【Shoost Tips】 Fundamentals of Attractive Scene Creation - Part 3: Finishing Compositing Techniques

Hello, everyone!

We've finally reached the finishing chapter of this three-part series on scene creation. In the previous article, we discussed color adjustment. In this final installment, I'd like to explain detailed adjustment techniques for finishing your scenes.

Let's dive into the final touches!

Adding Anime-Style Compositing Effects

We'll be adding processes similar to those used in anime compositing.

Starting from this state, first add effects using Screen Effects.

To check things simply, I recommend temporarily hiding the Flare effect.

Next, we'll use gradient effects to add atmosphere and depth to the scene. First, add a gradient effect to the character layer, aligning the gradient with the direction of the light.

For clarity, I'm assuming light is coming from the front, so I'm using a top-to-bottom gradient. Once you've created the gradient, apply it using the Multiply blend mode.

The key is not to apply it too strongly—keep it subtle and spread it widely, or just apply it lightly around the edges. Since we've added shadow expression with Multiply, let's now add light expression using the same approach.

Create a new layer and add a gradient effect in the same way.

Since this is an evening scene, I'm adding a slightly orange tint. This time, change the layer's blend mode to Screen and apply it.

This gives us what's called "flare" and "para" effects in anime compositing terminology. We've now added both light and shadow expression.

You can create even more varied expressions by combining not just Multiply and Screen, but also Overlay and other blend modes.

Finally, let's add effects to the entire screen. First, add Flare from the EFFECTS menu.

Apply it lightly across the entire screen so the effect appears subtle. I've also tinted the color slightly orange to match the evening atmosphere. Since I want a bit more light expression toward the top of the screen, I'll also create a flare using layers.

Create a new layer and add a gradient effect.

When no image is loaded, you can create gradients that match the screen size. Adjust it so the gradient appears just slightly at the top of the screen, and set the layer's blend mode to Add.

It's a good idea to slightly enlarge the layer in case you want to add camera shake later.

You can also adjust the overall color using a similar method. Add a gradient to the layer, set the type to "Fill," and apply it with your preferred blend mode such as Overlay or Soft Light.

Here's what the layer blend modes look like in the list view, as shown in the image below.

You can see how the atmosphere has changed with these adjustments applied.

Once you get comfortable, you can use additional layers to combine multiple gradient effects for even more control.

This completes the basic screen setup. After this, you can fine-tune the colors using Screen Effects Filters and Color Grading, adjusting to match your personal preferences.

Conclusion

Over these three articles, we've covered the fundamentals of scene creation.

In Part 1, we organized the layout using eye level and perspective lines. In Part 2, we blended characters with backgrounds using color adjustment and lighting. And in this final part, we introduced finishing compositing techniques.

By combining these elements, you can create attractive scenes. It might feel challenging at first, but by being mindful of each element, your quality will certainly improve.

Seeing the atmosphere gradually improve is one of the joys of creation, so I hope you'll enjoy using Shoost while referring to these tips!