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