VA315 Compositing and Digital Effects II
VA315 Compositing and Digital Effects II
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Nadir Herić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Introduce students to advanced methods of rotoscoping, keying, tracking and image integration. Thorough understanding of all the technical details which make an image along with methods and thinking process behind creating a coherent and professional result.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
The Visual Effects Guide To DaVinci Resolve 20, 979-8992487442
Additional Literature
Digital Compositing for Film and Video: Production Workflows and Techniques , 978-1138240377Teaching Methods
The method of teaching will be based on the individual approach developing specific attributes of the projects that correspond to weekly topics
The method will involve individual work with each student focusing on their projects and individual guidance in order to produce high quality results
The students will work independently of one another focusing on their assignments and projects
Group sessions will be organized every week to conduct peer assessment and constructive criticism of the assignments
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course. | |
| 2 | Anatomy of an image | |
| 3 | Image fundamentals | |
| 4 | Rotoscoping and paint node | |
| 5 | Keying | |
| 6 | Advanced keying | |
| 7 | Introduction to midterm exam. Overview of previous classes. | |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Image integration | |
| 10 | Advanced tracking | |
| 11 | Advanced 3D integration | |
| 12 | Multipass compositing | |
| 13 | Relighting and UVs | |
| 14 | Pre-production | |
| 15 | Review of all previous classes. Introduction to final exam. |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA315.1 | Course | Wednesday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F1.24 (MAC Studio) | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
In-Class Assessment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignments
36 hours ⏳ (6 week × 6 h)
In-Class Assesment
11 hours ⏳ (11 week × 1 h)
Midterm exam
24 hours ⏳ (2 week × 12 h)
Final exam
34 hours ⏳ (2 week × 17 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA315] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA315 | Compositing and Digital Effects II | 0 | 3 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nadir Herić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| nheric@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Introduce students to advanced methods of rotoscoping, keying, tracking and image integration. Thorough understanding of all the technical details which make an image along with methods and thinking process behind creating a coherent and professional result. | |||||||||
| Textbook | The Visual Effects Guide To DaVinci Resolve 20, 979-8992487442 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The method of teaching will be based on the individual approach developing specific attributes of the projects that correspond to weekly topics. The method will involve individual work with each student focusing on their projects and individual guidance in order to produce high quality results. The students will work independently of one another focusing on their assignments and projects. Group sessions will be organized every week to conduct peer assessment and constructive criticism of the assignments. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course. | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Anatomy of an image | |||||||||
| Week 3 | Image fundamentals | |||||||||
| Week 4 | Rotoscoping and paint node | |||||||||
| Week 5 | Keying | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Advanced keying | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Introduction to midterm exam. Overview of previous classes. | |||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Image integration | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Advanced tracking | |||||||||
| Week 11 | Advanced 3D integration | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Multipass compositing | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Relighting and UVs | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Pre-production | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Review of all previous classes. Introduction to final exam. | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 20 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignments | 4 | 40 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| In-Class Assessment | 1 | 10 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignments | 6 | 6 | 36 | |||
| In-Class Assesment | 1 | 11 | 11 | Midterm exam | 12 | 2 | 24 | |||
| Final exam | 17 | 2 | 34 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||
