This article describes the steps used in VFX Shot Delivery. See below for more detailed instructions on setting up your environment, uploading data to Content Hub Workspaces, Importing VFX Shots, and submitting those shots to the Picture Finishing team (DI) for final delivery.
High Level Workflow Walkthrough
- VFX Shots are prepared and named to match the naming convention and the Netflix recommended folder structure.
- All shots are uploaded to workspaces, properly named and following the Netflix recommended folder structure.
- A new VFX Shot Delivery submission is created.
- Shots are imported through workspaces or the asset library.
- Submission is then delivered to the Picture Finishing team (DI) via workspaces or Media Suite Desktop Client.
VFX Shot Naming Convention
Before proceeding with your VFX shot upload, please ensure that the shot naming convention outlined in the VFX Shot and Version Naming guide is being utilized.
If the naming convention or file types you are using for deliveries on this show differ from what is outlined, please reach out to your Netflix Representative.
Import Profile & Folder Structure
During this walkthrough we will be using the Netflix Recommended import profile on the asset import tool. The Netflix Recommended import profile uses the folder structure specified at the VFX Shot and Version Naming on the Partner Help Center to be able to identify and correctly tag shots, mattes, and proxies in the files uploaded to workspaces.
For this reason, it is very important that, before uploading the files to Content Hub Workspaces, the uploader ensures that the folder structure is organized using the Netflix recommended pattern. Organizing the assets in this way will minimize import errors during the import:
If the VFX Shot Naming and folder structure is different from the guide below, the Netflix team will need to assist to create a custom profile fit for the naming convention/folder structure combination. Please reach out to Netflix Representative to discuss custom profiles.
Once a profile is established, please do not use a different structure. This will result in a failed import. If a custom profile has been provided and you would like to set it as default on first load, please reference the Custom Default Import Profile User Guide.
OS X View of Default Folder Structure:
Figure A
NETFLIX RECOMMENDED IMPORT PROFILE
All shots, mattes, and proxies should be located in a shot folder. All shot folders should be located inside the root (submission) folder. The root (submission) folder is tagged as “Source” when importing from Workspace or Workspace Shares.
ROOT FOLDER (SUBMISSION FOLDER)
SHOT FOLDER
COMP FOLDER
RD_101_001_0010_AA_v001/ # [vfx_shot_version=RD_101_001_0010_AA, version=001]
COMP IMAGE SEQUENCES
RD_101_001_0010_AA_v001.01000-01045.exr # [comp=RD_101_001_0010_AA,
shotname=RD_101_001_0010_AA, element.start_frame=01000, element.end_frame=01045]
MATTE FOLDER
RD_101_001_0010_AA_v001_matte/ # [vfx_shot_version=RD_101_001_0010_AA, version=001]
MATTE IMAGE SEQUENCES
RD_101_001_0010_AA_v001_matte.01000-01045.exr # matte=RD_101_001_0010_AA,
shotname=RD_101_001_0010_AA, element.start_frame=01000, element.end_frame=01045
EDITORIAL PROXIES
RD_101_001_0010_AA_v001.mov # [editorial=RD_101_001_0010_AA, video=RD_101_001_0010_AA,
vfx_shot_version=RD_101_001_0010_AA, version=001]
PREVIEW PROXIES
RD_101_001_0010_AA_v001_H264.mov # [ vfx_shot_version=RD_101_001_0010_AA, version=001,
preview=H264, video=H264, , ]
RD_101_001_0010_AA_v001_4K.mov # [ vfx_shot_version=RD_101_001_0010_AA, version=001,
preview=4K, video=4K]
Workspace View of Netflix Recommended Folder Structure:
Figure B
VFX Shot Delivery Submission Steps
Uploading VFX Shots to Workspaces
Log into Content Hub, navigate to your project, select the Workspace tab, and click on the blue Upload button. A pop-up will appear where you can drag and drop, or select your files for upload.
Figure C
This will kick off the upload via Aspera. After the files have completed uploading, you can check to ensure that all files were uploaded as intended.
Figure D
Once the upload has started, you can navigate to the Mailbox tab to begin staging your submission. Please note that any files that fail to completely upload will result in the submission failing.
Prepare the submission
Next, navigate to the MAILBOX tab and click “NEW SUBMISSION”. You’ll be prompted to fill out the required fields for this submission:
- Asset Type: VFX Shot Delivery
- Vendor: this is the recipient of the submission, you should see the vendor you are working with for DI in this list.
- Submission ID: if you are tracking submissions in a tracking tool, you can use this Submission ID field to correlate this information back to your production management software.
*NOTE - Duplicate Submission IDs are not accepted.
Once this info has been filled out, select “CREATE” to create a new empty submission:
Figure E
Import the VFX Shots from Workspaces
Once an empty submission has been created, your next step is to attach VFX Shots to the submission. This can be accomplished in two ways, either by importing these shots from your Workspace, or by browsing the existing VFX Shots in the asset library.
From the details page of the Submission, select the “Add VFX Shots” button, then choose “Import from Workspace”:
Figure F
Next, from either your Workspaces or the Workspace Shares select the root folder you would like to submit, then select “Review Import”.
Figure G
By doing this, the Import tool will attempt to extract metadata from the naming convention of the files and folders that are selected. If you do not see results you expect, please file a support ticket in app and we will help troubleshoot with you.
Figure H
If the shot metadata looks good to you, select “Import”. Your shots have now been attached to the Submission. You can add more shots to the Submission by adding from the Asset library or by Importing new shots.
*NOTE - The root folder should contain the shot folders, with the files contained inside the shot folders. Do not select the shot folders as the root folder. Please refer to the screenshots of folders in the Import Profile & Folder Structure section.
Import the VFX Shots from Assets Library
Once an empty submission has been created, your next step is to attach VFX Shots to the submission. This can be accomplished in two ways, either by importing these shots from your Workspace, or by browsing the existing VFX Shots in the asset library.
From the details page of the Submission, select the “Add VFX Shots” button, then choose “Select from Assets Library”:
Figure I
Once clicked, a window will appear displaying all available assets for import within the project.
Figure J
Click the checkbox on the left hand side, and once all shots are selected click the blue Add button in the lower right hand corner of the window.
Submit
If you have added all of the shots you plan to submit as finals to the DI vendor, select the “Submit” button. Upon submit, a notification email will be sent to the DI vendor, and the shots will begin automatically downloading on their end. You’re done!
If you’d like to check on the status of your submission, navigate back to the Mailbox by clicking the back arrow or the Mailbox tab header. Then go to “VFX Shot Delivery”.
Then select "Submit".
Figure K
If you require support, please submit a ticket in app or contact support@netflixstudios.com for technical issues. Be sure to include as much information as possible such as Project Name, URL, and Workflow.
RELATED RESOURCES
- How to access Content Hub For the First Time
- Media Suite Desktop Client - User Guide
- Media Suite Desktop Client - Managing Downloads
- VFX Plate Delivery User Guide
- VFX Media Review - Studio Submissions - User Guide
- Custom Default Import Profile User Guide
Change Log
06/28/2021
- Updated screen shots to match new import folder structure.
06/25/2021
- Updated screen shots to match unified pipeline naming
04/08/2021
- Updated workflow name to match unified pipeline naming
07/20/2020
- Revised screenshots, and language to match current state of the product.
Translations