fakeshot

A simple tool that generates dummy EXR files for VFX projects. Useful when you need placeholder renders that follow proper naming conventions.

What it does

Creates fake EXR image files organized in the typical VFX directory structure:

project/scene/shot/task/version/project_scene_shot_task_version.frame.exr

Each EXR has the filename written in the center so you can tell what's what.

Install

pip install fakeshot

Or even better

pipx install fakeshot

Basic usage

Just run it and it'll create some sample files in an ./fake_shots folder:

fakeshot

Customize it

You can change most things with command line options:

fakeshot \
  --show "myproject" \
  --scene "010,020" \
  --shot "0010,0020,0030" \
  --task "comp,light" \
  --start_frame 1001 \
  --end_frame 1024

Or use a JSON template file:

fakeshot --template my_template.json

To see what a template looks like:

fakeshot --sample-template

Custom naming patterns

You can change how files are organized and named using these options:

• --path-pattern - directory structure (default: {show}/{scene}/{shot}/{task}/{version})
• --file-pattern - filename format (default: {show}_{scene}_{shot}_{task}_{version}.{frame})

For example, if you want a flatter structure:

fakeshot --path-pattern "{show}/{shot}" --file-pattern "{shot}_{task}.{frame}"

This would create:

myproject/0010/0010_comp.1001.exr
myproject/0010/0010_comp.1002.exr

Options

• --out - where to save files (default: ./out)
• --show - project name
• --scene - scene names (comma separated)
• --shot - shot names (comma separated)
• --task - task types (comma separated)
• --version - version string
• --start_frame / --end_frame - frame range
• --width / --height - image dimensions
• --verbose - more output
• --file-pattern - how to render the filename
• --path-pattern - how to render the path of the filename
• --flat - export in flat directory

Why?

Sometimes you need a quick, throwable bunch of EXR files to test tools or directory structures.

The EXR files are just gray images with the filename in the middle, but they're real EXR files that should work with most tools.