Digital Matte Painting | Projects

22/09/2025 - 09/01/2026, Week 1 - Week 16
Rio Sato / 0360530
Information Design / Entertainment Design
Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Exercise: Fundamentals of Matte Painting
Project 1: Invisible Set Extension 1 (Pre_Production)
Project 2: Invisible Set Extension (Production)
Final Project: Thematic Matte Painting (VFX)

Instructions



Fig.1.1 MIB


2.0 Exercises - Fundamentals of Matte Painting

Complete a series of exercises to deepen your understanding of matte painting:

  1. Perspective Studies (Landscapes and Interiors)
  2. Compositions
  3. Value Studies
  4. Sky Replacements
  5. Virtual Plein Air
  6. 2.5D Mattes
  7. Invisible Set Extensions

2.1 Weekly progression

Week 2

By Week 2, I began working on sky replacements to enhance atmospheric perspective in digital environments.


Fig.2.1.1 Exercise,  week 2(29/09/2025)


Week 3

In Week 3, I completed paintover exercises to understand composition.

Fig.2.1.2 Exercise,  week 3(06/10/2025)

Week 4

This exercise helped me understand how to create realistic rock formations by studying reference materials and applying proper lighting and texture techniques.

Fig.2.1.3 Exercise,  week 4(11/10/2025)

Fig.2.1.4 Exercise,  week 5(11/21/2025)


2.2 Final Outcome


3.0 Project 1 -  Invisible Set Extension 1 (Pre_Production)

Synthesize the knowledge gained in task 1 to apply in task 2. Students are to demonstrate technical capability to conceptualize and build assets as a prep for invisible set extension over raw footage or recreate it by scratch from concept to finished art work. You will dissect and deconstruct raw footage to understand the nature and concept of the footage environment requirements for extension.  


3.1 Process Work

Moodboard

I gathered visual references that captured the mood, lighting, and architectural style I wanted to achieve for my invisible set extension project.


Fig.3.1.1 Process Work,  week 2(31/09/2025)

Compositions

I created six different compositional variations to explore various camera angles and spatial arrangements for the set extension, experimenting with different perspectives to find the most compelling visual approach.

Fig.3.1.2 Process Work,  week 5(21/10/2025)

Plans

I developed four distinct conceptual plans for Project 2, with each plan exploring different and unique approaches to invisible set extension. Each of these plans incorporated varying levels of complexity and offered different creative directions, allowing me to evaluate multiple possibilities before selecting the most effective approach for the final execution.
Fig.3.1.3 Process Work,  week 6(28/10/2025)

I created this visual map to organize and illustrate the spatial relationships between different camera angles of my conceptual plans, helping me visualize how each component would integrate into the overall set extension design.

Fig.3.1.4 Process Work,  week 6(28/10/2025)


3.2 Final Outcome


4.0 Project 2 - Invisible Set Extension (Production)

Apply knowledge from tasks 1 and 2 to task 3. Demonstrate technical skills to analyze, composite, and communicate set extensions over raw footage or create from scratch with motion. Deconstruct footage to understand environment requirements. Produce believable footage that syncs naturally. Process: sketch, digitize, then generate using appropriate software. Create a promotional poster upon completion. Present your work in the instructed formats:

1. Technical doc PDF (moodboard, style guide, sketches, processes from e-portfolio)

2. 15-30 sec video (MP4, H.264, 16:9, 1440×1080, 25fps, AAC, 48kHz, uploaded to YouTube)

3. E-portfolio posts as reflective studies


4.1 Process Work


Fig.4.1.1 Process Work,  week 8(07/11/2025)

I experimented with one compositional approach using photobashing techniques, combining multiple photographic elements to create a cohesive set extension that would blend seamlessly with the original footage.


Fig.4.1.2 Process Work,  week 8(07/11/2025)


After evaluating all four options, I selected breakdown 4 as the most suitable composition for photobashing because it offered the best balance between architectural complexity and spatial depth, while providing clear opportunities for seamless integration of photographic elements with the original footage.

Photobash

My first attempt at Project 2 revealed several critical issues: the composition appeared flat and monotonous, with uniform atmospheric treatment throughout that failed to create visual interest or narrative tension. The lack of tonal variation and focal hierarchy resulted in a scene that felt lifeless and failed to guide the viewer's eye effectively through the extended environment.

Fig.4.1.3 Process Work,  week 10(21/11/2025)

To solve this problem, I converted my work to black and white to identify which areas should be darker and which should be brighter.

Fig.4.1.4 Process Work,  week 11(28/11/2025)

By analyzing the value structure in grayscale, I could clearly see that the foreground needed deeper shadows to create separation from the midground, while the background elements required lighter values to establish proper atmospheric perspective and depth.

Fig.4.1.5 Process Work,  week 11(28/11/2025)


4.2 Final outcome

5.0 Final Project - Thematic Matte Painting (VFX)

Demonstrate technical capability to analyze, composite, and communicate set uniqueness by blending 3D geometry and 2D painting to raw video with special effects. Create 3 different locations based on selected theme and genre. Showcase project breakdowns. Your matte must seamlessly blend and showcase a believable set. Use Unreal or Unity for world building and compose via After Effects.

Submission:

Technical doc PDF (moodboard, styleguide, storyboard, processes from e-portfolio).

15-30 sec video (MP4, H.264, 16:9, 1440×1080, 25fps, AAC, 48kHz, uploaded to YouTube).


5.1 Process Work

AE

I brought my composition into After Effects and carefully adjusted the layer positioning and camera properties to ensure proper alignment with the original footage's perspective and movement.

Fig.5.1.1 Process Work,  week 14(20/12/2025)

Once all elements were integrated, I enhanced the final composition by adding appropriate sound effects and video elements to create a more immersive and polished presentation that effectively communicated the atmospheric qualities of the set extension.

Fig.5.1.2 Process Work,  week 14(20/12/2025)



5.2 Final outcome



6.0 Reflective Writing

Throughout this course, I have developed a comprehensive understanding of matte painting techniques and their application in VFX production. From fundamental exercises in perspective and composition to complex invisible set extensions, each project has progressively built my technical skills and artistic vision.

The most significant learning came from understanding how to balance technical precision with creative storytelling, particularly in creating believable environments that seamlessly integrate with live-action footage.

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