START and FINAL: Intro to The Done Graph | Episode 0002

The Done Graph:

4 Stages of a Roto Paint Shot

Now that we're aware of the almighty question of "Is it done?" Let's define the concept of "done".

    All shots can be simplified into two basic states: Done and Not Done. VFX supervisors call completed shots "Final". So, everything else is Not-Final. If one were to illustrate the progression of a shot thru the finaling process, one image would be the graph above.
    The graph starts left and ends right with Final being the ultimate goal of all artists on the shot. A shot is "Final" when the shot is approved by all leads and supervisors. There is no more work to be done--no fixes, adjustments or additions.
   The stages between Start and Final are not so easy to explain.  For now, just ponder over these three graphical elements:

1. Between Start and Final, there are 10 sections.
2. Each section is 10% done until 100% (aka "Final") is reached. 
3. There are 4 stages of progress indicated by 4 colors: Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red.

In the next episode, we'll discuss how the stages are defined and how those definitions affect roto paint artists.