Foundry's Nuke Stage establishes a continuous workflow between virtual production and post. The new solution eliminates the disconnect between pre-production, shooting, and finishing by using USD and EXR as its primary formats rather than game engines.

Node-Based Virtual Production

Nuke Stage brings the familiar node-based workflow of Nuke into virtual production environments, allowing VFX teams to maintain creative control throughout the entire process.

• Nuke Stage focuses on 2.5D setups with high-resolution photographic imagery projected onto simple geometry

• The system allows instant wall display without leaving the pipeline or baking anything down

• Color decisions, camera tracking, and lensing information are captured in a database called "the vault"

• The same node graphs and compositing tools from Nuke are available in real-time during shooting

Pipeline Continuity

Unlike game engine solutions where post-production often "falls off a cliff," Nuke Stage maintains data integrity from beginning to end.

• USD scenes created in pre-production load directly onto LED walls during shooting

• Real-time color grading and visual adjustments use familiar Nuke-based tools

• All creative decisions and metadata remain accessible when transitioning to post

• The system specifically brings VFX professionals back into the virtual production workflow

Strategic Deployment Approach

Foundry has moved Nuke Stage out of beta but is taking a measured approach to its rollout.

• The company is seeking a small number of initial productions to work with closely

• This controlled release aims to identify any workflow gaps and unknown issues

• The solution addresses the needs of film and TV productions rather than fully immersive 3D environments