Foundry is world leading VFX software company, whose products are used in almost all major post production studios. It ranges from blockbuster Hollywood movies, web series, television, commercials, video games and many more broadcasting mediums. Apart from studio version, the company also provides Foundry’s Education Collective. This blog article focuses on the latest development of this special module.
The core concept of the Foundry Education Collective is to create a new generation of skilled VFX artists.
What is Foundry Education Collective?
It is a suite of software tools that is designed to help students and educators to learn and create industry standard VFX. The suite includes following softwares.
Nuke
Nuke can be used to create a wide range of visual effects, from simple tasks like keying and tracking to complex tasks like creating and compositing 3D elements. Nuke’s node based workflow allows artists to create complex visual effects quickly and easily. Nuke also has a number of features that can help artists to save time, such as its deep compositing tools and its AI-powered tools.
Katana
Katana is a powerful look development and lighting software. Its integrated asset management and collaboration tools make it easy for artists to work together on complex projects. The node based architecture helps artists to create and manage complex lighting and shading setups. This makes it easy to experiment with different looks and to iterate on ideas quickly. Katana also features a variety of powerful tools for creating and managing materials, textures, and lighting effects.
Mari
Mari is used in the VFX industry to create textures for a wide variety of models, including characters, environments, and props. With the support of node based system, artists can create complex textures by combining multiple layers of nodes. Each node can perform a different operation, such as adding color, blending textures, or creating procedural effects. Mari also has a variety of built-in tools for painting, sculpting, and manipulating textures.
Modo
Modo is a valuable tool for any artist who wants to create high-quality 3D models (polygon modeling, subdivision surface modeling, and sculpting), animations (rigging, skeletal animation, and procedural animation), and renderings (physically based rendering and ray tracing). It is known for its user-friendly interface and its ability to handle a wide range of tasks.
Some of the recent movies where above mentioned softwares of Foundry Education Collective was used: Avatar: The Way of Water, Top Gun: Maverick, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, The Batman, Jurassic World Dominion, Thor: Love and Thunder, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Stranger Things, Lightyear, The Boys, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to name a few of the gigantic list.
The problem
Cost of softwares.
Productive things comes at a price. Foundry has exceptional team of software programmers and technicians. So, naturally, the sotwares comes at a huge cost.
In reality, there is a huge group of students who can’t afford the prices due to various financial constraints. So, even if an artist is talented, he/she cannot afford it. They need early access to it and continuous practice it on to master the essential skills.
The solution – Student verification system Proxi.id
Foundry has recently integrated a new verification system from Proxi.id into the Foundry Education Collective. This system allows students to verify their student status almost instantaneously. This means that students can now access the Foundry Education Collective suite of software much more quickly than before.
There are two options for a new student:
- It the student has enrolled in a course at one of Foundry’s Education Partners, all the softwares are free for him/her.
- If not, a student can purchase it in a discounted prices of $99/€89/£79.
There are three options for graduate students:
- Students who have recently graduated from a full-time course can upgrade their student license to a graduate license.
- A graduate license allows you to use Nuke, Katana, Mari, and Modo for commercial purposes for one year after you graduate.
- After one year, you can upgrade to a one-year commercial subscription for 70% off.
Official statements from industry people
Fortunato Frattasio, Learning & Development Manager at Campus d’Effets Visuels, Montréal:
“As an Instructor and VFX Artist, I believe that being part of a strong academic program and having access to high quality material is only part of what it takes to become a truly good artist. In order for students to really immerse themselves and to gain a deep understanding of their craft, they need to practise, practise, and practise. This new resource from Foundry can really help a student grow from a good VFX artist to an excellent one.”
Kalen Arnold, Senior Business Development Manager for Education at Foundry:
“Foundry continues its dedication to accessibility and excellence in the educational and creative communities through advancements like Proxi.id and affordable pricing, empowering a new wave of creators with the tools they need to bring their visions to life.”
How the Foundry Education Collective is shaping the future of VFX Industry
The global media and entertainment (M&E) industry is worth over $2 trillion, and it is expected to grow to over $3 trillion by 2027. The VFX industry is a major contributor to the M&E industry, and it is growing rapidly.
According to a report by PwC, the global VFX market is expected to grow from $10.5 billion in 2022 to $15.3 billion in 2027.
These set of softwares are helping as a stepping stone for aspiring VFX artists. It offers a number of benefits for students and educators, including.
Access to industry-standard softwares
It is providing students with access to the same software that they will use in their professional careers. This is giving students a head start in their careers and making them more competitive in the job market.
Affordable pricing
You have already seen the very economical prices for new and graduate students both. By offering affordable pricing and comprehensive learning resources, Foundry is making it possible for more students to pursue a career in VFX. It is useful for students from all backgrounds.
Comprehensive learning resources
Foundry offers a variety of learning resources to help students learn how to use the Foundry Education Collective software. These resources include tutorials, online courses, and documentation. Foundry has a team of experts who are available to help students and educators with the Foundry Education Collective software. This team can provide support with technical issues, learning resources, and best practices.
By all these, Foundry is helping to ensure that the VFX industry has a pool of talented artists to draw from.
You have already seen the power of Foundry softwares. If you want to become a successful VFX artist, all these Foundry software packages (Nuke, Katana, Mari, Modo) are must for you.