VFX Art is Not a Thing It Is A Way
Did we not wish that we could throw a Batarang like Batman and drive in his Batmobile to destroy the evil forces?
All of us have been amazed by the instant transformation of Iron Man from being a normally clad human being to transforming into a superhero in the blink of an eye.
The practically impossible yet massively appealing fantastical things that occur in films and TV shows are made possible thanks to the technique of VFX or visual effects.
Perhaps you have heard of the term VFX but are not quite familiar with it.
Go through this blog to have an idea of what this technique actually is and how it is employed in films to attain the impossible worlds.
If you are curious about pursuing a career in the VFX industry, check out the website of the leading VFX institute in Kolkata, Starblast Animation today. This top institute also offers animation courses in Kolkata that would land you a bright career.
What is VFX?
VFX or visual effects are digitally-generated images that are used to enhance, manipulate, or develop the imagery of a film.
VFX involves the integration of live-action footage along with this manipulated image to create realistic-looking and convincing environments as per the context.
The primary difference with Special effects (SFX) is that while special effects are realized on the set of the shooting of the film whereas to create VFX a computer along with specially designed VFX software is required.
The reason behind the preference for VFX over SFX is that VFX allows us to create sceneries in the online mode that would be difficult, expensive, and precarious to be shot physically.
While SFX or special effects like small or controlled explosions or fake gunshot wounds are used in low-budget or simplistic films, VFX is used to create elaborate and extensive imagery in big-budget movies.
Action and superhero films pervasively use VFX to boost the image quality and deliver the audiences a larger-than-life visual treat.
What are some Common VFX Software?
The most popular software used in the film industry are –
- Adobe After Effects
- Maxon Cinema 4D
- Autodesk Maya
- Syntheyes
- 3Ds Max
- Houdini
- Boujou
- Mocha
- Nuke
What are the Types of Visual Effects Used in Films?
There are multiple prospects for VFX but they can be categorised into three main segments – CGI, compositing, and motion picture.
Each of these takes place either simultaneously or after the principal photography is done in a controlled and dedicated studio.
VFX artists use a handful of tools to seamlessly blend the real with the unreal. One such tool is HDRI which stands for high dynamic range image.
As technology is evolving at a breakneck speed, the ultimate goal is to make the unreal and fabricated appear as if real.
What is CGI?
Computer Generated Imagery or CGI is a ubiquitous type of visual effect.
People outside the industry are of the notion that VFX and CGI are one and the same thing but it is not so.
CGI is imagery created completely within computers and other types of visual FX used to enrich or combine live-action footage.
If you want to examine the evolution of CGI capabilities, you can take a look at the films produced by Pixar which has used this technology quite consistently.
What is Compositing and Green screen VFX?
Compositing refers to the process of combining multiple images into a single image.
A good instance of this is the opening sequence from True Detective where double exposure was used.
Apart from this, the most popular technique is shooting with the help of a green screen or blue screen. This process is referred to as chroma keying and to state it very simply. It refers to the replacement of the green screen background with another background that has been created on the computer.
What is Motion Capture Visual Effects?
Akin to the traditional manner of rotoscoping, VFX artists can opt to use live-action references to create more realistic CGI. This process is called motion capture or mocap.
This technology has been present for quite a few years but it is advancing at a fast pace.
What Are Some Notable Instances of VFX?
The VFX artists, editors, and filmmakers come together to decide the suitability and range of VFX to be used in the film.
While SFX is added in the pre-production stage, VFX is added in the post-production stage.
Here are a few movies which used VFX to attain incredible graphics and subsequently, went on to be blockbusters.
Dumbo (2019)
This film produced by Disney has jaw-dropping visual effects.
Tim Burton re-imagined the film in a manner that allowed him to create a photorealistic elephant that began as clay models that were scanned into computers for animation.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
This film used a blend of motion capture images and hand-drawn animation in which Weta Digital aspired to capture as authentic performances as possible.
The Matrix (1999)
This extraordinary film set new standards for the film industry.
The moment where Keanu’s character dodges a bullet was achieved by the technique known as ‘bullet time.
John Gaeta, the chief VFX supervisor collaborated with the directors and cinematographer to place 122 still cameras around Reeves, and then triggered them into the sequence.
Final Words
One of the best career options is to pursue a VFX course that provides hands-on training to enable you to become job-ready.
If you are thinking of doing a VFX course in Kolkata, you have to check out the courses offered by Starblast Animation which also offers the definitive animation course in Kolkata.
The student-centric curriculum and environment would allow you to build a fruitful career in the fun and exciting industry.
If you are a job aspirant looking to enrol in animation courses after 12th, take a look at the miscellaneous courses offered by Starblast Animation which is the most popular animation school.
Every course offered by them is regularly revised and updated to accommodate the latest developments reflected among the best works of 3D animation and design so that the students are always one step ahead of their peers.