The Fourth Edition of this award-winning handbook remains the definitive guide for Visual Effects professionals, packed with new chapters and sections that are the definitive essential techniques, best practices and the latest innovations. Updated to reflect the quickly evolving industry landscape, this edition brings expanded knowledge reflecting updated techniques for areas covered in the Third Edition, such as Previs, AR/VR Moviemaking, color management (including ACES), the DI process and matte painting, as well as many new chapters by new writers that include Virtual Production, AI, NeRFs and Gaussian Splatting, and so much more.
New in This Edition
With contributions from 30 new Visual Effects experts, this edition explores cutting-edge topics, including:
A must-have for anyone working in, or aspiring to work in, visual effects, The VES Handbook of Visual Effects, Fourth Edition covers essential techniques and solutions for all visual effects artists, producers and supervisors, from pre-production to digital character creation, compositing of both live-action and CG elements, photorealistic techniques, virtual production, Artificial Intelligence and so much more. With subjects and techniques clearly and definitively presented in beautiful four-color, this handbook is a vital resource for any serious visual effects artist.
For the student, this book contains the “gold”: Secrets and practices that will guide your career into the field and business of visual effects. Contained within these pages are the knowledge and expertise of real-world working professionals, including many Academy Award, Emmy Award and VES Award winners. It is like having many experts at your fingertips to explain in clear detail the “whats”, “hows” and “whys” of the entire field of visual effects
About the Book’s Editors
Jeffrey A. Okun, VES, is an award-winning Visual Effects Supervisor, a VES Fellow, a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, the American Society of Cinematographers and the Television Academy. He has served as the chair of the Visual Effects Society as well as in many other leadership positions, including chair of the LA Section.
Susan Zwerman, VES, has been a member of the VES since 1998. She is a highly respected Visual Effects Producer who has been producing visual effects for more than 25 years. Zwerman is also a well-known seminar leader and author. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Producers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, and a member and Fellow of the VES.
Susan Thurmond O’Neal joined the VES in 1997 and has been deeply involved ever since. She has served on the global Board of Directors in multiple roles, including Treasurer in 2016, 2nd Vice Chair in 2022 and 2023, and 1st Vice Chair in 2024 and 2025. Over the years, she has chaired the legacy global Education Committee, currently leads the Membership Committee, and in 2019 was honored with the VES Founders Award for meritorious service to the Society.
