques used when masking but some of them are applied in Smoke a little differently.

This video looks at the two different types of softening or feathering available for masks. We cover general offset softening as well as advanced edge gradient softening.

This video goes through all the different tools you have for editing your masks. Workflows, tips and keyboard shortcuts included.

This video introduces Masks in Autodesk Smoke. Learning all about the general application and location of the Gmask. We also cover all the different mask creation techniques.

This video shows you how to create the light pass effect with lights and a Blooming node. This very popular effect is normally done with flat passes and masks. However using the Action 3D compositing environment brings a wealth of flexibility!

This user requested video goes through the workflow of using selective lighting in Action. Choose which lights affect different 3D objects and surfaces in the 3D composite.

This video goes through the technique of creating a difference matte in Autodesk Smoke. Great for accelerating jobs that may require a lot of masking and this might give you a head start.

This video shows the four corner pinning and four corner tracking workflow. This workflow is typically used for screen replacements and replacing boards or signs.

This video will show you a workflow to cut out any foreground elements and recomposed them back onto the background plate if they have been obscured by the 3D model.

This video will show you the workflow to create a shadow matching the background plate using the point locators, surfaces, lights, Action Render outputs and Comp Nodes.