Week 1: Introduction to Matte Painting Techniques 

Lesson 1 

History of matte painting in film (theory and examples) 

Contemporary applications of matte painting in VFX industry (theory and examples) 

Overview of matte painting techniques (theory and examples) 

Homework: Selection of relevant references 

Lesson 2 

Homework review and discussion 

Concept art and matte painting (theory and examples) 

Usage of pen, formats and pipeline (practice) 

Week 2: Blocking for Environment & Introduction to Perspective 

Lesson 3 

References: How to find the right references (preparing for exercise) 

Blocking techniques (demonstration by professor) 

Perspective: How to make right perspective for your matte painting composition Types of perspectives in visual art 

Lesson 4 

Exercise 1: speed matte painting using basic knowledge (practice) 

Goal for exercise: practical application of perspective and blocking 

Review and feedback discussion 

Week 3: Photos Manipulating 

Lesson 5 

Research & collection of material for the next exercise 

Manipulating with photos (practice and demonstration) 

Smart objects, masking & blending techniques (practice and demonstration) 

Lesson 6 

Masking (demonstration by professor and practise) 

Exercise 2: adding and removing sky (practice) 

Week 4: Color Correction & Free Hand Painting 

Lesson 7 

Matching photos & blending (demonstrations by professor) 

Exercise 3: adjustment layers; objects blending & color corrections 

lesson 8 

Free hand painting and tuning (demonstration and practice) 

Exercise 4: adding new content to composition by free hand painting (practice) 

Week 5: Real Footage Exercise 

lesson 11 

Exercise 5: Extending format (adding new content) 

Clean-up (demonstration and exemples) 

Exercise 6: Removing unwanted object from footage (practice) 

Lesson 12 

Separation by plans & discussion about camera projection Exercise 7: separation of layers by plans (practice) 

Naming, formats, exporting and saving 

Week 6: Concept Art & Matte Painting 

Lesson 9 

• 

From concept art to matte painting (discussion and examples) Exercise 8: Speed photobashing 

Homework: concept art selection for the final work 

Lesson 10 

Discussion about chosen concept art 

Starting with final matte painting: format preparation & concept art application (practise) 

Homework: selection of right references for final matte painting 

Week 7: Working on Final Matte Painting 

Lesson 13 

Discussion about references 

Upgrade of concept art by matte painting techniques with professor feedback 

(practice) 

Lesson 14 

Working on final matte painting (practice) 

Discussion and review 

Week 8: Final Tuning Atmosphere & Grading 

lesson15 

Students work on their final matte painting 

Exercise 9: making atmosphere – adding fog in composition 

Feedback and review 

Lesson16 

• Finishing final work (practice) 

Preparing a presentation or portfolio of the final matte painting work