It is highly likely, if not true, that any person reading this has watched something with CGI in it at some point. Thanks to computer advancements in 3D modeling, you can’t watch anything without some CGI in it. But wait, what even is CGI? How is it used today? What are the strengths and weaknesses when compared to practical effects?
CGI stands for Computer Generated Imagery, and can also be called 3D Rendering. It’s used to create effects, characters, or scenes in television, movies, and games. While CGI is mainly used for 3D effects, it can also be used to create 2D effects as well. The first use of CGI was in the movie Vertigo, while only used for 2d, it was still impressive for the time. It wasn’t until 1972 when CGI would be first used for 3D effects, in the short film titled “A computer animated hand”. Over the next few years, CGI would be used more and more in movies, particularly science fiction movies like Star Wars: A New Hope, or Tron. It wasn’t until 1995 when the first all CGI movie was made: Toy Story. Since then, CGI has become more and more prominent in movies over the years. Some movies use it more than others, like Guardians of the Galaxy, which uses CGI in almost every shot.
What’s better, CGI or practical effects?
Now, before this goes in depth on the difference between practical effects and CGI, this is not to say that one is inherently bad, both have their merits.
CGI can be used to create almost everything, and it’s fairly low cost if you know how to use it right. CGI is also quite useful for shots where fine detail isn’t needed, like aerial shots.
Overall, CGI has shorter processing time, and can create cheap designs before the final design. You are also able to work with remote teams, and are able to edit things out in post, like safety equipment, with CGI.
Practical effects, however, can give a scene more authenticity. The actors are better able to work, as they know where things are, and can actually interact with those. Additionally, when using CGI, if done badly, audience can tell that it is fake. Where CGI excels at aerial shots where fine detail is not needed, practical effects excel at close up shots, where fine detail is needed. However, there isn’t too much need to pit CGI and visual effects against each other. Both should be able to used together, to create a good movie.
All in all, CGI has its benefits, and so does practical effects. Both can be used in conjunction to create whatever the desired product is. What CGI shouldn’t be used for, is to cover up bad acting, or bad writing.
Related Stories:
- https://www.nfi.edu/what-is-cgi/#:~:text=Computer%2DGenerated%20Imagery%2C%20abbreviated%20as,movies%2C%20television%2C%20and%20games.
- https://www.breezejmu.org/life/the-pros-and-cons-of-cgi/article_22ba0f84-0c82-11e6-a062-5757d7963ad2.html
- https://icoginix.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-using-cgi-in-the-film-industry/
- https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/ie-explainer/season-3/ep-15-does-cgi-make-movies-better-or-worse
- https://www.lafilm.edu/blog/practical-effects-vs-cgi-2/#:~:text=To%20put%20it%20simply%2C%20audiences,setting%20also%20helps%20with%20continuity
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