Field guide · 03
Build it, don't buy it
A lot of the reference gear that VFX houses charge a premium for is cheap to make yourself. Save the budget for the few things that genuinely need to be good.
Make these yourself
| Build | Replaces | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Grey ball | Shop-bought lighting reference | A neutral mid-grey surface is all you need |
| Chrome or reflective ball | Shop-bought chrome sphere | Captures the light environment for matching CG |
| Single-tripod reference rig | A clutter of separate stands | Grey ball, chrome ball and colour chart in one quick pass |
Budget drones for photogrammetry
A consumer drone such as the DJI Mini 3 or 4 is enough to photoscan buildings and large objects. Use it with:
- a rangefinder or laser measurer for real-world scale, and
- a colour checker in frame so textures come back colour-accurate.
Fly on a cloudy day for flat, even exposure.
Where to spend money
Make whatever you can, but do not cut corners on the things that set the ceiling on quality. A colour-calibrated monitor and enough computing power to render are the two that matter most. A capable workstation is around the £4,000 mark. There is more on this in the Lessons section.
Coming soon Walkthrough video
Coming soon Example project files