Books
The Complete Guide to Photorealism
for Visual Effects, Visualization and Games
Routledge/Focal, 2021
This book offers a comprehensive and detailed guide to accomplishing and perfecting a photorealistic look in digital content across visual effects, architectural and product visualization, and games.
Emmy award-winning VFX supervisor Eran Dinur offers readers a deeper understanding of the complex interplay of light, surfaces, atmospherics, and optical effects, and then discusses techniques to achieve this complexity in the digital realm, covering both 3D and 2D methodologies.
In addition, the book features artwork, case studies, and interviews with leading artists in the fields of VFX, visualization, and games. Exploring color, integration, light and surface behaviour, atmospherics, shading, texturing, physically-based rendering, procedural modelling, compositing, matte painting, lens/camera effects, and much more,
Dinur offers a compelling, elegant guide to achieving photorealism in digital media and creating imagery that is seamless from real footage.
Its broad perspective makes this detailed guide suitable for VFX, visualization and game artists and students, as well as directors, architects, designers, and anyone who strives to achieve convincing, believable visuals in digital media.
Reviews:
"As photorealism pipelines have become standard across various industries, it is vital for any 3D artist to have a complete comprehension of what it takes to create a photoreal image from beginning to end. I believe this book will not only take you there but also inspire you to push the boundaries of emerging technologies."
Jesse Flores, Look Development Artist
"I expect this to be a classic text book everywhere where 3D or VFX are taught. Whether you are decades in, as in my case, or a complete beginner, in any of the disciplines making up 3D and VFX, I know you will find many, many gems of insight to both help you in your work and improve your understanding as a whole of what makes, or breaks, a photoreal 3D image."
Amazon review
"Great book for the ones who are learning photorealism. Every step is briefly and precisely described with experienced insights. Recommend!"
Amazon review
"The author is an industry insider who knows what he's writing about. There are more technical accounts available, but as far as I know there is no other recent survey of photorealism of comparable breadth."
Amazon review
The Filmmaker's Guide to Visual Effects
The Art and Techniques of VFX for Directors, Producers, Editors, and Cinematographers
Routledge/Focal, 2017
The Filmmaker’s Guide to Visual Effects offers a practical, detailed guide to visual effects for non-VFX specialists working in film and television.
In contemporary filmmaking and television production, visual effects are used extensively in a wide variety of genres and formats to contribute to visual storytelling, help deal with production limitations, and reduce budget costs.
Yet for many directors, producers, editors, and cinematographers, visual effects remain an often misunderstood aspect of media production.
In this book, award-winning VFX supervisor and instructor Eran Dinur introduces readers to visual effects from the filmmaker’s perspective, providing a comprehensive guide to conceiving, designing, budgeting, planning, shooting, and reviewing VFX, from pre-production through post-production.
Reviews:
"You need to read this book if you are a filmmaker that needs a simple or complex visual effects shot; your film will be better, and it will be completed sooner and it will cost less if you understand how to work with VFX."
―John McIntosh, former Chairman, School of Visual Arts, Computer Art, Animation and Visual Effects - Board of Directors, Visual Effects Society (VES) | New York
"This book should be required reading for anyone working as a director, producer, DoP and many other roles, as well as film students. An extremely useful resource that I’m sure I will return to again and again."
―Liz Gill, Author of Running the Show
"An indispensable tool for filmmakers. Writing in a clear, concise style, the author makes the possibilities of VFX accessible to directors, producers, editors, cinematographers – anyone who wishes to know more about how to use its power to better tell their stories."
―Arthur Vincie, Writer/Director of Found In Time and Three Trembling Cities, Author of Preparing For Takeoff
"Very well written from an insiders perspective. Perfect for filmmakers with little or no VFX background and a must for VFX students.."
Amazon review
"An essential read for those wanting to learn visual effects or become prepared for working in the modern age of filmmaking. No matter what part of production you work in or are interested in, this book is for you."
Amazon review
"A brilliant guide to VFX written in a language that a filmmaker can understand. Great read, great examples, couldn't put it down."
Amazon review