CGI, or Computer Generated Imagery, is the application of 3D computer graphics to special effects in film, TV, simulators etc. Games also use CGI but it is often referred to as FMV, or Full Motion Video.
CGI is used because it is overall very practical, it saves time, effort and a lot of money as it is more controllable than other physically based processes, such as effects shots and hiring extras for crowd scenes, also because it allows the creation of images that wouldn’t be feasible using other technologies and one artist can produce content without the use of props, set pieces or actors. Recent accessibility to CGI software and faster computers has meant people can produce this is their own homes.
CGI was first used in 2D, in the film Westworld in 1973, its sequel, Futureworld, then went a step further and used the first 3D imagery in 1976. It featured a computer generated hand and face, which was created by university of Utah graduates Fred Parke and Edwin Catmull.
However, the first 2 films to invest heavily in CGI, Tron and The Last Starfighter, were commercial failures which meant directors had to relegate CGI to images that were actually supposed to look like they were created by computers. CGI did not win over the motion picture industry until 1989 when The Abyss won an Academy Award for Visual Effects and Industrial Light and Magic produced complex CGI visual effects, such as a seawater creature named the pseudopod, featuring in one scene of the film.
CGI took a major role in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, where the T-1000 Terminator was made of liquid metal and used morphing effects fully integrated into action sequences in the film. Terminator 2 also won I.L.M an Oscar for its effects. It was Jurassic Park in 1993 however, where dinosaurs were created with CGI and integrated into live action scenes, which revolutionized the film industry. It marked Hollywood’s transition from stop-motion animation to digital techniques.
In 1995 the first fully computer generated film was produced, called Toy Story. It was a commercial success and later led to Disney’s transition from traditional animation to CGI.
Examples Of CGI Software
Maya
Maya is a high end 3D computer graphics and 3D modeling software package owned by Autodesk is used in the film and TV industry, as well as for computer and video games.
In 2003, Maya won an Academy Award for scientific and technical achievement, citing use on nearly every feature using 3-D computer-generated images.
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