SynthEyes' Adoration: Insights from VFX Supervisor Matt Merkovich
Matthew Merkovich, a renowned VFX artist, has been relying on Boris FX SynthEyes for his 3D tracking and matchmoving needs for many years. The tool's powerful, versatile, and user-friendly solution tailored to professional matchmoving workflows has proven to be an invaluable asset in his projects.
SynthEyes is not confined to just 3D tracking. It offers a wide range of features including supervised 2D tracking, roto, building out geometry, rendering mattes for compositing, and set surveys. This versatility makes it an indispensable tool in Merkovich's arsenal.
One of the key reasons for Merkovich's preference for SynthEyes is its accuracy in tracking complex camera movements. The software's robust feature set for solving and refining 3D camera tracks, and its efficient handling of different types of shots, including difficult ones with motion blur or minimal visual features, sets it apart.
Moreover, SynthEyes integrates seamlessly with other VFX and compositing software, streamlining Merkovich's pipeline and enhancing productivity in his visual effects projects.
The most challenging shot Merkovich has ever tracked with SynthEyes was a minutes-long shot for the show Mr. Robot. Other difficult shots include those for Into the Badlands that took place at night, in the rain, with lightning, where he was tracking heads for face replacements.
Merkovich has used SynthEyes for 3D tracks to build out geometry and render out mattes for compositing in movies like Master and Commander. The new lens distortion tools in SynthEyes have significantly improved its ability to handle anamorphic footage, making it the best tool for 3D tracking in this regard.
SynthEyes is currently the best 3D tracking app for dealing with anamorphic footage, offering advanced features like anamorphic distance that are not supported in other 3D animation apps.
For artists new to SynthEyes, Merkovich advises not to be afraid of the UI, as it is actually very simple. Handheld cameras with jerky camera motion and a ton of motion blur are the hardest shots to track with SynthEyes.
Merkovich's workflow for a shot using SynthEyes includes bidding, ingesting the shot into the pipeline, denoising proxies, creating a version zero in SynthEyes, supervised 2D tracking, 3D solving, building and aligning 3D geometry, review, QC steps, and packaging deliverables.
Merkovich's favourite project he's ever worked on is Minority Report, as it is a beloved movie that has stood the test of time, and he got to work with some of the most talented VFX people in the business.
In conclusion, SynthEyes is the best 3D tracking and matchmoving app available, offering a powerful, versatile, and user-friendly solution for professional VFX artists like Matthew Merkovich.
- Matthew Merkovich also utilizes SynthEyes in fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden projects, leveraging its features for supervised 2D tracking and roto to enhance the quality of makeup and set designs.
- In his spare time, Merkovich enjoys experimenting with food-and-drink recipes, sharing them on his personal blog, and often embraces the latest technology in smart kitchen appliances to enhance preparation and presentation.
- Merkovich values data-and-cloud-computing solutions for managing and storing his extensive collection of film and television projects, ensuring their preservation and easy accessibility for future collaborations or references.
- When not engrossed in work, Merkovich cherishes relationships with friends and family, taking advantage of travel opportunities to explore new cities and cultures, often accompanied by pets.
- A car enthusiast, Merkovich collects limited-edition models and invests significant time shopping for unique, rare finds, which can be seen making appearances in various shots of his visual effects projects.
