Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1545821
2 cgw a p r i l • m ay • j u n e 2 0 2 6 CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: THE FUTURE IS CUSTOMIZED e have entered the era of unlimited customization. Whether it's a workstation op- timized for the exact parameters of your project, a hybrid storage system imple- mented to handle your specific requirements, a state-of-the-art gaming setup tailored to your custom performance needs, or a bespoke set of tools carefully assembled to deliver precisely the results you are seeking—the computer graphics industry is now more personalized than ever before. Wishing you could choose the color palette of that new superhero series you've been wanting to stream? Our cover story has you…covered. Prime Video's Spider-Noir follows Nicolas Cage in the role of Ben Reilly, a down-on-his-luck private investigator grappling with a tragic past and a web-slinging secret identity. Set in 1930s New York City, the series seamlessly merges stylized comic book storytelling with classic film noir aesthetics. Thanks to a unique dual delivery format, viewers are able to choose between two equally dazzling versions of the show: "Authentic Black & White" and "True-Hue Full Color." Our story dives into the dynamic VFX artistry behind both versions, from tiny historically-accu- rate nuances to massive amounts of pyrokinetic chaos—around 3,200 shots in total. "No one has the playbook on how to do this," shared VFX producer Brooke Noska. "Our pipeline was very large because it needed to support basically two shows in order to be able to successfully review through the process." Also in this issue, Post editor-in-chief Marc Lous gives us an inside look into the haunt- ing visuals of IT: Welcome to Derry. Set in the 1960s as a prequel to Andy Muschietti's IT installments, the series required an immersive blend of practical elements and VFX that reflected the supernatural forces haunting the town while maintaining the historical au- thenticity of the era. A mutilated head comes alive inside of a pickle jar in one particularly…jarring sequence. "We used a practical prosthetic made up of sliced head elements placed directly in the jar, which gave us incredibly valuable lighting and texture reference," recalled VFX super- visor Daryl Sawchuk. "A real glass jar was then thrown and shattered on the ground, with the prosthetic replaced in post by our CG version of the head, along with enhanced glass shards and liquid FX to elevate the moment." We also go behind the scenes of The Boroughs, an intriguing sci-fi series set in a seem- ingly idyllic retirement community that is not the peaceful desert oasis it appears to be. Sinister secrets are lurking around every corner, along with some of the most eerily mem- orable creatures seen on screen in recent years. "We called the [creature] animation style 'geriatric parkour,'" explains VFX supervisor Tara DeMarco. "We looked at Alex Honnold and Free Solo and rock climbing pressure holds. We tried to figure out which limbs hold while other limbs swing, so that it could 'tappy tap' across the ceiling and the spaces." This issue also explores new realms of compositing, Gaussian splats, robotics, and much more. As always, CGW would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their knowl- edge and experiences with our readers. In a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence, we choose to value real human intelligence and expertise above all else. W R E C E N T A W A R D S E D I T O R I A L CGW MANAGING EDITOR Kendra Ruczak kruczak@cgw.com t: 818.291.1168 POST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marc Loftus mloftus@postmagazine.com t: 516.376.1087 PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT/CEO William R. Rittwage COP Communications A D V E R T I S I N G DIRECTOR OF SALES: PRINT, DIGITAL, AND AWARDS Mari Kohn mkohn@postmagazine.com t: 818.291.1153 c: 818.472.1491 EDITORIAL OFFICE / LA SALES OFFICE 620 West Elk Ave., Glendale, CA 91204 t: 818-291-1168 D E S I G N SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Michelle Villas michelle@moontidemedia.com ISSUE DESIGNER Kendra Ruczak kruczak@cgw.com C U S T O M E R S E R V I C E / C I R C U L A T I O N Tommy Rittwage tommy@copcomm.com t: 818.291.1166 D I G I T A L M A R K E T I N G / S O C I A L M E D I A Tommy Rittwage tommy@copcomm.com t: 818.291.1166 COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD, A COP COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY. Computer Graphics World does not verify any claims or other information appearing in any of the advertisements contained in the publication, and cannot take any responsibility for any losses or other damages incurred by readers in reliance on such content. Computer Graphics World cannot be held responsible for the safe- keeping or return of unsolicited articles, manuscripts, photographs, illustrations or other materials. Address all subscription correspon- dence to: Computer Graphics World, 620 West Elk Ave, Glendale, CA 91204. Subscriptions are available free to qualified individuals within the United States. Non-qualified subscription rates: USA—$68 for 1 year, $98 for 2 years; Canadian subscriptions —$98 for 1 year and $136 for 2 years; all other countries—$150 for 1 year and $208 for 2 years. Digital subscriptions are available for $27 per year. Subscribers can also contact customer service by calling 818-291-1158, or sending an email to csr@cgw.com. Postmaster: Send Address Changes to Computer Graphics World, 620 W. Elk Ave., Glendale, CA 91204 Please send customer service inquiries to 620 W. Elk Ave., Glendale, CA 91204 Kendra Ruczak Managing Editor, CGW