CG Lab

Welcome

Hi there,

This is where we will collect resources for software, workflows and equipment in the CG Lab (formerly VFX Lab). If you are missing any information that you would like to see added here, please feel free to contact us via our khm mail. If you feel you need more information or advice, you can also make an appointment with shu or nathan.

At the moment this site is under heavy development, but over time more information will be added.

contact shuree

contact nathan

In general, we don't believe that one software/company/tool is always the best or always right, we just try to give you the best way to work with what we have and know. We are always open to new suggestions and are constantly comparing and testing different tools. If you are in doubt, you can always try the free tool blender for almost any cg related task and/or try software in our lab first. We strongly recommend that you only buy software that you are really sure you need and want to use.

Terminology

There is a certain language used in the 3D arts and sciences. We will try to collect here some of the main terms that you will come across in online resources and in everyday use. Some are simple, some are more advanced. To create digital art, you will usually get by without fully understanding all of these concepts. However, we recommend that you look them up. In general it will help you to at least remember that you have heard of something when you come across it. If you are planning to make 3D your main artistic tool, we think you need to have a good understanding of them.

• SFX
  • Effects that are being done and work on a location or film set

• VFX
  • Effects post filming and editing

• CGI
  • Fully computer generated images

You can mix sfx,vfx and cgi and it's being done alot and it's often hard to tell what's what (“invisible” effects).

• More basic (3d) terminology:
  • Attributes: What are Attributes? - Speedy Houdini
  • Vectors: What are Vectors? - Speedy Houdini
  • Voxels: What are Voxels? - Speedy Houdini
  • Normals: 3D Basics - What are Normals?

• More advanced (code based) terminology:
  • Integer
    • An integer is a whole number, either positive, negative, or zero, without a fractional part, and can be represented as …, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, … in the set of integers (Z).
  • Float
    • Float in coding refers to a fundamental data type used to represent numeric values with decimal points, allowing for the storage and manipulation of fractional numbers, such as 1.23, 87.425, or 9039454.2, in programming languages like C, C++, C#, and others.
    • In 3D graphics, floats are often used to store coordinates, vectors, and other numerical values with decimal precision, enabling accurate calculations and transformations of 3D objects.
  • String
    • In coding, a string is a sequence of characters, such as letters, digits, or symbols, stored as a single data type, often used to represent human-readable text, and can be implemented as a fixed-length array or a dynamic buffer with varying lengths, depending on the programming language and its libraries.
    • In 3D, a string can refer to a sequence of connected vertices or control points that define a curve or surface, used to model complex shapes and geometries in computer-aided design (CAD) systems, computer-generated imagery (CGI), and 3D modeling software.
  • Dot Product
    • In coding, the dot product (also known as scalar product) is a mathematical operation that computes the sum of the products of corresponding elements (components) of two vectors, resulting in a scalar value representing the magnitude and direction of their alignment.
    • Essential TD Skills: Designing & Implementing Algorithms starting from 03:30

3D Scanning

• Laser
  • Leica 360
  • Iphone/Ipad
• Photogrammetry
  • Taking Pictures
  • Post process
    • Reality Capture

• Neural radiance fields : NeRFs
  • Getting Started with NVIDIA Instant NeRFs NVIDIA Technical Blog
  • Nerfstudio (use on linux if you can)

• Apps
  • Scaniverse
  • RealityScan

CG Lab Software

Houdini

Behaves usually as you expect it to. Our current tool of choice. Mainly because of reliability and power. After using its preset nodes/tools and feeling comfortable with the style of working, it is possible to create your custom tools or get more into coding/TD (technical director) work style. Working in houdini will teach you fundamental skills for any 3d/cg work or tool. Education Version without any technical limitations for non commercial work available at the lab and all of khm. Apprentice version can be installed at home and you can render/process your projects on lab computers.

• Quick start: (If you want to learn the fundamentals of Houdini fast and well, from 2020 but valid info!)
  • Houdini In Five Minutes 01: Houdini's Contexts

• Machine Learning
  • Machine Learning Operators (MLOPS) Plugin (see PLUGINS)

• VOPs
  • Node based visual coding system. As fast and powerful as VEX but no actual coding needed.
  • Same performance as VEX. If you are not a person familiar with code we always recommend learning VOP’s before VEX!

• VEX
  • Coding language inside Houdini. Very powerful because it is fast and most of the time cheap on computing power. TIPP: Not that suitable for Noise (VOPs are just more intuitive way for using that)
  • Attributes cheat sheet:
    • VEX Attribute Glossary - kunz
  • VEX video links:
    • Creating Geometry With VEX
    • Procedural Subdivision Lines - Creating Control Curves