The VES Handbook of Visual Effects

The award-winning VES Handbook of Visual Effects remains the most comprehensive guide to visual effects techniques and best practices available. This edition has been updated to the latest industry techniques, technologies, and workflows. The Visual Effects Society’s (VES) original authors have updated their areas of expertise, including AR/VR, AI, Color Management, Cameras, VFX Editorial, Digital Intermediate processes, interactive games, and full animation. These 95 experts share their best methods, tips, tricks, and shortcuts developed through decades of trial-and-error and real-world, hands-on experience.

This Fourth Edition is updated to include and reflect the evolving and expanded techniques, and adds new sections including evolving technologies such as AI and virtual production.

A must-have for anyone working in or aspiring to work in visual effects, The VES Handbook of Visual Effects, Fourth Edition, covers essential techniques and solutions for all VFX artists, producers, and supervisors. With subjects and techniques clearly and definitively presented in beautiful four-color, this handbook is a vital resource for any serious visual effects artist.

Jeffrey A. Okun, VES, is an award-winning Visual Effects Supervisor, who is a Fellow of the VES and the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences as well as the American Society of Cinematographers, and the Television Academy. He has served as the chair and first vice chair of the VES, and the chair of the LA Section. Jeff created the VES awards program and show along with Tim McGovern, VES and Kim Lavery, VES.

Okun created visual effects tracking and bidding software in 1992 that is still in wide use within the industry today, as well as the visual effects techniques dubbed the “PeriWinkle Effect” and the “Pencil Effect”.

Susan Zwerman, VES, has been a member of the VES since 1998. She is a highly respected Visual Effects Producer who has been producing visual effects for more than 25 years. Zwerman is also a well-known seminar leader and author. As chair of the DGA’s UPM/AD VFX Digital Technology Committee, Susan emphasizes the importance of the visual effects teams to DGA members at visual effects seminars organized under her guidance.

In 2013, Susan received the Frank Capra Achievement Award in recognition of career achievement and service to the industry and the Directors Guild of America. She is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Producers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, and a member and Fellow of the VES.

Susan Thurmond O’Neal joined the VES in 1997 and has been deeply involved ever since. She has served on the global Executive Committee in multiple roles, including Treasurer in 2016, second Vice Chair in 2022 and 2023, and first Vice Chair in 2024 and 2025. Over the years, she has chaired the legacy global Education Committee, currently leads the Membership Committee, and in 2019, was honored with the VES Founders Award for meritorious service to the Society.

By day, O’Neal is a recruiter for BLT Recruiting, Inc., where she connects top-tier talent with the right opportunities. Her career has spanned roles as Operations Manager at The Mill, Operations Director at Escape Studios LA, and Account Manager at SideFX Software. She got her start in visual effects at Digital Domain in 1993, working in finance and operations before transitioning into production.