VFX- we all know what these three letters stand for, but do you know how they have created magic in the world of filmmaking? VFX refers to the visual effects used for creating images that traditional photography cannot capture. Whether it’s adding effects to a movie scene or building a realistic-looking setting from scratch, VFX technology is involved.
Now, when we think of VFX, we must mention 3D animation. 3D animation helps us create realistic characters or objects which cannot be created using traditional movie-making techniques. Both 3D animation and VFX are now being used in almost every aspect of filmmaking, whether it’s creating the Avatar characters or filming the iconic bullet-flying sequence in The Matrix.
How has 3D animation and VFX filmmaking revolutionized the movie industry?
- Without these, a lot of modern movies couldn’t have been conceptualized or made. Filmmakers like James Cameron have used VFX to produce realistic images of environments and creatures (as in the Avatar movie series) which don’t exist in real life.
- The combination of VFX and 3D animation has been responsible for producing far more realistic movies than was thought possible. Earlier, movies used to be limited by technologies that were prevalent at that time, but, things have changed now. Today, producers have unlimited resources and tools to create better-looking movies that feel real. Even fantasy-genre movies can give you goosebumps in the theater because of how realistic and immersive the experience is.
- VFX has been around for years; but, earlier, this was mainly limited to all the big-budget movies that could afford to pay for the high costs. Now, you can access VFX technology easily and independent filmmakers with small budgets don’t want to be left behind. Since 3D animation and VFX hardware are becoming more user-friendly and youngsters are learning how to use these through courses in universities, the use of these technologies isn’t limited to filmmaking only. Following on the heels of movies, the gaming industry and marketing world have embraced VFX.
How does VFX in movie-making work?
VFX isn’t something that can be done hastily or impulsively. It has many stages, starting with a pre-production planning stage where the VFX artists discuss and create storyboards with the filmmakers. When filming is done, markers are set in place for helping VFX artists to track and match the computer-created elements with the live-action video. During post-production, the artists use specialized software for creating and integrating effects into the footage and adding lighting, textures, and other details to this.
While VFX has been mainly used to create movies in the past, now the television industry is adapting this technology to communicate to its audiences. The modern consumer enjoys high-quality high-definition visual treats. Studios have started to include more VFX and animation in films for satisfying requests from filmmakers who want to make more realistic-looking films. With the rapid growth of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), this industry is set to become one of the fastest-emerging segments in the world of entertainment. Competition amongst key players is likely to increase, and the players themselves will continue to work hard to upgrade their products. It’s fair to predict that there will be overall market growth which will benefit everyone
