Starno

Starno is an independent visual effects, digital matte painting and concept art practice based in Montreal, Canada. Founded and operated by Canadian VFX supervisor and matte painter Frédéric St-Arnaud, it creates photorealistic environments and imagery for film, episodic television, games, advertising and immersive experiences. Its work connects early visual development with the production of finished shots, backgrounds and digital environments.

The practice’s central capabilities include digital matte painting, CG landscapes, set extensions and historical architectural reconstruction. Its environment work combines 2.5D camera projection, 3D techniques and compositing to extend filmed settings or create locations digitally. Concept art supports both pre-production planning and postvisualization, while high-resolution backdrops and digital cycloramas serve screen and stage productions.

Work across screen and interactive media

For film and television, Starno works as a boutique visual effects vendor or supplies specialized environment and matte painting support to other production studios. Its credited work includes digital matte painting for The Morning Show, environment concept art for Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and visual effects and matte painting for Locke & Key through MELS. These assignments span early design, background creation and integration into completed shots.

For games, the practice produces cinematic environments, concept artwork, loading screens and custom 360-degree skyboxes. Its work on Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare included celestial and planetary skyboxes. Advertising services encompass digital retouching, photorealistic CGI integration, compositing and motion graphics. Immersive projects extend its environment expertise into stage imagery, projection content, flight simulation and Unreal Engine virtual production backgrounds.

Evolution of the practice

St-Arnaud maintained an independent practice under the Starno banner from November 2005 and incorporated a multi-artist boutique studio in 2015. In April 2021, the studio sold its artist workforce to Rodeo FX. Following St-Arnaud’s tenure there, Starno resumed independent freelance and boutique contract operations in late 2024. The current practice takes on specialist assignments directly and assembles experienced freelance teams when larger projects require additional capacity.