Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
In this FMX keynote, VFX Supervisor and Director Hugo Guerra @HugosDesk shares tips, tricks, and pipeline strategies for blending traditional compositing with machine learning and AI. This experimental, research-driven session showcases real tests using Nuke's 3D System, CopyCat, and Beeble AI.
Hugo walks through the new USD pipeline and the Nuke’s ScanlineRender node for improved motion blur and filtering, then moves onto practical hybrid techniques including:
➡ Using normals and position passes for relighting CG and live-action plates
➡ Using Deep renders to occlude stock footage
➡CopyCat machine learning pipelines for deflickering and upscaling footage
The goal: a fast turnaround hybrid comp / ML / AI pipeline that enables quick responses to client feedback and dramatic changes to VFX shots — without re-rendering the CG.
Whether you're a compositor, VFX supervisor, or pipeline TD, this talk offers a practical look at where Nuke, machine learning, and AI tools are heading next.
Huge shoutout to @ActionVFXofficial for providing the visual assets for Hugo! Check out their massive asset library today.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Hugo Guerra's Background
00:53 Showreel
01:42 Experimental Hybrid Compositing Workflows
03:51 Deconstructing AOVs & Removing Sunlight in Redshift
06:05 Nighttime Color Correction & Lake Adjustments
07:03 Patching Damaged Vegetation with Cryptomatte
08:05 Environment Lighting & Deep Compositing Setup
09:22 Importing USD Assets into Nuke's New 3D System
10:44 Motion Blur, Sampling & 3D Reflections
12:10 High-Res Geometry & Floor Reflection Experiments
13:52 Practical Water & Rain FX with ActionVFX Elements
16:38 Deep Occlusion for Rain Drops & Water Elements
18:46 AOV Pass Generation & UV Projection Experiments
20:00 Adding Water Droplet Hits on Geometry Pylons
21:02 ActionVFX Discount Code
21:29 Relighting CG with Normal & Position Passes
22:50 Point Lights & Custom Light Passes via USD
24:00 Generating AI PBR Passes with Beeble AI
27:14 Face Replacement Experiment (And Why It Failed)
28:30 Deflickering AI Passes with CopyCat & Furnace
29:08 Testing Beeble's Relighting & Extracting Light Passes
30:48 Generative AI Reflections & Actor Consistency Issues
33:48 Testing AI Video Generation & Artifacts
38:48 Comping AI Reflections into Nuke 3D
40:24 Wet Shirt Roto & Isolation in Beeble
42:15 Deep Deflickering with CopyCat & Lenovo RTX 3090
43:10 Multi-Layer Rain FX Assembly
44:45 Final Puddle Reflection Results
47:35 Conclusion: AI Workflows, Realities & Limitations
🔗 Helpful Links:
Download the Nuke 17.1 free trial today: foundry.com/products/nuke-family/try-nuke
Check out Hugo's Youtube channel: youtube.com/@UCv-7AV9139ZwlwTHiBwS-JQ
Follow Foundry:
instagram.com/foundryteam
linkedin.com/company/foundryteam
Go behind the scenes with the artists, studios, and tech shaping the future of VFX and animation: foundry.com/insights
About Us:
Foundry creates award-winning creative software so global studios can turn incredible ideas into reality.
Subscribe to our channel and get the latest news, tutorials, webinars and updates from the Foundry team.
In this FMX keynote, VFX Supervisor and Director Hugo Guerra @HugosDesk shares tips, tricks, and pipeline strategies for blending traditional compositing with machine learning and AI. This experimental, research-driven session showcases real tests using Nuke's 3D System, CopyCat, and Beeble AI.
Hugo walks through the new USD pipeline and the Nuke’s ScanlineRender node for improved motion blur and filtering, then moves onto practical hybrid techniques including:
➡ Using normals and position passes for relighting CG and live-action plates
➡ Using Deep renders to occlude stock footage
➡CopyCat machine learning pipelines for deflickering and upscaling footage
The goal: a fast turnaround hybrid comp / ML / AI pipeline that enables quick responses to client feedback and dramatic changes to VFX shots — without re-rendering the CG.
Whether you're a compositor, VFX supervisor, or pipeline TD, this talk offers a practical look at where Nuke, machine learning, and AI tools are heading next.
Huge shoutout to @ActionVFXofficial for providing the visual assets for Hugo! Check out their massive asset library today.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Hugo Guerra's Background
00:53 Showreel
01:42 Experimental Hybrid Compositing Workflows
03:51 Deconstructing AOVs & Removing Sunlight in Redshift
06:05 Nighttime Color Correction & Lake Adjustments
07:03 Patching Damaged Vegetation with Cryptomatte
08:05 Environment Lighting & Deep Compositing Setup
09:22 Importing USD Assets into Nuke's New 3D System
10:44 Motion Blur, Sampling & 3D Reflections
12:10 High-Res Geometry & Floor Reflection Experiments
13:52 Practical Water & Rain FX with ActionVFX Elements
16:38 Deep Occlusion for Rain Drops & Water Elements
18:46 AOV Pass Generation & UV Projection Experiments
20:00 Adding Water Droplet Hits on Geometry Pylons
21:02 ActionVFX Discount Code
21:29 Relighting CG with Normal & Position Passes
22:50 Point Lights & Custom Light Passes via USD
24:00 Generating AI PBR Passes with Beeble AI
27:14 Face Replacement Experiment (And Why It Failed)
28:30 Deflickering AI Passes with CopyCat & Furnace
29:08 Testing Beeble's Relighting & Extracting Light Passes
30:48 Generative AI Reflections & Actor Consistency Issues
33:48 Testing AI Video Generation & Artifacts
38:48 Comping AI Reflections into Nuke 3D
40:24 Wet Shirt Roto & Isolation in Beeble
42:15 Deep Deflickering with CopyCat & Lenovo RTX 3090
43:10 Multi-Layer Rain FX Assembly
44:45 Final Puddle Reflection Results
47:35 Conclusion: AI Workflows, Realities & Limitations
🔗 Helpful Links:
Download the Nuke 17.1 free trial today: foundry.com/products/nuke-family/try-nuke
Check out Hugo's Youtube channel: youtube.com/@UCv-7AV9139ZwlwTHiBwS-JQ
Follow Foundry:
instagram.com/foundryteam
linkedin.com/company/foundryteam
Go behind the scenes with the artists, studios, and tech shaping the future of VFX and animation: foundry.com/insights
About Us:
Foundry creates award-winning creative software so global studios can turn incredible ideas into reality.
Subscribe to our channel and get the latest news, tutorials, webinars and updates from the Foundry team.
