CGI - Computer Generated Imagery
Computer-generated imagery
CGI is the creation of still or animated visual content with computer software. CGI most commonly refers to the 3D computer graphics used to create characters, scenes and special effects in films, television and games. CGI is used extensively these days because it is often cheaper than physical methods which rely on creating elaborate miniatures, hiring extras for crowd scenes, and most commonly for when it's simply not safe or humanly possible to create the visuals.
CGI is used for visual effects because the quality is often higher and effects are more controllable than other more physically based processes, such as constructing miniatures for effects shots or hiring extras for crowd scenes, and because it allows the creation of images that would not be feasible using any other technology. It can also allow a single artist to produce content without the use of actors, expensive set pieces, or props.
CGI can appear in films as:
CGI is the creation of still or animated visual content with computer software. CGI most commonly refers to the 3D computer graphics used to create characters, scenes and special effects in films, television and games. CGI is used extensively these days because it is often cheaper than physical methods which rely on creating elaborate miniatures, hiring extras for crowd scenes, and most commonly for when it's simply not safe or humanly possible to create the visuals.
CGI is used for visual effects because the quality is often higher and effects are more controllable than other more physically based processes, such as constructing miniatures for effects shots or hiring extras for crowd scenes, and because it allows the creation of images that would not be feasible using any other technology. It can also allow a single artist to produce content without the use of actors, expensive set pieces, or props.
CGI can appear in films as:
- Two-dimensional imagery such as text, objects, backgrounds, and environments.
- Three-dimensional objects, including figures, spaces, and environments.
- When successful, it creates composite imagery that tricks the eye into believing in the illusion presented.
- When unsuccessful, it creates obviously fake imagery that shatters the illusion presented.
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African Lion from Joyce Kambey on Vimeo. |
Bullet Time
Bullet Time - is a visual effect or visual impression of detaching the time and space of a camera (or viewer) from those of its visible subject. Bullet time is used to slow down time during an action scene and pan around a subject. The effect allows the audience to see high speed movements, such as flying bullets, that would be too fast to see otherwise.
The difference between this and a regular slow motion shot is that, in bullet time, the camera moves (often a significant portion of a full circle) around the subject rather than a static or simple tracking shot. It is often used to stop action at a dramatic point so that the audience can see a panoramic or surround view around the event being emphasised.This effect is achieved by a set of still cameras surrounding the subject which are activated in rapid succession. The pictures in the still cameras are then displayed consecutively and spliced into movie frames, creating the effect of a single camera moving around a scene either frozen in time or moving incredibly slowly.
The difference between this and a regular slow motion shot is that, in bullet time, the camera moves (often a significant portion of a full circle) around the subject rather than a static or simple tracking shot. It is often used to stop action at a dramatic point so that the audience can see a panoramic or surround view around the event being emphasised.This effect is achieved by a set of still cameras surrounding the subject which are activated in rapid succession. The pictures in the still cameras are then displayed consecutively and spliced into movie frames, creating the effect of a single camera moving around a scene either frozen in time or moving incredibly slowly.
Green Screening
Digital Compositing
Compositing is the process of combining visual elements from separate sources into single images, often to create the illusion that all those elements are parts of the same scene. Live-action shooting for compositing is variously called "chroma key", "blue screen", "green screen" and other names. Compositing layers all the various elements in a shot – live action, mattes, multiple CG passes, 3D lighting, animation, particle effects – and blends them all seamlessly to create the photo-realistic final shot.
Dolly Zoom
In-Camera Effects
Match Moving
Matte
Matte film making and matte painting