AI Revolution in VFX: Sculpting the Future of Visual Effects

The visual effects (VFX) industry is facing tighter deadlines and increasing demands for high-quality content, all while working under limited budgets . Artists are under pressure to deliver complex effects quickly, and traditional methods of manual work can no longer keep up. That's where artificial intelligence (AI) is stepping in, automating repetitive tasks, improving accuracy, and allowing artists to focus on creativity.

For VFX professionals, adding AI tools to their workflow is becoming necessary. Foundry's Nuke offers AI-powered tools like the CopyCat Node, which significantly reduces the amount of manual labor involved in rotoscoping and object tracking.

Curt Skelton, a VFX artist who works on both large-scale productions and smaller creative projects, has firsthand experience with how much time AI tools like CopyCat can save. "One time, I had to process 250 green screen shots in a few days, and without CopyCat, I'd still be rotoscoping those shots," Curt recalled with a laugh.

AI Tools Transforming VFX

Foundry's CopyCat automates tasks like object isolation, rotoscoping, and image cleanup. Rotoscoping, traditionally one of the most time-consuming tasks in VFX, involves tracing live-action footage frame by frame. With CopyCat, the artist only traces a few key frames, and the AI learns from those to handle the rest.

Curt described how using CopyCat changed his workflow: "It took me 20 to 30 minutes per green screen shot, but using CopyCat, I got it down to about five minutes. It saved my job. There's no way I could've finished in time without it."

Another tool making a difference is depth mapping, which creates 3D representations of a scene, helping artists layer effects with more precision. Curt has been experimenting with AI-generated depth maps to enhance the realism of his projects. "I've been using depth maps a lot for projects where we need to align actors with CG environments," Curt explained. "The AI-generated maps aren't perfect yet, but they get better every day."

Both depth mapping and rotoscoping large files are resource intensive AI tasks. Having the right hardware to handle it is important. For Curt's larger rendering tasks, he uses a Dell Precision Desktop Workstation , equipped with an NVIDIA RTX™ 6000 GPU. This is his go-to when it comes to handling multiple layers of effects, textures, and complex simulations. For Curt's workflow, having a top-of-the-line GPU is what makes a noticeable difference. With this configuration, he's able to manage high-end VFX rendering, real-time ray tracing, and depth map generation, all on his personal computer. "The tower helps me power through the bigger projects-it's reliable for the heavy lifting when I need to run machine learning models on complex scenes."

Setups like the Precision 5860 Tower Workstation and the Precision 3680 Tower Workstation provide comparable capabilities and are customizable, letting you pick your own configuration of CPU, memory, and GPU components. Foundry's CopyCat leverages NVIDIA CUDA and TensorRT to take advantage of multi-GPU workstation configurations to further accelerate the AI training process.

Dell Precision Workstations in Action

But there are times that you have to render on-the-go and a desktop won't cut it. One of Curt's anecdotes highlighted how having a laptop in addition to his PC saved him in a pinch, "All the computers were tied up rendering, and I had nothing left but my personal Dell laptop. I plugged it in, and it handled CopyCat like a champ-it was on par with the tower PCs in our server room."

Curt's Precision 5690 Laptop was able to perform alongside the servers because it utilizes the same underlying hardware in a smaller package. The 5690 contains an NVIDIA RTX 5000 GPU graphics card that can handle running AI tools like CopyCat. "This laptop saved a music video project when I had just a few hours left. Without it, there's no way I could have finished on time." Curt emphasized.

AI Enhancing Creative Freedom

AI is reshaping the VFX landscape, not only by automating tedious tasks, but also by giving artists the ability to push their creative limits. Tools like Foundry's CopyCat and advancements in depth mapping have already shown how AI can transform workflows, enabling artists like Curt to meet tight deadlines without sacrificing quality. "What used to feel like impossible tasks are now manageable," Curt shared. "I can focus more on experimenting with ideas and refining my projects, knowing I have the tools to support me."

As AI continues to evolve, the combination of cutting-edge software and powerful hardware will only drive further innovation in VFX. For artists like Curt, this means more time spent on what truly matters: creating unforgettable visual experiences.