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Case · P02
AI Image → Composite
Ghost in the Wire
Diffusion-generated character integrated into a live-action plate with relit shadows.
Role
AI Compositor
Client
Personal R&D
Year
2025
Duration
9 days
Before · After
BEFORE
AFTER
01 / Overview
A study in how far a single artist can push gen-AI character work without it feeling synthetic. The hero character was generated frame-by-frame with a custom LoRA, then re-integrated into a hand-shot night plate.
Stack
Stable DiffusionNukeAfter Effects
02 / Challenges
- 01Temporal flicker across diffusion frames
- 02Mismatched key light direction vs. plate
- 03Believable contact shadows on wet asphalt
03 / Solutions
- →Frame interpolation pass + custom Nuke denoise/regrain for temporal stability.
- →Relit the character with a 2.5D light rig driven by HDRI sampled from the plate.
- →Hand-painted contact shadows + AI-upscaled grime maps.
04 / Outcome
A 22-second proof piece that became a calling-card for AI + VFX hybrid work — clients started asking for the same look.
