CGI Effects Guide: What is CGI and How is it Used in Movies?

CGI effects in movies have become something that we pretty much take for granted these days. So many of us are used to seeing CGI whenever we sit down to watch a film, and there are loads of huge studios using these kinds of effects to enhance their movies. For those who don’t work in the industry though, it can be hard to work out exactly what CGI is, and how computer generated imagery in movies can make such a huge impact.

What is CGI?

Modern techniques such as VFX, CGI, and animation are incredibly common when it comes to films. From some of the amazing CGI VFX we see in fantasy and science fiction to some really basic CGI effects in movies, such as tweaks to the background.

CGI stands for computer generated imagery and therefore refers to the use of graphics that have been made on the computer. These have become more advanced in the 21st century with some hyper-realistic renderings being available for use in films. 

Many movies are shot knowing that CGI techniques will be added in post production. For instance, a movie might use green screen shooting techniques and then totally replace the background with CGI film effects.

History of CGI

We’ve included a brief history of CI and some of the most interesting computer generated imagery animation and movies.

The first film to use computer generated imagery was the 1973 film Westworld, and things grew incredibly quickly from there, as movies like Star Wars and Tron pushed the boundaries of what CGI is able to do in movies. 

CGI has continued to get better and better, and movies like Jurassic Park in the 1990s really pushed the boundaries of what CGi was and what it was capable of. 

Since computing power has continued to grow, even smaller independent movies are very capable of CGI. Our team has a lot of experience of editing techniques and can use CGI to take your production to the next level. 

CGI is not just for movies, it is possible to use CGI effects in television, and even things like advertisements. When you watch a weather forecast on the television this is a very basic form of CGI which uses green screen and replaces the background behind the presenter.

Examples of CGI

So that you get a better idea of CGI effects in movies, we’ve included some simple examples of CGI effects.

• Computer animation. This is when an animation technique is used to create movement from still images. It removes the need for each specific frame to be uniquely animated and software can do a lot of the work.
• Motion capture. The actions of an actor can be captured and then overlaid with renders and effects such as putting them in a different costume or even animating characters that are added later, like monsters and mythical beings.
• Landscapes and architectural screens. This is used a lot for science fiction, the whole of the landscape or building where the film is set can be altered or shot using CGI to enhance it. 
• Special effects. You can see a lot of examples of CGI in our portfolio. Some forms of special effects are very simple, while some can be complex, such as the recent addition of de-ageing processes that can be added retrospectively, making characters appear younger than they are.
• Composites. Composites are a way to blend multiple images and videos together to create one big scene. For instance, the background might be shot in one location, and the rest of the action in another. The composite of these different shots can create one fluid motion.

Summary 

There are so many examples of how CGI can revolutionize a film. You only have to look at movies like the Star Wars films, and also Jurassic Park, to see what adding effects after shooting can do for a movie. You don’t even need to be working with Hollywood budgets. 

Our team can help you to use multiple computer generated effects to create an amazing end-result. Even if you are just creating a commercial or television show, we can help to add the CGI effects to elevate your idea to the next level.

Get in touch today and start to bring your film to life using CGI.