The VFX industry is always changing, with new challenges and fresh approaches to tackle them. It’s a continuous learning. With so many industry standard VFX softwares in the market, there is always a room for innovation. On the same lines, today we will discuss about one such new matchmoving software.
We took an exclusive interview of Karthick K Kumar, founder and owner of KcodeX – an independent software for VFX matchmoving. Check out complete details.
Welcome abroad Karthick. Please share your professional journey.
Leading a team as Matchmove and Rotoanim Team Lead at Outpost VFX, working on projects such as “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Star Trek,” “Madame Web,” and many more, delivering excellent quality outputs.
My journey in the dynamic world of visual effects began at MPC, where I started as an Apprentice MMRA artist. During this foundational period, I underwent comprehensive training and immersed myself in learning the intricacies of the industry. It was a period of growth and discovery, laying the groundwork for my future career endeavours.
Through hard work and determination, I quickly ascended the ranks, earning a promotion to Junior in Live Production. This role provided invaluable exposure to seasoned professionals and allowed me to collaborate on a wide array of projects. Working alongside industry veterans, I embraced challenging tasks and gained insights into production workflows, accelerating my professional development.
Despite facing challenges, including the temporary shutdown of work due to their internal hard decision, I persevered and continued to push myself forward. My dedication and performance caught the attention of MPC’s advertisement division, where I demonstrated my capabilities and was swiftly promoted to MID artist within a year.
However, as the industry landscape evolved amidst the pandemic, I found myself seeking new opportunities for growth and stability. This led me to join Outpost VFX as a Senior MMRA artist. Here, I encountered a fresh set of challenges and projects that truly put my talents and skills to the test. Through dedication and resilience, I showcased my ability to excel under pressure, earning the trust and confidence of my colleagues.
Recognizing my leadership potential and track record of success, I was promoted to Team Lead for MMRA. In this capacity, I am responsible for orchestrating the efforts of a talented team, ensuring the seamless execution of projects while maintaining the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
Currently, I am successfully managing multiple projects simultaneously, leveraging my expertise and leadership skills to deliver outstanding results. As we continue to tackle new and exciting challenges, I remain committed to driving innovation and excellence in every aspect of our work, cementing Outpost VFX’s reputation as a premier provider of visual effects solutions.
What is the vision of KcodeX company?
At KcodeX, our mission is to empower the Matchmove and Rotoanim (MMRA) department with innovative tools that enhance the quality, speed, and accuracy of their work, while pushing the boundaries of creativity. We are dedicated to providing technical support for VFX professionals, ensuring they have the tools they need to excel in their craft and deliver exceptional results.
The core goal is to improve the overall VFX post production pipeline by automation processes which are reliable and robust. It will help the VFX artists to focus more on the creative aspects of their project.
What inspired the creation of your VFX matchmoving software solution?
The inspiration behind the creation of our VFX matchmoving software solution, KcodeX, stems from my firsthand experiences while working in the MMRA department at MPC Films. During my tenure there, I encountered various automation tools designed to streamline our workflow and elevate the quality of our output within tight deadlines.
However, I noticed that despite the effectiveness of these tools, occasional errors would arise, causing disruptions and delays in our work. Curious to understand and resolve these issues, I delved deeper into the technical aspects of the tools, seeking assistance from the IT department and exploring programming languages like Python and MEL.
As my knowledge and proficiency grew, I began developing my own tools to address specific challenges faced by our team. One such tool, “Sphere Grid,” garnered positive feedback from colleagues for its utility and efficiency. Despite initial enthusiasm, I realized that the potential impact of these tools was limited within the confines of our department.
Transitioning to MPC Advertisement presented a new set of challenges, including a lack of robust automation tools and an increased occurrence of human errors. Determined to improve efficiency and quality, I continued to develop and refine my tools, recognizing their potential to benefit a wider audience beyond the confines of my immediate colleagues.
The onset of the pandemic further underscored the importance of remote work and the need for reliable tools to facilitate seamless collaboration and productivity. Leveraging the success of my tools in freelance work, I decided to share them with a broader audience, receiving positive feedback for their effectiveness in enhancing workflow efficiency and output quality.
However, I have launched the basic tools for KcodeX at the moment, and they too have received positive feedback. There are upcoming advanced tools in the pipeline, aimed at further enhancing the capabilities of VFX artists and studios, ensuring continued innovation and growth within the industry.
Driven by the desire to empower VFX artists worldwide, I officially launched KcodeX, an acronym for “Karthick codes for VFX.” KcodeX aims to democratize access to advanced VFX tools, catering to individual artists, freelancers, and small studios alike. The overwhelmingly positive response from users reaffirms our commitment to advancing the field of VFX through innovative solutions that prioritize quality, speed, and ease of use.
What are your peer competitors / software?
While there may not be direct competitors offering the same curated and organized collection of tools specifically tailored for MMRA work like KcodeX, there are indeed many individual scripts and tools available online for various VFX software platforms such as Maya, 3DEqualizer, and Nuke.
However, KcodeX distinguishes itself by providing a centralized platform where users can access a carefully curated selection of tools specifically chosen for their effectiveness in MM RA work, streamlining workflows and improving productivity.
By offering a focused and organized solution that caters to the unique needs of VFX professionals in matchmoving software, particularly in the MM RA department, KcodeX provides a valuable resource that enhances efficiency and quality in visual effects production. Moreover, given the unique value proposition of KcodeX and its specialized focus on MM RA tools, it’s challenging to identify a direct competitor in the market.
What are the benefits of KcodeX over the peer competition?
KcodeX provides a carefully curated collection of MM RA (MatchMove and RotoAnim) tools, ensuring users access effective solutions conveniently. Unlike scattered online options, KcodeX offers a centralized hub for easy tool discovery, saving time and effort. KcodeX caters specifically to MM RA professionals, offering tools optimized for their unique workflows and challenges. Tools undergo rigorous testing for reliability and compatibility with popular VFX software like Maya, 3DEqualizer, and Nuke.
KcodeX offers ongoing updates and assistance, ensuring users stay current and supported. Users can share feedback and collaborate, fostering a supportive community for mutual growth. KcodeX streamlines workflows, enabling users to focus more on creativity and less on technical obstacles.
The platform allows for customization to suit individual preferences and workflows, offering a tailored experience. KcodeX is very handy to use and easy to understand, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.
How can these contribute to streamlining the VFX production pipeline?
Various benefits of this matchmoving software KcodeX are as follows.
- KcodeX’s tools save time, letting artists focus on creativity.
- Consistent toolsets minimize errors and boost productivity.
- Rigorous testing ensures reliability and compatibility.
- KcodeX fosters community feedback for improved workflows.
- Customizable toolsets are adapt to project needs seamlessly.
- KcodeX offers hassle-free installation, getting users up and running quickly.
Are these acts as end to end solution or they act as plugins?
Our tools currently offer end-to-end solutions tailored for Matchmove and Rotoanim (MM RA) tasks in the VFX industry. While our focus is on delivering complete solutions, we may explore launching our tools as plugins for popular VFX software platforms in the future.
Are these free VFX tools?
Currently, our service is aimed at helping artists focus on quality and fostering their improvement. It’s provided for free, aiming for me to gain exposure in the industry and facilitate growth for others. In the future, we might introduce advanced services, possibly with associated costs.
What are the system requirements for running KCODEX software?
For running this matchmoving software KCODEX software within Maya, there are no specific system requirements beyond what is necessary to run Maya itself. Users should ensure their systems meet the minimum requirements specified by Autodesk for the respective Maya version they are using. As long as your system meets the requirements for running Maya smoothly, you should be able to use KCODEX tools effectively.
Please explain the entire suite.
As mentioned above, KCODEX is a comprehensive software tools suite designed to enhance the workflow of Matchmove and Rotoanim (MM RA) professionals in the VFX industry. It offers a curated selection of tools specifically tailored for MM RA tasks within popular software platforms like Maya, providing end-to-end solutions for artists.
These tools are aimed at streamlining workflows, improving efficiency, and maintaining high-quality standards in visual effects production. KCODEX prioritizes user-friendly interfaces, reliability, and compatibility to ensure seamless integration into existing workflows.
Additionally, KCODEX fosters a community of users for feedback, collaboration, and ongoing development, ensuring continuous improvement and innovation within the software suite.
How does this matchmoving software improves the overall VFX post production?
Our tools enhance the overall VFX matchmoving process in several ways:
- Camera Option Tools: These tools offer quick assistance in tracking cameras by providing features like reparenting, fixing focal length, quick duplicate bake, and managing camera curves. By simplifying camera manipulation tasks, artists can achieve more accurate and efficient camera tracking results.
- Bake Tools: Our bake tools enable artists to quickly bake out objects in Maya, streamlining the process of transferring animated data to achieve smoother playback and rendering. This helps ensure consistency and reliability in the matchmoving process.
- Marker Tools: Our marker tools are invaluable for marking areas in the viewport using cones and locators, allowing artists to assess the quality of their track visually. This aids in identifying and addressing tracking errors early in the process, leading to improved accuracy and precision.
- Shortcut Tools: Our shortcut tools provide convenient shortcuts and time-saving features tailored specifically for matchmoving tasks. By reducing the time and effort required to perform common actions, these tools increase productivity and efficiency in the matchmoving workflow.
Even some more tools we have on advanced options.
Overall, our tools are designed to streamline the matchmoving process, improve accuracy, and enhance the overall quality of VFX productions. By providing artists with intuitive and efficient solutions, we empower them to achieve outstanding results in their matchmoving endeavours.
Can you explain the process of VFX matchmoving in detail for novice artists?
VFX matchmoving involves tracking the movement of a camera within live-action footage and replicating it in a 3D environment. It ensures that the CG elements move perfectly within the real world environment. This allows for seamless integration of computer-generated elements, enhancing the realism of the final shot.
The process starts with a deep dive into the live-action shot. Artists analyze camera movements and pinpoint where CG elements will be added. This is where specialized software like Maya or 3DEqualizer comes into play. The footage is fed into the program, and artists use the markers (or natural features) to track their movement across each frame. The software analyzes this data to build a 3D point cloud, essentially a digital map of the camera’s movement in space.
With this information, a virtual camera is recreated within the 3D software. This virtual camera replicates not just the movement and rotation of the real camera, but also calculates lens distortion. It’s an iterative process, demanding a keen eye for detail. Artists constantly review the virtual camera’s movement in comparison to the live-action footage, making adjustments to achieve a perfect match.
Once the virtual camera completely reflects the real camera, the VFX artists can import 3D models of characters, creatures, or any other props and animate them within the scene. The virtual camera movement ensures these CG elements move realistically within the live-action environment.
The final step involves sending the camera and tracking data to other departments in the VFX pipeline. This allows compositors to seamlessly integrate the CG elements with the live-action footage, creating a final shot that feels believable and immersive.
Can it handle all levels of complex camera movements and scenes?
Yes, KCODEX tools can handle all levels of complex camera movements and scenes.
They provide solutions for a wide range of shot complexities, adapting to the methodology of the artist. This versatility ensures compatibility with various types of shots, empowering artists to achieve accurate matchmoving results across diverse projects.
What level of technical expertise is required to use them?
KcodeX supports artists at all skill levels.
For junior artists, I personally recommend starting with manual workflows to build foundational skills. As they gain experience, our tools provide insights into advanced workflows, enhancing understanding and facilitating improvement in their craft.
Can you share any success stories or case studies of projects which are completed using your software?
This is too early for us to share the success stories, but I can share some experience and success stories of my codes and tools,
In a previous VFX project, our team faced challenges during the finalization stage when preparing scenes for production delivery. One common task involved ensuring clean Maya scenes with perfectly tracked camera baked values. However, this process often led to errors, particularly when duplicating cameras and copying focal animations manually. To address this issue, we utilized my ‘Duplicate Bake Camera’ tool, which streamlined the process with a single click. This tool automatically duplicated the camera, parented baked values, and copied focal animations accurately, significantly reducing human errors and saving valuable time.
Additionally, we encountered delays when baking objects in Maya, which prolonged the production timeline. To expedite this process, we implemented the ‘Quick Bake’ tool from KcodeX. This tool reduced baking time to a fraction of seconds, improving efficiency and productivity.
Furthermore, during production delivery, errors in file path copying often caused confusion and delays. To mitigate this, we utilized my ‘Mail Collector’ tool, which automated the collection of final file paths and facilitated clear delivery emails. This tool streamlined communication with production teams, speeding up the delivery process and reducing errors significantly.
These are rooted me to build KcodeX slowly.
What can be future developments?
Users can expect upcoming developments and updates in this matchmoving software, including the release of advanced tools currently in preparation. These updates will focus on enhancing RotoAnim tools and launching new functionalities to improve efficiency and effectiveness in VFX workflows.
Stay tuned for announcements regarding these updates, as we continue to strive towards providing cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving needs of our users. KcodeX software stays ahead of emerging trends in VFX matchmoving through regular updates, ensuring support for real-time tracking, AI integration, virtual production techniques, and workflow automation.
This commitment enables users to stay current with industry advancements and achieve their creative goals efficiently.
Do you offer training or support services for users of your matchmoving software?
Yes, we are planning to provide tutorials and guidelines for our users to understand KCODEX more deeply. These resources will offer comprehensive training and support to help users make the most of our matchmoving software. Stay tuned for updates on our training and support services.
What role does artificial intelligence or machine learning play in KCODEX’s future development plans?
In our future plans, we’re exploring the integration of AI and machine learning into KCODEX not only in Maya in all the DCC’s. These technologies aim to enhance tracking accuracy, processing speed, and task automation, further streamlining workflows and empowering users.
Stay tuned for updates on our AI initiatives as we continue to innovate KCODEX for the VFX industry’s evolving needs.