TNG Visual Effects

TNG Visual Effects was an independent 3D scanning and digital asset outsourcing studio serving film, television, video games, advertising and music video productions. Founded in 2009 by Nicholas “Nick” Tesi, the company specialized in translating physical people, objects and environments into digital assets for visual effects and interactive production. Its work combined on-location capture with the preparation of assets for downstream animation and rendering pipelines.

The studio scanned actors’ heads and full bodies, costumes, props, weapons, vehicles and architectural environments. Its capture methods included photogrammetry, structured-light scanning and LiDAR, allowing different approaches to be used for character detail, individual objects and larger sets. Portable equipment enabled technicians to work directly on soundstages and exterior locations, while its California facility also accommodated in-house scanning.

From capture to production assets

TNG’s services extended beyond collecting scan data. Artists cleaned point clouds, rebuilt surface topology, optimized meshes and created UV layouts. High-resolution texture projection and digital sculpting helped turn captured material into digital doubles, characters and other production assets. The studio also supported skeleton rigging, blendshapes and motion capture preparation, tailoring deliveries to the requirements of visual effects facilities and game developers.

Its approach included “insurance scanning”: digitizing talent, props and sets during production so that assets could be retained for possible reshoots, sequels or related game adaptations. This archival use of scanning complemented work intended for immediate visual effects shots.

The company worked with film producers, specialist visual effects vendors and game developers, supplying capture and asset preparation within larger production pipelines. Its mobile operating model allowed scanning to take place where productions were shooting, reducing the need to transport performers or physical assets to a fixed scanning facility. The business operated for approximately a decade, with the supplied research placing the end of active production around 2019–2020.