Lighting, Shading & Compositing & AI Integration – CG Monster Scene

This project explores a full CG compositing pipeline, blending traditional VFX techniques with emerging AI-driven effects. I designed and animated the camera movement in Autodesk Maya, lit a detailed CG creature and environment using Arnold, and rendered the necessary passes for compositing in Nuke. The focus was on achieving a cinematic mood through strategic lighting and shader development, followed by realistic integration of CG into a photographic background using multipass compositing and fine color grading.

To elevate the visual impact and experiment with hybrid workflows, I incorporated Higgsfield AI in the final stages of production. After completing the traditional compositing in Nuke, I utilized Higgsfield's AI-driven video synthesis tools to generate dynamic fire effects enveloping the creature, enhancing the narrative while maintaining visual consistency. This combination of procedural VFX and AI augmentation allowed me to explore the creative possibilities at the intersection of cinematic realism and generative animation.

Tools: Maya, Arnold, Nuke, Higgsfield AI
Responsibilities: Camera animation, lighting, shading, rendering, compositing, AI-enhanced VFX