computer-generated imagery
Synthetic screen graphics
Computer-generated imagery refers to visual content created entirely by computers rather than captured by cameras or drawn by hand.
Usually abbreviated CGI, it dominates modern film special effects, video games, and animation: The dinosaurs were all CGI.
The term often carries connotations of spectacle over substance: another CGI-heavy blockbuster.
Interpretive depiction or performance
- ray tracingRendering via light physics
- texture mappingApplying images to 3D surfaces
- 3D modelingCreating digital three-dimensional objects
- shadingDepicting light and darkness
compositing · chroma key · matte painting · rotoscoping · particle effects · wireframe · rasterization
Resembling actual photographs
- lifelikeResembling the real thing
- uncanny valleyEerie near-realism response
- believabilityCapacity to seem true
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
detail · hyperrealism · fluid dynamics · deepfake · authenticity · verisimilitude
Computer-created interactive environment
- metaverseShared immersive digital universe
- avatarDigital user representation
- immersiveFully engaging the senses
- VRSimulated immersive environment
interactive · virtual worlds · game engine · Unity · augmented reality · mixed reality · holographic
Animation's anchor states
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
- character animationAnimating fictional beings
- motion captureRecording movement for animation
- tweeningAutomated in-between frame generation
lip-sync · morphing · sprites · frame-by-frame · Pixar · DreamWorks · character design · animators
Enormously successful entertainment property
- visual spectacleImpressive display to behold
- green screenSolid backdrop for compositing
- virtual productionIn-camera digital scenery
- motion captureRecording movement for animation
previsualization · digital doubles · de-aging · fantasy worlds · sci-fi · Marvel · Avatar · Jurassic Park
Software modeling real-world motion
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- rigid bodyIdealized undeformable object
- collision detectionFinding when objects intersect
- weather systemsOrganized atmospheric phenomena
rendering
Interpretive depiction or performance
- ray tracingRendering via light physics
- texture mappingApplying images to 3D surfaces
- 3D modelingCreating digital three-dimensional objects
shading · compositing · chroma key · matte painting · rotoscoping · particle effects · wireframe · rasterization
photorealistic
Resembling actual photographs
- lifelikeResembling the real thing
- uncanny valleyEerie near-realism response
- believabilityCapacity to seem true
fidelity · detail · hyperrealism · fluid dynamics · deepfake · authenticity · verisimilitude
virtual reality
Computer-created interactive environment
- metaverseShared immersive digital universe
- avatarDigital user representation
- immersiveFully engaging the senses
VR · interactive · virtual worlds · game engine · Unity · augmented reality · mixed reality · holographic
keyframes
Animation's anchor states
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
- character animationAnimating fictional beings
- motion captureRecording movement for animation
tweening · lip-sync · morphing · sprites · frame-by-frame · Pixar · DreamWorks · character design · animators · motion blur
blockbuster
Enormously successful entertainment property
- visual spectacleImpressive display to behold
- green screenSolid backdrop for compositing
- virtual productionIn-camera digital scenery
motion capture · previsualization · digital doubles · de-aging · fantasy worlds · sci-fi · Marvel · Avatar · Jurassic Park · Transformers
physics engine
Software modeling real-world motion
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- rigid bodyIdealized undeformable object
- collision detectionFinding when objects intersect
computer-generated imagerypractical effects
Non-digital film techniques
hand-drawn animation · miniatures · stop-motion animation · animatronics · puppetry
computer-generated imagerydocumentary footage
Recorded non-fiction visual material
location shooting · natural imagery · raw footage · found footage · archival footage
computer, compute, computed, computing, computable, computation, computational, computationally, generate