What is CGI: Definition, Development & Common Examples

Ever wondered what made the Avatar movie a hit, or why there is such a huge and crazy fan community for the Harry Potter franchise?

Well, that’s pretty straightforward, this is because they take us into a fantasy world where imagination comes to reality.

But how is it possible? How can they show something that does not exist in reality? This is where CGI comes into the picture, quite literally.

CGI is a technology used across industries to create stunning visual experiences and captivate viewers. It is helping businesses stand ahead of crowding competitors by making attention-grabbing larger-than-life promotional campaigns. They catch more views and build a strong brand.

In fact, the use of CGI has become so extensive that if we name it, you have seen it.

So, what’s CGI, how it is used, and where to get it? Read this blog to know everything about it.

What is CGI: Full Form, Meaning, and Concept Explanation

First things first, what does CGI stand for? The answer is Computer-Generated Imagery.

Great, but still it might need to be more clear. So what we can do is to see the two words of the term one by one.

• First comes “Computer-generated”, as you can guess, which simply means something created by the computer or, better, by using the computer.
• Second, what about “imagery”, is it only limited to images? No, not at all. It goes way beyond images and comprises any 2D or 3D visual created using computers. It can be a video, animation, or a mix of all.

We will see these different uses in the upcoming sections. For now, let’s first focus on getting a complete understanding of the concept.

At this point, you must be clear about what is CGI. But let’s dive deeper, into what exactly CGI does in these visuals.

See, these computer-generated elements either replace or augment real elements in real visual content as seen in CGI-enhanced movies like the Avatar franchise.

On the other hand, they can even develop complete visual content from scratch like images for product visualization or an animated movie like “Toy Story” developing a complete computer. That what is CGI animation.

This way, CGI helps achieve visuals that otherwise would be impractical, expensive, or, even impossible in real life. The potential of CGI technology is unlimited and that’s why it is an integral part of various industries, from entertainment to advertising and beyond.

Here are some examples, of how it is being used across industries.

Understand CGI Better with Common Examples and Use Cases

Truth bomb: Before, we said that CGI’s immense capabilities have made it an integral part of some industries like entertainment and advertising. But that’s not completely true.

The truth is CGI is part of our daily life. Whatever we see on any screen from TV and mobile to OOH and DOOH, CGI is there.

Reason, CGI makes the content eye-catching to the extent that we hardly see an advertisement or movie without CGI’s magic.

So here are some examples of how CGI is used across industries.

CGI in Movies and Animation

Nowadays, CGI is such an important and even an integral part of the movie-making process. So much so that we hardly come across a film not using this technique to enhance the visual experience of their fans.

We know that CGI effects add fictional elements and/or enhance real-world objects and the overall original scene.

But that’s not it, CGI is also used to remove certain elements that need to be removed for a better virtual experience.

A good example would be from Christopher Nolan’s film, The Dark Knight, wherein the piston that helped flip the truck was removed from the scene.

On the other hand, an example of bad CGI execution would be the notorious Henry Cavill mustache CGI in Justice League. Anyway, that totally depends on the 3D CGI company you have partnered with. (Psst! Choose Us! Wink-wink!!)

CGI in Advertising

Advertising not only toes the lines of movies but may, in many ways, even outdo them when it comes to CGI implementation. There are nearly no ads without CGI making it eye-catching. Remember the last cut in every advertisement video with product visualization, that’s CGI, my friend.

And they have all the right to do so. After all catching eyeballs is the sole purpose of advertising be it OOH or TV commercials.

Along with that, CGIs are a great way to engage the audience with the brand and its products. They can build hype for the product before it has been manufactured. This will ensure that once the product hits the market, it hits the ground running.

Here is an example of CGI developed by us at Hey Buddy:

CGI in Video Games

Another industry that makes the most out of CGI is Games. The technology forms the backbone of the industry. It provides, literally, every element of the game - from lifelike characters to intricate virtual landscapes.

Good CGI development leads to realistic and immersive Games experiences with an amazing overall quality of modern video games.

Here’s how CGI contributes to the game development process

• Virtual Realm Construction:
  CGI is used to construct lifelike characters, intricate landscapes, and immersive environmental elements that gamers interact with within the game. This forms the basis of an engaging gameplay.
• Realism Enhancement:
  CGI is the reason gamers get engrossing experience in the form of realistic animations, dynamic lighting, and meticulously rendered details. It elevates the overall Games experience and helps in building a loyal Games community.
• Interactive Storytelling:
  CGI blurs the lines between reality and fiction. It adds to the impact of the Games narratives through interactive elements and great visual effects complementing the narrative.

CGI in Architectural Visualization

CGI is used to visualize architectural designs and concepts before actual construction begins. This aids architects in better presenting their ideas to clients and other stakeholders, roping in more investors, and giving builders a better idea to start with.

Architects can create interactive 3D models to let their clients virtually walk through the architecture, explore spaces before construction begins, and get a complete idea of how space would look once completed.

On top of that, they can make quick and cost-effective changes to their designs, to suit the unique requirements and wishes of their client, bringing personalization to their delivery and ensuring high client satisfaction.

And that is just only one aspect of how CGI helps architects, the other aspect is that of marketing and presentation.

Architects and developers are using CGI visuals to market their products and services. CGI helps present their projects attractively to impress their potential clients and investors.

Thus, CGI helps all the stakeholders in the architectural space to make informed decisions about designs, materials, and layouts before committing to physical construction, saving money and time all the while.

CGI in the Medical and Scientific Field

CGI also helps medical professionals be well-positioned to save lives. It aids them in better understanding medical concepts and being better-trained for intricate and high-stakes surgeries.

Let’s see how.

• Visualizing Concept
  CGI is used to create detailed visualizations of intricate scientific concepts and processes. It aids medical professionals to easily understand complex systems with complete clarity.
• CGI is also utilized to develop interactive and immersive educational materials. It enhances medical training by providing realistic simulations for students whether through enhanced 2D videos or 3D immersive experiences like AR and VR.
• Scientific Research Aid
  With visual representations of data, CGI aids in the better comprehension and accurate analysis of complex scientific and medical information. This way it helps in better decisions and scientific progress, enhancing patient care and saving lives.

Apart from this, CGI also helps in the simulations and training of professionals that we will see next.

CGI in Simulations and Training

CGI helps in creating an environment for experiential learning. It enables the simulation of realistic environments to help professionals practice high-stakes tasks such as surgeries, flights, military operations, high-rise constructions, etc. So that they can hone their skills without real-world risks.

There are various types of CGIs used to achieve all the above-mentioned objectives. Let’s now look at those.

Types of CGI

2D CGI

As the name suggests, it is the creation of two-dimensional images. These are mostly used in graphics, illustrations, and simpler animations.

3D CGI

This is the most common type involving three-dimensional images and animations to bring depth and realism into their visual experience. This is the one mostly used in the advertising, architectural, and entertainment industry nowadays.

Web CGI:

This is commonly used for dynamic website content in the form of CGI scripts. By dynamic we mean that the website can tailor content and functionality based on individual user preferences and interactions. This leads to a personalized user journey that builds your brand and impresses the website visitors.

Now, comes the question, how to get CGI for your business? The answer is simple, reach out to a CGI development company and share your requirements. They will get you the right solution. But before you do that you should know what is CGI development and how to differentiate between Good CGI and Bad CGI.

CGI Development

CGI development is the process of using programming languages or modeling software to create 3D virtual objects. Then, as per the need, these virtual objects are rendered using engines to bring them to life. Let’s see them one by one

Technologies Used in CGI

• Programming Languages: CGI scripts for web development are achieved using languages like Perl, Python, or PHP.
• 3D Modeling Software: Tools like Autodesk Maya, Blender, and Cinema 4D are used to create three-dimensional models and animations.
• Rendering Engines: Rendering engines like Arnold, V-Ray, and Redshift process the 3D models and turn them into the final images or animation sequences.

The use of this technology leads to amazing visual experiences that earlier felt impossible. However, you should know that just like any other technology there can be good or bad outcomes depending upon how it has been used.

In this case, we mean how experienced and skilled the CGI development team is. So, here we are sharing multiple aspects based on which CGI can be judged on their quality.

Bad CGI vs Good CGI.

Qualities of Bad CGI:

• Uncanny Valley: This is where the digital representation looks unnatural, unsettling, or overly artificial.
• Lacks Detail: Subpar CGI lacks attention to detail and has visual inconsistencies.
• Disruption: Bad CGIs distract viewers instead of complementing the story, they diminish the overall viewing experience not enhance it

Qualities of Good CGI:

• Seamless Integration: High-quality CGI seamlessly integrates with real-world elements, offering a consistent cohesive visual experience.
• Realism: Good CGI captures details for higher believability of the created content, bringing realism.
• Complements Storytelling: It enhances storytelling by adding value to the narrative.

Conclusion

CGI has made the impossible possible. It has revolutionized the visual content across various industries from cinematic experiences to medical practices and architectural design, CGI has brought significant contributions.

We live in a world where catching eyeballs matters and CGI is the best way to do that and with the growing advancement in CGI technologies, it will play an even more significant role in the coming times.

You need a trusted CGI Company

Get high-quality and ultra-realistic CGI to power your brand story-telling. Hey Buddy offers CGI development services to bring your ideas to life.

FAQs

Q: What does CGI stand for?

A: CGI stands for Computer-Generated Imagery.

Q: What does CGI mean?

A: CGI means the use of computer graphics to create visual content, such as images, videos, or animations.

Q: How is CGI used in the film industry?

A: CGI is extensively used in the film industry. It creates visual effects, lifelike virtual characters, as well as entire virtual environments for phenomenal storytelling and cinematic experiences.

Q: Can CGI be used for website development?

A: Yes, CGI is used in creating dynamic and interactive websites. Such websites alter their content based on users' preferences, improving engagement and functionality.