Visual Effects (VFX) BA (Hons)

This module advances your knowledge of 3D animation practices and character design. It builds on skills gained in your first year and examines fundamental techniques such as character sheets concept art and pre-visualisation, through to production, turntable renders, rigging, and walk cycles. You will also gain experience of working with different render engines to produce render passes, or arbitrary output variables (AOVs) for compositing purposes.

Compulsory

This module focuses on fundamental compositing practices such as matte painting and match moving to develop set extensions and environments. You will explore techniques such as using difference, alpha and luma mattes and keying, to composite live action plates with 3D assets, or to create realistic set extensions. You will also be introduced to tracking markers to capture data for use in 3D match moving.

Compulsory

This module enables you to begin developing a portfolio of work that will contribute to finding employment upon completion of the course. You will explore a variety of roles within VFX and its associated industries (such as games, video and film), to develop a career plan. You will be expected to investigate particular skills and attributes that will lead to employment, together with the support of sector or career specialists such as our careers and employability service, the Talent Team.

Compulsory

This module examines 3D character design techniques using sculpting platforms such as Mudbox or ZBrush from concept to development. Here, you will create specific creatures (and relevant assets such as props or weapons) and rig them for animation in the context of games, film, and other creative formats. The module explores key animation skills and the different stages of the workflow such as testing, refining and rigging.

Compulsory

This module aims to give you a deeper understanding of compositing platforms using camera and body trackers to place actors, sets, props or other assets into background plates. You will also study essential techniques in rotoscoping to resolve issues in live-action plates that alternative techniques cannot effectively replicate.

Compulsory

In this module, you will work with students from courses across the School of Media and Performing Arts and/or industry collaborators, external groups or organisations to respond to an issue in the local, national or global community². You will work collaboratively with fellow students in defined roles that reflect industry practice in your area of study. However, you will also develop skills in management and organisation by taking an active role in the project from start to end.

Compulsory

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module explores the workflow of colourists during the final stages of production to create an overall aesthetic for feature films, television, and games production. In terms of grading, you will look to gain skills in colour correction and scene balancing, use lookup tables (LUTs), and create your own bespoke colour pallets to provide an overall ‘look’ or style to a given production.

Compulsory

This module explores the development of particle simulations and fluid dynamics through programmes such as Houdini, Maya, Unreal, BiFrost and Fume FX. You will explore a range of software programmes and plug-ins that allow users to create realistic pyrotechnic and fluid FX. These fields are highly specialised in VFX workflows, and you will be expected to incorporate these effects into live-action footage.

Compulsory

This module develops skills in programming languages such as MEL and Python to enable you to create bespoke plug-ins or scripts for use in programmes such as Maya and Nuke. Programming is fast becoming an essential industry skill for creative bespoke solutions to complex problems (i.e. by creating unique software, or scripts for specific jobs) with suitably skilled graduates becoming increasingly sought after in VFX.

Compulsory

This optional module explores the role of a 2D VFX Set Supervisor in relation to how the required VFX shots are executed, as well as the management of VFX budgets, production schedules and expectations. Shooting for VFX differs significantly to how a director of photography (DOP) might frame or capture a shot using techniques such as depth of field or bokeh (aesthetic blurring). The VFX Set Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the shots filmed on set can be effectively integrated with VFX during post-production.

Optional

This optional module provides a final 3D outcome for the course. It allows you to study advanced skills in simulations for clothing, hair and fur in software environments such as Maya or 3Ds Max. As a CFX specialist, you will be responsible for groom and simulation setups to produce realistic movements for a variety of dynamic materials.

Optional

This module is a final major project in which you will be expected to produce work to a negotiated brief. Projects for the module should explore a new or innovative area of a field in which you wish to specialise and represent a body of work that typifies the collective skills you have gained during the course as a whole. Your final project aims to enable you to present a body of skills and work to potential employers and act as your calling card to the industry.

Compulsory