Imagine a giant dragon flying over you or Iron Man soaring past you. Now, let's step out of imagination because such things are impossible in real life. However, in the world of cinema, everything is possible. So, how are these mind-blowing scenes created in movies? CGI, VFX, and SFX these are the techniques used to bring our imagination to life on screen. But what exactly are CGI, VFX, and SFX? How are they related, or how do they differ? And why are they used? Let’s explore these questions.
CGI (Computer Generated Imagery)
CGI stands for "Computer Generated Imagery." It refers to the process of using computer graphics to create realistic, fictional scenes. In simpler terms, when a script includes something too dangerous to film in real life or something that doesn’t exist, computers are used to create those visuals. This process is called CGI. Movies like "The Lord of the Rings", "Avatar", and "Jurassic World" showcase some of the best uses of CGI.
For example, in 2013, "Iron Man 3" was released as the seventh movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the final scene, Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr., is shown throwing away his arc reactor. However, during the shooting of that scene, RDJ was unwell. Later, the entire scene was created using CGI.
If you’ve watched the movie, you probably didn’t notice this at all. Without close examination, it’s nearly impossible to tell that the entire scene was CGI-generated. This shows how advanced CGI has become—it can even replace real elements seamlessly. Apart from movies and TV series, CGI is widely used in video game development as well.
VFX (Visual Effects)
VFX, or "Visual Effects," is the process of combining real footage with CGI to create a new scene. Let’s break it down further. During video shooting, everything except the main subject is often covered with a green or blue screen. This is known as a green screen or blue screen. If you have even a basic understanding of filmmaking techniques, you’ve likely heard these terms before. Later, computers replace these green or blue backgrounds with imaginary locations, objects, or scenarios. This entire process is called VFX. We see extensive use of VFX in cinematic universes like Marvel and DC. For instance, the flying sequences of Iron Man and Superman are created using VFX. While VFX relies entirely on CGI, CGI does not depend on VFX. However, VFX is not just about replacing green or blue screen footage with CGI elements. Sometimes, CGI is added without any green or blue screen at all. Other times, no CGI is used, but real-life footage or elements are added to enhance the scene.
In short, VFX is extensively used to correct imperfections in scenes, add real-world elements, or make scenes more visually appealing, even without green screens or CGI.
SFX (Special Effects)
SFX has two meanings Sound Effects and Special Effects. Here, we will discuss Special Effects. To make movie scenes more realistic, filmmakers sometimes use actual explosions, artificial storms, rain, wind, or disaster simulations. These practical effects are called Special Effects (SFX).
For example, in 2008, Christopher Nolan’s "The Dark Knight" was released. One scene shows a hospital being blown up. To make this scene as realistic as possible, the production team actually demolished a building using explosives. This made the scene feel much more real and immersive. Now, you might wonder why they didn’t just use VFX or CGI instead—it would have been cheaper, right? Let’s answer this with another example.
In the 2001 film "Jurassic Park", there was significant use of both CGI and SFX. However, in "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)", SFX was barely used, and CGI dominated the film. As a result, the scenes in the older "Jurassic Park" feel much more realistic and lifelike compared to those in "Fallen Kingdom". This is why movies and TV series still use SFX alongside CGI and VFX when necessary.
Conclusion
A movie needs a good story, and visuals bring that story to life. CGI, VFX, and SFX all play an equally important role in creating cinematic magic. While CGI and VFX create imaginary elements, SFX makes them feel even more real. In many cases, these three techniques complement each other to bring the most immersive cinematic experience.
This blog was written to provide you with a basic understanding of VFX, CGI, and SFX. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
Tags:
Filmmaking