Serge Jespers

I’m sure it won’t shock you when I say that Adobe software is used extensively in Hollywood. Avatar, James Cameron’s new movie, is no exception. So which Adobe software did they use and how?

PHOTOSHOP was used during the early conceptual stages to create art for getting the film green-lit by FOX. In addition to being a core production and design tool, it was also used to create many of the ultra-high resolution matte paintings and textures that were used as finished artwork passed along to the 3D pipeline for CG environments, vehicles and creatures.

LIGHTROOM was used by artists in the previsualization (previs) animation department to organize and catalog the thousands of set and lighting reference images.

AFTER EFFECTS had a multitude of uses as you can probably imagine:

1. In the early stages of production, AE was used to place flowing camera moves on still artwork for concept art reels.
2. On the live and mocap sets, AE was used to quickly create test composites to see if the live-action and “simulcam” green screen shots were lining up with the virtual animation and backgrounds. Within a few minutes of each take being shot, artists were able to mock-up composites for James Cameron to look at and approve or re-shoot.
3. Automated rough comping of the video of the facial performances of the actors (recorded head via mounted miniature video cameras) into CG character face textures for the previs portion of the production. This allowed Jim a quick and easy way to know if the actor’s facial performances were going to be OK or if a take needed re-shooting.
4. AE is being used by some of the vendors hired for VFX work to create 3D stereo composites for finished shots, to create complex motion graphics for use in the 3D holographic screens in the various control room scenes, and to create “heads-up” displays for various high-tech vehicles in the film.
5. Adobe provides documentation to write complex procedural scripts for AE, and the AVATAR artists took full advantage of this. They created an automated rendering pipeline for comping the previs shots using AE’s scripting capability.

PREMIERE PRO was also used in different ways:

1. Each time Jim Cameron does a review/critique of VFX work, an HD recording is made of the session. Premiere Pro is used to take the edited recording and format into various packages for digital distribution. The process is automated, with typically 8 hours or more a day of reviews that need to be processed.
2. Premiere Pro was used extensively on set in combination with AE to check rough composites in playback context with animated sequences. A/B comparisons of VFX vendor work are easily set up and reviewed.
3. Although the creative editing for AVATAR is done using an AVID based system, Premiere Pro is able to read in cut-lists and other important metadata using its built-in AVID “AAF” import feature. Rather than bog down AVID editors with having to render out updated sequences for the animation department, the AVID editor can export the virtual “recipe” for the new cut to a small file that Premiere Pro then uses to automatically assemble the cut to match the AVID. Digital video files of the shots that are online in the master shot database are sourced as clips by Premiere Pro.

ACROBAT CONNECT was used for collaboration throughout the making of the film. In one example, it was even used by one of the Digital Supervisors to remotely connect to the computer of one of the interns on-set to to take control of her desktop and help her get through the temp composites that Jim Cameron (the director) needed ASAP.

FLASH PLAYER is used to deliver the movie’s website with high quality images and high definition video.

And to top it off the movie also has a very slick AIR application that provides exclusive content to fans including video interviews with the cast. In addition, the interactive trailer provides a way for fans to track official updates posted to Twitter,YouTube and Flickr.

If you were lucky enough to be in the MAX audience during the Avatar sneak peek, you’ll agree that the visual effects in Avatar are absolutely stunning. It’s great to see that Adobe software made some of it happen.

Avatar opens worldwide on December 18th, 2009.