A Revolution in Movies: VFX for Films

Movies have inspired, told stories, and changed people’s perceptions for decades. A medium for entertainment, leisure, and letting go of oneself to dive into the world of cinema. As technology and other aspects of life have changed, so have movies. Computer-generated images turn imagination into lifelike reality and make the impossible possible. And visual effects (VFX) plays a significant role in this transformation. VFX in films has come a long way and continues to push the envelope year after year.

How VFX for Films Came to Be

Tracing back to visual effects for films, there have been numerous artists who have harnessed the power of optical illusions and sleight of hand and perception to achieve unbelievable results. Cinema, as we know it today, was invented in the year 1895 by Louis and Auguste Lumière, popularly known as the Lumière Brothers. In the same year, VFX for films came into the limelight, and the industry took off. The earliest type of special effects in films took place in the form of in-camera effects. These included jump-cuts, superimpositions, and other types of camera tricks. In-camera effects utilized the frame space shown in the camera and used a variety of miniature to enlarged props to create all sorts of effects.

An Example:

Safety Last! – Harold Lloyd, a film that was released in the year 1971 shows a scene where Mr. Lloyd is holding on for dear life to a round-the-clock while climbing up a building. The entertaining element in this scene was the sheer amount of suspense for the audience. Though baffling to look at, the film’s behind-the-scenes tell a different story.

Watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBSpuZDKaKI It was only a short time after for nearly all films to incorporate an element of special effects in their making to thrill audiences.

1857 till Today – The Revolution at a Glance

The VFX for films service company is growing exponentially with each year. Today, with nearly all movies having an element of VFX in them, the line between obvious elements and natural elements in VFX is blurring. Going back to history, the first known use of VFX for films – which is where a director or editor made changes to a movie for creating special effects post the filming process was in the year 1857. Oscar Rejlander combined 32 different negatives of a negative print film to create a single scene. This first-of-its-kind process became the founding stone for post-production film editing. Since then, the first-ever full CGI (Computer-generated Imagery) Toy Story was released in 1995.

Some notable milestones in Hollywood for the advancement in VFX

1979 – Alien

1991 – Terminator 2: Judgement Day

1993 – Jurassic Park

1999 – The Matrix

2002 – Spiderman

2004 – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2007 – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

2009 – Avatar

2012 – The Avengers

2014 – Interstellar

What is VFX Today?

Traditional films before computer graphics toyed around with camera angles and perspectives, creating a wide range of special effects. Today, VFX for films involves computers, animation, artificially created sets, compositing, and so many other processes. pecial effects and visual effects are often interlinked with one another, they are quite different. In simple terms, special effects is a “during production” feature that takes place on a set with actors, sets, and props. VFX adds to the visual effect of an enhanced film.

Techniques Used in VFX

Special Effects: This is a technique that utilizes illusions and tricks to simulate imaginary sets, worlds, characters, etc. For example, monsters and creatures are created through modifying skin and adding camera effects. Special effects also involve flames, fires, and the use of prosthetics.

Motion Capture: Motion capture is the technique of recording all the movements of a person or an object digitally. The purpose of this technique is to digitally alter the movements of a character onto a 3D or 2D character. The film later incorporates this character. Avatar is THE best example of a movie that is completely based on Motion Capture and intricate VFX work.

Matte Painting: It is a fact that some of the best VFX company in India are experts in matte painting. Matte painting is the process of recreating a scene or a landscape in a movie as per the direction of the filmmaker. It is the artificial creation of an environment that was previously not present or is near-impossible to recreate.

Animation: In VFX for films, animation is integrating various objects and motions into a scene to make the scene more complete. Most types of animation include the incorporation of 3D objects into the background of film plates. Animators work with the camera position and different angles to make an animation sequence blend into a film.

3D Modelling: Modelling is all about creating different elements from scratch – like characters, weapons, plants, animals, etc using computer graphics and a variety of software. 3D modeling is an intricate part of VFX where a variety of concepts are brought to life. With imagination, reference images, photographs, raw sketches, and more.

Other Important Techniques in VFX

Rotoscoping: Image all the scenes that actors perform in front of green screens. Also, taking scenes and adding background elements to them is possible through rotoscopy. Rotoscoping is the frame-by-frame extraction of a scene. This process is the stepping stone for other VFX processes to start.
Match Moving: Sometimes known as motion tracking or camera solving, match moving is a technique where the orientation of scenes is measured with correct position, scale, orientation, and motion to allow the insertion of computer graphics into live-action footage. Imagine a camera panning over the scene of a street with an object placed on it. The orientation of an object in a scene perfectly is known as match move.

Compositing: The most important part of VFX for films is compositing. Compositing is the process of making sure that real-life footage and all the digital assets merge into one film seamlessly. Compositing is one of the final processes in the Visual Effects journey. All elements and processes are combined together to create the final film.

VFX for Films Services Company – Digikore Studios

Digikore Studios is known to be one of the best VFX company in India. With over a decade of services in the film industry, 150+ films and tv series under our name, and top-notch services, our specialty is in quality services. We have delivered post-production services on projects for Disney, Marvel, Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV, Sony, Warner, Hulu, and Paramount. We are the go-to VFX service provider and preferred choice for Hollywood and Bollywood films, television series, commercials, and more. Some super-hits that we’ve contributed to include Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, Jumanji, Titanic, Haider, Deadpool, and more.