DESIGNING A PIPELINE
“The three layer pipeline design example
1. Personnel arrangement
(Division and assignment of manpower and task domain)
2. Implementation and management complexity
3. Optimization of computer systems”
- Dane Edward Bettis
“The structural form of the pipeline is defined by
The functional mission
Resources available
Company culture”
- Isa Alsup
1. The functional mission
What is being delivered - CG animation / motion graphics / digital effects or some other visual effects service.
How is the company competitive - Price / Service (turnaround, client relationships, volume / capacity) / the work (quality, unique technologies, skills, methods)
Project scope - Services needed, level of difficulty, volume of work, schedule, budget
client interactivity - Differing time zones will have an impact on approvals adding lag.
areas of work should be set up with offset schedules to reduce idle time.
Design from Scratch / have a general pre-engineered pipeline ready to tailor.
(Time is always short)
2. Resources
3. Company culture
Manpower: employees taking doctors appointments, leaving early to start a new job, being distracted by talking to the new guy, training the new guys. All these things cause a loss of time.
Leadership: are supervisors promoted from the ranks / brought in. Do they do the training or are there separate trainers.
Technology: Is there budget for new tech, if yes - how long to get it running with staff (training), what tech is best,
if no - how long to get old tech working for the new project.
When does the company upgrade it’s software. Do you have to train staff or are they expected to learn themselves.
asset management: Produce a naming convention guide
Solid file naming conventions and structure
Asset name then revision control create the sort order (protect this)
Use abbreviations, BE CONSISTENT. leave out extraneous details, if the artists put them in, make sure they are after the version number . jack_04, jill_01 (where jill_01 is newer will break the system, still incorrect but more preferable is: jack_04, jill_05
File names match their source. eg
shot12_v01_rgb.####.iff
shot12_v01_depth.####.iff
shot12_v01_ao.####.iff
Link to
shot12_v01.mb
File status codes: Isa’s codes
2d animatic with sound ANM
Playblast Maya blocking BLK
Rough composition RUF
Submitted to Director STD
Submitted to editor STE
Take accepted, could be better TCB
Take considered final TCF
Project_shot##_element_take##_version##_description
Could add rights info in the file name: Royalty free, only for reference, particular project, general use...
Camera Data: Wide angle, close up, cam number, right / left stereo footage.
“The three layer pipeline design example
1. Personnel arrangement
(Division and assignment of manpower and task domain)
2. Implementation and management complexity
3. Optimization of computer systems”
- Dane Edward Bettis
“The structural form of the pipeline is defined by
The functional mission
Resources available
Company culture”
- Isa Alsup
1. The functional mission
What is being delivered - CG animation / motion graphics / digital effects or some other visual effects service.
How is the company competitive - Price / Service (turnaround, client relationships, volume / capacity) / the work (quality, unique technologies, skills, methods)
Project scope - Services needed, level of difficulty, volume of work, schedule, budget
client interactivity - Differing time zones will have an impact on approvals adding lag.
areas of work should be set up with offset schedules to reduce idle time.
Design from Scratch / have a general pre-engineered pipeline ready to tailor.
(Time is always short)
2. Resources
3. Company culture
Manpower: employees taking doctors appointments, leaving early to start a new job, being distracted by talking to the new guy, training the new guys. All these things cause a loss of time.
Leadership: are supervisors promoted from the ranks / brought in. Do they do the training or are there separate trainers.
Technology: Is there budget for new tech, if yes - how long to get it running with staff (training), what tech is best,
if no - how long to get old tech working for the new project.
When does the company upgrade it’s software. Do you have to train staff or are they expected to learn themselves.
asset management: Produce a naming convention guide
Solid file naming conventions and structure
Asset name then revision control create the sort order (protect this)
Use abbreviations, BE CONSISTENT. leave out extraneous details, if the artists put them in, make sure they are after the version number . jack_04, jill_01 (where jill_01 is newer will break the system, still incorrect but more preferable is: jack_04, jill_05
File names match their source. eg
shot12_v01_rgb.####.iff
shot12_v01_depth.####.iff
shot12_v01_ao.####.iff
Link to
shot12_v01.mb
File status codes: Isa’s codes
2d animatic with sound ANM
Playblast Maya blocking BLK
Rough composition RUF
Submitted to Director STD
Submitted to editor STE
Take accepted, could be better TCB
Take considered final TCF
Project_shot##_element_take##_version##_description
Could add rights info in the file name: Royalty free, only for reference, particular project, general use...
Camera Data: Wide angle, close up, cam number, right / left stereo footage.
