
By CG Lumberjack

Automating Everything BUT the Art
Alchemy is a magically simple suite of tools and backend systems designed by CG Lumberjack to make creating animated films seamless and stress-free. Whether you're an artist or a developer, Alchemy transforms complex workflows into intuitive processes, so you can focus on what truly matters: creating.

How do I get alchemy?
Simple - hire us to handle your pipeline and you get Alchemy for free. This means you don't have to spend the next 5 years attempting to build the dozens of back end systems required to do the kind of automation we do.
In 2025 we're looking to partner with a few studios to test what pipelines like this can do for studios at scale. Let us know if you'd like to be one of them.
Made by artists for artists​
At the heart of Alchemy is the Artist’s Interface, a visual and intuitive tool that simplifies every step of the creative process.​
Clear Task Management​
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Tasks are presented clearly, ready to launch with the click of a button.
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​​Powerful Automations:
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Creates folders
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generates default files
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organizes assets
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names things correctly
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right spot every time
File Management & Version Control:
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All Handled with Alchemy's File Management API


We work with your team to break down every Production Task into 7 Phases - we Automate Everything But the Art down into single click workflows.

Start Phase:
A typical Start Automation would include:
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Folder Creation
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Default File Creation
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File Naming
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Software Compliance
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Build Phase
A build phase would automate:
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Assemble files from upstream Tasks
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Set File Settings
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Organize Scenes/Data


Art
We don't touch this phase - the artists know what to
do here!
Render Phase:
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Set Render Settings
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Set File Output Paths
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Manage Versions​


Review Phase
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Convert High Dynamic Range Images (exr)
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Convert Image Sequences to movie
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Upload movie to Review Software
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Create Task Specific Dailies Playlist
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Add movie to playlist
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Notify Production
Refresh Phase
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Update All Dependencies with the latest files.


Publish Phase
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Check Files for Bugs
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Quality Assurance Tests
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Version Management
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Copy files to "Publish" location
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Change Status of Task
For Developers: Streamline Studio Management
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Behind Alchemy’s simple interface is The Alchemist’s Cookbook, a powerful toolkit for pipeline developers to manage entire studio pipelines effortlessly.
From the Cookbook, developers can:
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Customize pipelines per project using Git or Bitbucket.
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Design and edit custom menus for software tools.
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Create "recipes" for streamlined workflows, covering every task phase from Build to Publish.
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Simplify client ingestion workflows and automate delivery processes.

Powerful Integrations for Every Studio​
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Alchemy integrates seamlessly with industry-leading tools and technologies:
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ShotGrid: Built-in support for efficient production tracking.
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Pixar’s Universal Scene Description (USD): Ensuring compatibility across pipelines.
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Unreal Engine & Perforce: Robust support for real-time projects.
Why Choose CG Lumberjack?
CG Lumberjack has the experience, and Alchemy enables us to deliver custom pipeline solutions to studios at about 1/10 the cost allowing:
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Artists: Focus on creativity without worrying about logistics.
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Production: Manage projects with ease
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Developers: Manage complex pipelines with unparalleled efficiency.
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Studios: Get back that 56% you're currently spending on finding files.
Transform Your Studio
Make animated filmmaking, games, and VFX faster, easier, and more efficient than ever.