Combustion Introduction

This hands-on course covers the fundamentals of the Autodesk Combustion paint, animation, and compositing features, as well as a multitude of features and tools to create stunning visual effects and motion graphics projects. The students learn about basic features by referencing print documentation and using real-world exercises. They learn how to create simple to complex projects while navigating and familiarizing themselves with the user interface.

The topics covered include creating simple composites, editing clips, using Paint, transforming and controlling layers, changing layer surface properties, using channels, mattes, and masks, using null objects, lights and the camera, tracking and stabilizing, keying and color correcting, nesting composites, creating expressions, particle effects, and capsules, morphing, and building G-Buffers.

Suggested Course Duration: 3 days*

Objectives

The primary objective of the course is to teach students the skills needed to create simple to complex paint, animation, and compositing projects, using an array of features and tools to create stunning visual effects.

After completing this course, students should be able to

Create simple to more complex composites, paint projects, and animations

Edit clips, track and stabilize clips, rotoscope, key, and color correct clips

Use and animate the lights and camera Create capsules, build G-Buffers, and perform morphing

Who Should Attend

This course is designed to teach new users and users somewhat familiar with the Autodesk Combustion software the fundamentals of the software.

Prerequisites

The only prerequisite is to be familiar with either the Microsoft ® Windows ® 2000 or XP operating system or the Apple ® Macintosh ® OS X operating system.

Day 1

Combustion Fundamentals

•  Touring Combustion

•  Creating Simple Composites

•  Using Operators in a Composite

•  Timewarping

•  Editing Clips

•  Optimizing Workflow

Using Paint

•  Learning Paint Basics

•  Creating, Controlling, and Positioning Objects

•  Wire Removal

•  Animating Text

•  Exploring Draw Modes in Text

•  Creating and Animating Text Gradients

•  Creating Custom Brushes

•  Creating Flash Compatible Animations

•  Combining and Animating Selections

Day 2

Transforming and Controlling Layers

•  Keyframing

•  Creating Expressions

•  Cropping and Corner-Pinning

•  Aligning Objects to a Motion Path

Changing Layer Surface Properties

•  Exploring Transfer Modes

•  Displacing a Layer

Using Channels, Mattes, and Masks

•  Using Alpha Channels

•  Creating Channel Effects

•  Using Masks

Using Null Objects, Lights, and the Camera

•  Animating with a Null Object

•  Moving the Camera

•  Creating Shadows with Lights

Tracking and Stabilizing

•  Four-Point Tracking

•  One-Point Stabilizing

•  Two-Point Stabilizing

Day 3

Keying and Color Correcting

•  Using the Discreet Color Corrector

•  Using the Diamond Keyer

•  Using the Discreet Keyer

Nesting Composites

•  Basic Nesting

•  Creating a Motion Blur

Additional Topics

•  Applying and Tracking a Particle Emitter

•  Creating Particle Effects

•  Creating Capsules

•  Building G-Buffers

•  Morphing

* The suggested course duration is a guideline. Course topics and duration may be modified by the instructor based upon the knowledge and skill level of the course participants.