CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) refers to the creation of still or animated visual content using computer software. It’s commonly used in industries such as film, television, gaming, advertising, and virtual reality to create environments, characters, special effects, and objects that either don’t exist in reality or would be difficult or impossible to film using traditional methods.
Key Aspects of CGI:
3D Modeling: Creating three-dimensional digital objects. This involves designing shapes, textures, and details that define the appearance of characters, props, and environments.
Animation: CGI is frequently used for animations. This includes everything from simple movement of objects to complex human or creature animations. In movies, CGI characters are often motion-captured, where an actor’s performance is used as the base for the digital animation.
Rendering: This is the process of generating the final visual output from a model or scene. It involves calculating lighting, shadows, reflections, and textures to create realistic or stylized images.
Compositing: In visual effects (VFX), CGI is often blended with live-action footage. Compositing is the process of layering these digital elements with real-world footage to make the scene look seamless.
Texturing & Shading: CGI objects are given realistic surfaces through texturing and shading, which add details like color, roughness, or shine to make them appear more lifelike.
Applications:
Film & TV: CGI is commonly used for creating spectacular effects, fantastical environments, creatures, and complex action scenes.
Video Games: Most modern games rely on CGI to build immersive environments and characters.
Advertising: CGI is often used for creating realistic product visualizations, commercials, and brand assets.
Architecture: Architects use CGI to create realistic models and visualizations of buildings.
Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR): CGI forms the backbone of immersive environments and objects that users interact with in these technologies.
CGI has evolved significantly, allowing filmmakers, game developers, and other creatives to push the boundaries of what’s visually possible.
