Here's a step by step description of how we get to a final picture. This image is from the show "Kidnapped."
Here's the storyboard panel drawn by Dan Nosella.
Here's the wireframe of the animation done by Michael Langford.
Here's the low rez render of the animation.
There are no textures and very basic lighting.
Also, there are no shadows.
Now we're into the lighting stage. This scene
was lit by Suzanne Jandu. Everything's broken
down into layers. Here's the monster.
Here's the jar. Note that it's been rendered
as if the Monster was in it.
Here's the monster's shadow. We've turned it
white so you can see it over black.
Here's the shadow on the side of the jar. We've
turned it white so you can see it over black.
Here's the shadow cast by the jar. We've
turned it white so you can see it over black.
Here's Gorgool. We render him without his sphere.
Here's Gorgool's sphere.
Here's Gorgool's sphere pattern.
Here's Gorgool's shadow.
Here's Gorgool's sphere's shadow.
Here's rays from an offscreen candle.
Here's the table everyond is sitting on. Note that
it now has texture.
Here's the background wall.
Here's the background wall with blur added to
simulate depth of field.
Here's the the final image. All the elements are combined, some
with transparency added, some blurred and some color corrected.