VFX vs CGI (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 6 Jul, 2022

VFX and CGI are both concepts in use from the very starting of the entertainment industry. The film industry uses VFX for making scenes that otherwise would be impossible like creating a scene with dinosaurs. CGI on the other hand is related to creating models of different types of objects and then rendering their digital images. Toy story was the first film completely animated using CGI. With the advancement of technology, people are focusing on the business aspect of CGI and VFX on a large scale and they are ready to invest in these technologies. So let's understand VFX and CGI in detail.

VFX is an abbreviation for Visual Effects which is used to create computer-generated digital effects. It is used in many industries like advertisements, the game industry, the film industry, etc. It is mainly used to create those scenes which are either impossible or difficult to create physically. Weta Digital, Framestore, Moving Picture Company, etc are some of the companies that specialized in VFX.

Advantages of VFX

• It is used to create anything (character, objects, environment, etc.) which is difficult to create in the live shoot.
• It makes videos more attractive and stunning.
• It increases audience retention due to special effects.
• A lot of career opportunities are arising in the VFX industry.

Disadvantages of VFX

• It is a time-consuming process that requires a lot of time.
• It requires skilled people to complete the task.

CGI stands for Computer Generated Imagery. Anything which can be created on a computer platform digitally is CGI. It is used to create different types of digital works like digital images, illustrations, animations, etc. It includes static and dynamic images along with 2D and 3D models. Computer applications like Maya, Adobe After Effects, etc are used for CGI. The first film to use CGI was Westworld.

Advantages of CGI

• It helps in providing a better look to characters in any movie.
• It is used to serve different fields including AR and VR.
• It helps in providing a better visual experience and thus enhances a brand's credibility.

Disadvantages of CGI

• Software for making 3D models is costly.
• A lot of time is needed to learn it.

Below is a table of differentiation between VFX and CGI:

| | VFX | CGI | | | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1. | VFX's full form is Visual Effects. | CGI's full form is Computer Generated Imagery. | | 2. | Timing is an essential part, knowing when an effect will be created is necessary. | Timing does not play many roles. | | 3. | A special visual editor is required for making visual effects. | It does not require any special editor. | | 4. | It is more costly compared to CGI. | Assets can be used again so it saves a lot of money. | | 5. | Doctor Strange, Tron, King Kong, etc are some of the movies using VFX | Movies using CGI are Avatar, Rango, Frozen, etc. | | 6. | No change can be made in the primary shoot. | It provides the ability to change every component of a completed shot. | | 7. | Georges Melies is considered the father of VFX. | Bill Mather is considered the father of CGI. |