Digital Set
I could never afford to build a physical version of this scene but I needed a way of being able to track the position of the camera and objects in real space so that I can composite the actors who have been filmed on a green screen.
There are a few details that are missing yet like warning labels and such on the equipment. So this is not the final shot. I thought it was a pretty good start.
This is the first frame from a digital set that I am creating for a special effects shot. It was done using the amazing Element 3D plugin in for After Effects. Element 3D Let me compose this shot including work with the materials and lighting.
Color Grading
To pull depth out of the scene I have done several layers of color work. I used some of the presets found in Magic Bullet from Red Giant. From there I used some of the HDR adjustments. Although not actually color work, I also added sort of a refractive haze effect. This is actually a lens effect but it does cause a chromatic shift.
It is interesting how our eyes work and how video works. In this same scene there is blurring from the depth of field and some sharpening enhancements. The final lens effect is glow for the things that are casting off light in the screen.