No hype. No fluff. Just what’s really working in our pipeline at Infinite Echoes.
Everyone’s talking about AI in VFX.
Some say it’ll replace artists. Some say it’s just hype.
We say — it depends on how you use it.
At Infinite Echoes, we’ve spent time on testing, adopting, and sometimes rejecting AI tools in our post production pipeline. Here’s an honest look at what’s actually working for us — and what isn’t.
Our Philosophy First
Let’s get this out of the way:
AI is a tool. Not the artist.
We don’t use AI to cut corners. We use it to cut tedious hours — so our artists can focus on what actually matters: creative problem-solving and storytelling.
Every AI output in our pipeline passes through human review. Always.
8 AI Tools We’re Actually Using
1. AI Rotoscoping
Tools: Runway ML · Rotobot (Nuke)
What used to take 4–6 hours per shot now takes 1–2 hours.
AI handles the first pass. Our artists refine edges, fix hair detail, and handle motion blur.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Great first pass. Still needs human touch.
2. AI Denouncing
Tools: NVIDIA OptiX · Intel Open Image Denoise
This is our biggest game-changer.
We render CG at lower sample rates and let AI clean it up. Result?
→ 60% less render time → Same visual quality → Massive cost savings on render farm
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Absolute must-have.
3. AI Upscaling & Retiming
Tools: Topaz Video AI · DaVinci Resolve Speed Warp
Upscaling old footage to 4K? ✅
Creating smooth slow-motion without high-fps source? ✅
Rescuing poorly shot plates? ✅
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Incredibly useful for the right projects.
4. AI Object Removal & Cleanup
Tools: After Effects Content-Aware Fill · Runway Inpainting
Removing wires, rigs, and crew reflections used to be painful frame-by-frame work.
Now? AI handles simple removals in minutes instead of hours.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Great for static/simple shots. Complex scenes still need manual work.
5.AI-Enhanced Tracking
Tools: Synth Eyes · Nuke Camera Tracker
Better 3D camera solves. Fewer manual track points. Cleaner results on shaky, low-texture footage.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Noticeable improvement. Fewer headaches.
6. AI Texture Generation
Tools: Adobe Firefly · Substance 3D · Stable Diffusion
We use these for rapid prototyping — generating base textures and concept art before our 3D team builds final assets.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐ — Good for ideation. Not ready for final assets.
7. AI Color Matching
Tools: DaVinci Resolve AI · Colourlab AI
Shot matching across sequences that used to take hours? Now it’s a 15-minute starting point.
Our colorists still do the final grade. But AI gives them a massive head start.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Amazing time saver. Not a colorist replacement.
8. AI Video Generation (Experimental)
Tools: Runway Gen-3 · Sora · Kling AI
We’re testing these for pre-visualization and client pitch mockups.
Are we using them in final delivery? Not yet.
Temporal consistency and controllability aren’t there — but we’re watching this space closely.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐ — Exciting future potential. Not production-ready.
The Real Impact
Here’s what AI has actually done for our studio:
Area Impact
⏱️ Rotoscoping time ↓ 60%
💰 Render costs ↓ 50–70%
🧹 Cleanup tasks ↓ 70%
🎨 Creative time ↑ Significantly
😊 Artist satisfaction ↑ Less tedium, more craft
The bottom line?
Our artists aren’t doing less. They’re doing better work, faster.
⚠️ The Honest Challenges
Let’s not pretend it’s all smooth:
- ❌ AI output is inconsistent — shot-to-shot variation is real
- ❌ Edge quality still struggles with hair, fur, and transparency
- ❌ The “black box” problem — hard to art-direct an algorithm
- ❌ Ethical questions around training data and disclosure
We navigate these by keeping humans in the loop at every stage.
What’s Next?
We believe the next 2 years will bring:
→ Native AI tools inside Nuke, Houdini, and Maya
→ Real-time AI compositing with Unreal Engine
→ Custom studio-trained models for proprietary looks
→ New roles like “AI VFX Supervisor” and “ML Pipeline TD”
The artists who learn to work WITH AI will lead the industry.
The ones who ignore it? They’ll be left behind.
Our Takeaway
AI didn’t replace a single artist at Infinite Echoes.
But it freed them from hours of repetitive work — and gave them time to do what they actually love:
Creating stunning visual stories.
What AI tools are you using in your VFX or post production workflow? I’d love to hear what’s working for you.
👇 Drop your experience in the comments.
📩 Got a project that needs VFX? Our AI-enhanced pipeline delivers faster turnarounds without compromising quality.