This is a small' tutorial' on the theory behind simple compositing, and specifically how I created most of the composite shots in Dark Skies. The example I have show is towards the end of the film. Right (Control) Click on the picture below to download the' Medical Centre pack', which contains the files used to create this shot. All quicktime footage is compressed using the on2 codec.

Step 1

Although probably not visible in the finished web film the first thing I did after setting up the After Effects pasteboard was pull in the 'STARS' background (.psd) picture. I set a beginning point and an end point for this first layer, so it looked as though the ship would be moving through space.

Step 2

Next the planet on BENGA was added to the file (.psd). Again a beginning and end point was created to help show the movement of the ship. This was a different layer to the stars, as I wanted them to move at different rates to help show the perspective involved.

Step 3

The main BACKGROUND picture was then dropped in. This backgrond plate was created as a picture in photoshop and saved as a .psd file. As it was a .psd the holes in the windows remained clear, showing the view outside.

Step 4

Next 2-1B was added. He was created in Strata (Free) 3D and rendered out with an alpha channel. All that needed to happen was him was to be sized and positioned to fit in the frame correctly.

Step 5

Next Anakin on the 'matress' was dropped in. You will see from the supplied footage how he was shot outside (laying on the kitchen table) The area's covered by greenscreen where keyed out in After Effects. The areas NOT covered where simply masked out, and an animated mask was used where needed.

Step 6

The scene was meant to be lit very heavily from above, to give a clinical, medical feel. As you can see from the original Anakin footage this was not the case, so a second Anakin layer was created and the 'Add' toggled to brighten him up, A feathered mask was applied to the areas I wanted to brighten (his face and chest) This greatly improved the effect of this shot.

Step 7

A duplicate of the 2-1B layer was made, and the arm detail masked off and put INFRONT of Ankin, this made it look as though 2-1B was leaning across Anakin, helping the CGI and live action blend together more convincingly.

Step 8

An ever watchful medical probe was added, again created in Strata, and simply added as an alpha channel cut out. Beginning and end points where created for the probe to move along.

Step 9

A 'matte painting' of the bottom of the medical table and the side panel was added to the shot, again, created as a .psd file. the entire shot was all about composite layers, And this is a key technique used throughout DARK SKIES