Nathan Butt

My current focus is on integrating volumetric capture features into our platform at Disguise, a project that captures how I approach research and innovation.

For me, research is an exciting and sometimes unpredictable process—one that allows me to explore unfamiliar fields, broaden my technical understanding, and collaborate with experts. While it carries risks and occasional dead ends, the reward lies in the discoveries made and the people I meet along the way.

Every project begins with a clear vision. Without a defined goal, experimentation lacks direction. For volumetric capture, our early ambition was clear: design a scalable, intuitive pipeline. We began by surveying existing literature and technologies—NeRF, Gaussian Splatting and other academic and industry research—to identify where adaptation could replace reinvention.

Collaboration was essential. Working closely with specialists, we exchanged findings and iteratively refined our methods through testing and evaluation. This flexible, curiosity-led process taught me when to pursue an idea and when to pivot.

Through this research, we’ve gained valuable insights into how depth inference models perform in XR and VP contexts, guiding our pipeline’s development. My goal is to create a robust volumetric workflow that empowers creatives, making immersive capture intuitive, flexible and deeply integrated into artistic storytelling.

Over the last two years, Nathan has been instrumental in advancing Disguise’s volumetric capture research. His curiosity and technical expertise have driven key innovations, from integrating AI-based depth inference to developing prototype pipelines for 2.5D asset creation. His contributions have led to published research at NAB 2025 and strengthened the company’s XR offering. Nathan exemplifies collaborative, forward-thinking innovation, consistently delivering creative solutions to complex technical challenges.

Andy Paterson

Disguise

 

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