Less Definition: Optimising VFX workflow

Møller, Mads ; Pellengahr, Claudia

4. term

Medialogy, Master

2011

2011-05-27

127

Dette speciale fra Medialogy på Aalborg Universitet København undersøger, hvordan VFX-produktionspipelinen kan optimeres under stramme budgetter og stigende kvalitetskrav. Specialet introducerer Expectation & Belief Model, baseret på hvordan mennesker opfatter og lagrer information i hukommelsen, for at forstå hvad der får publikum til at acceptere hyperrealistiske visuelle effekter (VFX). En reklame fungerede som testcase. To indledende tests (som proof of content) og seks hovedtests målte, hvordan folk opfatter og accepterer hyperrealistiske versus ikke-hyperrealistiske simulationer. Hovedresultaterne viser, at seere er mindre kritiske over for hyperrealistiske simulationer og ofte accepterer dem selv ved lav visuel opløsning. Derimod fremkalder ikke-hyperrealistiske simulationer mere kritiske reaktioner. Specialet konkluderer, at brug af en voxel-definition på 200 til hyperrealistiske simulationer—voxels er små 3D-pixler, der bestemmer detaljegraden—kan gøre produktionen hurtigere ved at spare 22 minutter pr. iteration sammenlignet med en voxel-definition på 300, samtidig med at publikums accept bevares.

This thesis from the Medialogy program at Aalborg University Copenhagen explores how to optimize the VFX production pipeline amid tight budgets and rising quality expectations. It introduces the Expectation & Belief Model, based on how people perceive and store information in memory, to understand what leads audiences to accept hyperrealistic visual effects (VFX). An advertisement served as the test case. Two preliminary tests (as proof of content) and six main tests measured how people perceive and accept hyperrealistic versus non-hyperrealistic simulations. The main results show that viewers are less critical of hyperrealistic simulations and often accept them even at low visual definition. In contrast, non-hyperrealistic simulations prompt more critical responses. The thesis concludes that using a 200-voxel definition for hyperrealistic simulations—voxels are tiny 3D pixels that set the level of detail—can speed up production by saving 22 minutes per iteration compared with a 300-voxel definition, while maintaining audience acceptance.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

VFX ; Workflow ; Hyperrealism ; Perception ; Schemata ; optimisation ; Visual Effects ; Fluid simulation

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