Mixing & tracking: combining images and overlaying CGI are obviously jobs done after shooting. But getting the source material right can make life a lot easier in post production.(compositing & motion tracking)

A perhaps surprisingly common problem with footage shot for enhancement later--such as scenes needing lots of virtual extras to create an affordable crowd, or anything else where computer-generated images (CGI) must be added --is the lack of thought about how this brand of post production magic actually works.

To add 3D characters or landscape convincingly, the artist needs to match the moves of the camera--"matchmoving"--to retain perspective. But second unit film directors have been known to unwittingly make heavy weather of this, by eliminating useful landmarks from ...

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