Creative · Beginner
Build VFX shots that hold up on a real screen
An 11-month recorded programme that takes you from your first Nuke script to four finished portfolio shots.
- 11-month recorded programme
- Foundry Nuke from scratch
- Four portfolio projects
- Real studio shot material
- Self-paced access
Why compositing is hard to learn from tutorials alone
You can watch a hundred Nuke tutorials and still freeze when a real plate lands on your desk. The tools are not the problem. The problem is knowing which problem to solve first. A shot arrives with a moving camera, mismatched colour, a rig to remove and a CG element that has to sit in the same air as the actor. Tutorials show one click at a time. Studio work asks you to plan the whole chain.
That gap is why so many reels look technically busy but do not hold up. Edges drift, keys fall apart on hair, inserted screens slide, and CG passes look pasted on. The fix is not another node. It is a repeatable way of reading a shot, breaking it into tasks and checking your result against the plate.
This programme was built around that studio rhythm. You work with real shot material, not demo footage that has been prepared to make every tool look easy. You start with the Nuke interface and cinematic composition, then move through cleanup, roto, tracking, keying and full CG compositing. Each stage ends with a project, so the skills accumulate instead of scattering.
By the end, you have four varied portfolio shots and a workflow you can apply to the next brief. You know how to plan a script, where to spend your time, and how to judge whether an element belongs in the frame. That is the difference between knowing Nuke and working as a compositor.
What you will be able to do
By the end, you will have a repeatable workflow for turning raw plates into finished shots.
- Set up a Nuke script from plate to final render
Read a shot, organise nodes and build a script that another artist can follow.
- Remove rigs, markers and unwanted objects
Use paint and cleanup techniques on moving footage, including shots longer than 50 frames.
- Draw roto shapes that hold over time
Build and animate mattes for hair, edges and overlapping action.
- Track 2D and 3D cameras
Solve camera movement and place elements into a moving scene.
- Pull clean keys from uneven green and blue screens
Handle spill, edges and translucent details without losing the subject.
- Composite full CG passes into live-action plates
Bring beauty, AOVs and atmosphere into a shot that reads as one image.
- Match colour, grain and lens character
Make inserted elements belong to the plate instead of sitting on top.
- Assemble four portfolio projects
Finish a set of varied shots that show cleanup, roto, tracking, keying and full CG.
- 11
- months
- 681
- hours of training and project work
- 4
- portfolio projects
- 6
- modules
The shot-first method
Every module starts with a real shot, not a menu tour. You watch the plate, break it into tasks, and build the script in the order a studio would. Cleanup comes before roto only when the shot needs it. Tracking comes before keying only when the camera moves. The lessons teach you to decide.
Each project is reviewed against a shot checklist: edges, colour, grain, motion blur, perspective and continuity. You compare your result with the reference and fix the weakest link first. That habit is what separates a shot that almost works from one that ships.
- Break a shot into cleanup, roto, tracking, keying and comp tasks
- Build scripts that are readable and easy to revise
- Use reference and scopes to judge colour and contrast
- Fix the weakest part of a shot first
How the course works
The programme is delivered as recorded video lessons, project files and written shot briefs. You work through six modules at your own pace, with a suggested rhythm of two study blocks per week. The full route is 11 months and 681 hours when you follow the project work as designed, but you can move faster or slower.
Each module opens with a studio-style brief. You get the plate, the reference and the delivery notes, then follow the lessons to build the shot. Worksheets help you plan the node tree, log issues and check your result before moving on.
There are no live sessions or one-to-one calls. The programme is built for self-study: you watch, pause, rebuild and compare. If you want a structured path through Nuke with real shot practice, this is the format.
The programme
Six modules take you from the Nuke interface to a full CG shot and a finished portfolio. Each module combines recorded lessons with a project brief.
1Module 1 — Nuke foundations and cinematic compositionLearn the interface, read a plate and build your first script.4 lessons · project brief
- Inside the Nuke interface: viewer, node graph and timeline
- Reading a plate: perspective, lens and composition
- Colour theory for compositors: contrast, saturation and mood
- Building your first script from plate to viewer
2Module 2 — Cleanup and paintRemove unwanted elements from moving footage without leaving a trace.4 lessons · project brief
- Planning cleanup on a moving shot
- Frame-by-frame paint and clone techniques
- Cleanup over 50 frames: stability and consistency
- Removing rigs, markers and unwanted objects
3Module 3 — Rotoscoping and 2D trackingBuild mattes that hold and use tracked data to place new elements.4 lessons · project brief
- Drawing roto shapes for hard and soft edges
- Animating roto through overlapping action
- 2D tracking: translation, rotation, scale and perspective
- Using tracked data to place a new element
4Module 4 — Advanced colour and screen replacementMatch inserted images to a plate and make screens sit in the scene.4 lessons · project brief
- Selective colour correction with mattes and samples
- Matching black levels, highlights and contrast
- Replacing a phone, tablet or laptop screen
- Adding reflections, glow and motion blur to an insert
5Module 5 — Keying and 3D trackingPull clean keys and integrate a subject into a moving background.4 lessons · project brief
- Keying green and blue screens: edges, spill and translucency
- Combining keys for hair and fine detail
- 3D camera tracking and scene setup
- Integrating a keyed subject into a moving background
6Module 6 — Full CG compositing and portfolio finishingBring CG passes into live action and finish your portfolio shots.4 lessons · project brief
- Reading CG passes: beauty, AOVs and utility passes
- Building a full CG shot in Nuke
- Atmosphere, depth and lens effects
- Finishing four portfolio shots: checks, exports and presentation
What you get
Everything is delivered digitally and stays in your account.
- Six recorded modules
A structured route from first script to full CG compositing.
- Studio-grade practice plates
Real shot material and briefs for each project.
- Four portfolio projects
Varied shots covering cleanup, roto, tracking, keying and full CG.
- Nuke project files
Reference scripts and node setups to compare against your own.
- Shot checklists and worksheets
Plan, review and improve each shot before export.
- Self-paced access
Study around work and revisit any lesson when you need it.
- 14-day money-back guarantee
Try the programme and request a refund within 14 days if it is not right for you.
Is this course for you?
This course is for you if…
- You are starting from scratch and want a structured path into Nuke.
- You are a 3D artist adding compositing to your skill set.
- You have finished a creative degree and want shot-based portfolio work.
- You are self-taught and want to fill gaps in cleanup, roto, tracking and keying.
- You can commit regular study time and want to build four finished shots.
Probably not a fit if…
- You want live classes, one-to-one mentoring or a fixed classroom schedule.
- You expect to learn by watching only, without rebuilding the shots yourself.
- You cannot run Foundry Nuke on your computer.
- You are looking for a quick overview rather than an 11-month programme.
After the course
You finish with four varied shots and a workflow you can repeat. You can open a new plate, break it into tasks, build a clean script and judge your own result against reference. You know where cleanup ends and roto begins, how to solve a camera, how to pull a key that holds on hair, and how to make CG passes sit in a live-action frame.
The portfolio is the point. Each project is chosen to show a different part of compositing, so you are not presenting four versions of the same trick. You can show cleanup on a moving shot, a tracked insert, a keyed subject and a full CG composite.
You also leave with a shot checklist and a review habit. That matters more than memorising nodes: shots change, software updates, and every new brief has a weak link. The programme teaches you to find it and fix it.
Questions before you start
How much time do I need each week?
Plan for around 12–16 hours per week if you follow the full route. The programme totals 681 hours across 11 months, including training and project work. You can spread it over a longer period because the lessons are self-paced.
Do I need previous Nuke or 3D experience?
No special preparation is required. The programme starts with the Nuke interface and cinematic composition, then builds up to full CG compositing. You should be comfortable using a computer and managing files.
What computer do I need?
The programme recommends at least 32 GB of RAM and a mid-range gaming graphics card. A GeForce 9xx or equivalent is the minimum; an RTX 2060 or above is recommended. Check your machine before enrolling.
How do I access the course after payment?
After checkout you receive access to your learning account, where the recorded lessons, project files and worksheets are available. There is no live schedule to wait for.
What format are the lessons in?
Lessons are recorded video walkthroughs with project files and written briefs. You watch on your own schedule, pause to rebuild the script, and compare your result with the reference.
How long do I keep access?
Your access does not expire. The lessons and project files stay available in your account so you can revisit them when you work on new shots.
What is the refund policy?
You have 14 days from purchase to request a refund. If the programme is not right for you, contact support within that window and we will process the refund.
Will I get feedback on my shots?
This is a self-study programme, so there are no live reviews or one-to-one critiques. You get shot checklists, reference results and self-review prompts to judge your work against the brief.
Is this a live course?
No. It is a recorded, self-paced programme. You can study at your own speed and return to any module whenever you need it.
Start building your compositing portfolio
Work through six modules, four projects and 681 hours of structured practice at your own pace.