Page 59 - Digital Cornice Grade 9

INFORMATIVE COMPOSITION

Computer-Generated Imagery
By: Jaibir Acharya

Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is an extraterrestrial, or a manufactured space backdrop
abbreviation for the use of computer graphics in with planets.
art and media. CGI can be 2D or 3D animations, So, what’s the catch if CGI is so good? Technology
objects, or renderings, as well as a film, television itself has numerous advantages and has forever
program, video game, or simulation. In recent altered the way films are made and the film film
years, CGI has been the go-to visual effect for business operates. However, it has a few flaws that
most major feature productions, whether its use is might taint the power of CGI in the film industry
subtle or evident. It has recently taken off in the and, as a result, destroy how fantastic this piece of
film business, with more studios and producers technology is. Poorly executed CGI might detract
utilizing it and making few productions impossible from the image. There must be something organic
to complete without it. With computers and and real in a scene to bridge the gap between reality
technology evolving at such a quick speed, we can and enhancement.
ask, “What are the disadvantages and limitations The impact CGI has in the film industry is
of CGI?” breathtaking, and the effects that can be created are
CGI may be dated back to the 1960s when magnificent. However, it can easily be overused.
computers were utilized to produce animations It’s hard to find proper VFX crews for all the post-
through patterns. It may be used for everything production work as getting to know the software
from animating large settings to conducting and having an excelling amount of knowledge on
subtle work on characters and environments. As it would take a vast majority of time to practice
CGI technology improved, so did attempts from and learn. Technicians will need to keep up with
directors’ to use it in their own films. They could the software regularly because it becomes unusable
generate digital views in Westworld (1973) and if it’s not revisited frequently. This can waste a lot
wire-frame models in Star Wars (1977) and Alien of time if the animators get halfway through a
(1979), but their use and breadth were still limited project and can’t finish it because they can’t utilize
at the time. In the 1980s, films like Tron (1982), their program or don’t know how to use the newer
The Last Starfighter (1984), and Young Sherlock versions.
Holmes (1985) used CGI to create full models of Even while utilizing CGI to create a film or certain
real-life goods and life-like characters. clips saves time and money, the hardware and
CGI can be used as a basic upgrade, such as adding programming itself are quite expensive. As this is
layers of fog to the skyline or towers to improve for a film, special programs are required to gather
the layout of a city. It can also be utilized to and handle the data to ensure that none is lost and
produce unearthly effects and push the boundaries that everything is precisely cut. Because of its many
of filmmaking if done right. CGI can be used to mythical elements, the Game of Thrones series, for
create a completely artificial character, such as an example, is a kind of cinema that incorporates both
real life and CGI.