Naming Conventions

• Asset Files - File Naming
• Asset Files - Internal Naming
• Shot Files - File Naming
• Shot Files - Internal Naming

Asset Files - File Naming

AssetName_Type_STEP.user.version.blend

ex: YokoYoshino_Char_MODELING.v003.blend

Rules:

• No Spaces, use PascalCase to denote word separations
• Keep asset names simple yet unique
• No special characters like +=#^*&^$()?!
• Underscored '_' separate items
• Dots '.' denote versions, users, or user tags
• If you can avoid using a last name or second word for the AssetName while keeping it unique, do so.
• Props always start with the name of the character they belong to, if applicable.
  ex: YokoNecklace_Prop_MASTER.blend

Possible Types:

• Char = Characters
• Prop = Props that are separate from Characters or Environments. Includes Vehicles.
• Env = Environments
• Fx = Effects
• Ast = Generic Assets that are part of a Library. Usually things like Trees, rocks, road signs, ect. Typically not linked into shot files directly.
• Lib = Library. This file contains several Generic "Ast" Assets.

Possible PROGRESS:

• MASTER = The main production file. This file is the only asset file that gets linked into shot files.
• MODELING
• RIGGING = also applies to geometry nodes
• SHADING
  
• COMP

Additional/optional tags:

After the dot '.' at the end of PROGRESS, the user may make notes as to where they left the file or who is working on it.

• ex: Yoko_Char_RIGGING.wyatt.v001.blend
• ex: Yoko_Char_MODELING.jacketRetopo.blend

Asset Files - Internal Naming

Top level: AssetName_COLLECTION

Sublevels: Assetname_Collection

Rules:

• No Spaces, use PascalCase to denote word separations
• Keep asset names simple yet unique
• Collections and Objects should always start with the full AssetName
• No special characters like +=#^*&^$()?!
• Underscores '_' separate items
• Dots '.' denote L/R and alternate versions

• _ALLCAPS denote collections that are controlled or created by scripts
  • For anime, the _EYES collection and _FRINGE collection typically receive _ALLCAPS

• Suffixing a collection with "_VLH" or "_VLS" will signal to the renderer that this collection should be rendered on it's own pass
  • _VLS = View Layer Solo - will render the collection with no occlusion
  • _VLH = View Layer Holdout - will render the collection with occlusion
• Any object that should not be part of the Asset should be placed inside a [WORKING] collection outside of the _MASTER collection and properly versioned.
  • The user may make as many additional collections in the [WORKING] collection as they wish.

Asset File Collections:

• PROXY = Contains only geometry for the Asset's animation proxy. This collection will always be turned off for final renders.
• GEO = Contains the final full-resolution mesh for an Asset
• RIG = Contains the rig for an Asset
• UTL = Utility collection. Contains Empties for FX or Shaders, Widgets for rigging, and extra objects. Typically is excluded from view in all steps.
• LGT = Lighting collection. Lights that must belong to a specific asset go here.
  • For anime, character "Sun" lights should always be named AssetName_Subject_Sun
  • ex: Yoko_Face_Sun; Yoko_Body_Sun

What we call things:

• Fringe = This part of the hair

• Lineart = Lineart made with Geometry
• Fullbody = A character's base mesh or full body mesh. Usually not including the head or face.

• Iris = The colored part of the eye
• Sclera = The white part of the eye
• Eyelight = The highlight, specular, or reflection on the eye. Usually its own mesh and object.
  
• EyelidCrease = The line above the eyelashes and between the eyebrows.

Shot Files - File Naming

Layout Files:

[Scene]_LAYOUT.user.version.blend

ex: 010_LAYOUT.blend    <-Pipeline-valid sequence file

ex: 022_LAYOUT.tony.v003.blend    <-user backup or working copy

Sequence Files:

[Scene]_[Sequence]_STEP.user.version.blend

ex: 010_B_ANIM.blend    <- Pipeline-valid sequence file

ex: 022_C_FX.baku.v002.blend    <- user backup or working copy

Shot Files:

[Scene]_[Sequence]_[Shot]_DescriptiveName_STEP.user.version.blend

ex: 010_B_030_YokoDrives_ANIM.blend    <- Pipeline-valid shot file

ex: 022_C_010_SierraSings_FX.baku.v002.blend    <- user backup or working copy

• Scene = Scene Number
  Typically three numbers. Scenes always count up by tens (10s) to leave room for additional insert scenes.
  • Scenes always start counting at 010. The next scene, by default, would be 020.
• Sequence = Sequence Letter
  Typically a single letter. Sequences count up through the alphabet starting at 'A' and going to 'Z'.
  • Always Uppercase
  • 'I' and 'O' are skipped
• Shot = Shot Number
  Functions the same as Scene Numbers
• DescriptiveName = Optional! A user may choose to give a shot a very brief descriptive name to aid comprehension when working with multiple shots.
  • Can denote a distinguishing factor such as a camera angle, character, or action in the shot.
  • Limit to 3 words, if possible.
• STEP = Marks the pipeline step for the shot file
• User = Optional! While working on a shot, a user may use this space to denote:
  • alternate versions
  • progress
  • their name to show who is working on it
  • backups
• Version = a temporary addendum to the shot file to save versions or backups.

IMPORTANT! Shot files MUST NOT include ".user" and ".version" tags in order to be Pipeline-valid.

Rules:

• Underscores '_' separate items that identify the shot (Scene, Shot, DescriptiveName, Step)
  

• No spaces. Use PascalCase to denote word separations

• Dots '.' are used to mark versions or users for local files. Should not be present on final pipeline files

• No special characters like +=#^*&^$()?!

• Keep DecriptiveNames simple, less than 3 words if possible.

• Steps are always ALLCAPS for legibility

Possible Steps:

• ANIM = Animation

• FX = Effects, 2D and/or 3D

• LGT = Lighting

• RENDER = Final, Renderable file

Best Practices:

• DescriptiveNames are optional, but should be used wherever possible
  

• If a user adds User/Version tags to a file locally, they should always push their changes into the main pipeline file when they are done, and make sure it saves without the additional tags

• When inserting a new shot between existing shots, give it a number halfway between the two original shots

  • ex: Shot 020_015 would go between 020_010 and 020_020

Shot Files - Internal Naming

All shot files should contain these collections:

• CHAR = Holds all Characters and their Props
• PROP = Holds all Props that do not belong to a Character
• ENV = Holds all Environments, Env Lighting, and Env Assets
• CINE = Holds all Cameras, Camera rigs, Lighting, and Light Blockers
  • does not include lights belonging to linked libraries
• FX = Holds all FX assets

All assets, generated objects, or helper objects should live within the collection pertaining to their STEP. 
Ex: Empties used to offset animation should all live within the CHAR collection.

Layout Temp FX and Placeholders:

All temp FX and placeholders made during the Layout or Animation STEPs should be placed in the TempFX subcollection.

Asset_GROUPS:

Linked Assets are automatically sorted into subcollections of their Asset_TYPE. This allows Asset grouping for view layers. 
This process can also be done manually without breaking anything.

If a PROP asset begins with the same AssetName as CHAR asset, then it will be placed inside the CHAR asset's _GROUP.