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Compositing, in the context of film, television, and digital imagery, is the process of combining visual elements from separate sources into a single, cohesive image. The goal is to create the illusion that all elements belong to the same scene, whether captured on set or generated digitally. Compositing is a core step in visual effects (VFX) and is used to integrate foreground subjects, background plates, computer-generated imagery, and practical effects.

Techniques include chroma keying (green-screen or blue-screen) to remove backgrounds; rotoscoping to manually create mattes; matte painting to extend or alter environments; tracking and stabilization to align elements with camera movement; and 3D compositing to place CG objects within photographed plates. Other methods involve color matching, lighting integration, depth compositing, and applying film grain or color grades to achieve visual coherence. Compositing can be performed in 2D, 2.5D (parallax based on camera tracking) or full 3D workflows where elements are placed in a shared 3D space.

Workflow: a typical pipeline includes asset acquisition, plate preparation, keying or matte creation, element integration and retiming, color correction and lighting matching, and final output with conform and delivery checks.

Software tools frequently used include Nuke, Adobe After Effects, Blackmagic Fusion, and other node-based or timeline-based systems. Each tool supports keying, rotoscoping, tracking, color grading, and 3D integration, depending on project needs.

History and scope: digital compositing emerged in the late 20th century, evolving from optical compositing used in classic cinema to sophisticated node-based workflows that blend live-action with CGI. Modern compositing is essential across film, television, advertising, and virtual production.