CGI video editing refers to the process of integrating Computer Generated Imagery into video footage during post-production.
While the term "CGI video editing" isn't a standard industry phrase – as CGI is created and then integrated or composited into video which is then edited – it generally points to the use of CGI within video production workflows.
Defining CGI in Video
CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) is a sub-category of VFX (visual effects). It refers to scenes, effects, and images created entirely with computer software. CGI can be static or dynamic, 2D or 3D, and used in either subtle or obvious ways. Essentially, if an element in a video or film wasn't captured by a camera in the real world but was made on a computer, it's likely CGI.
CGI is a powerful tool for filmmakers and video producers, enabling them to:
- Create environments or objects that don't exist.
- Add fantastical creatures or characters.
- Simulate complex physical phenomena (like explosions or fluids).
- Enhance or alter existing footage.
- Produce entirely animated sequences.
CGI vs. VFX
As the definition states, CGI is a part of VFX. Visual effects (VFX) is a broader term that encompasses all methods used to create or manipulate imagery outside of live-action shooting. This includes techniques like:
- CGI: Creating new digital assets.
- Compositing: Combining different visual elements from separate sources into a single image (often used to integrate CGI with live-action).
- Practical Effects: Physical effects created on set (e.g., makeup, animatronics, pyrotechnics).
- Motion Capture: Recording human or animal movement to animate digital characters.
So, while all CGI is VFX, not all VFX is CGI. The post-production process for a video heavily reliant on VFX will involve various techniques, with CGI being a significant component for generating digital assets.
Integrating CGI into Video Editing
The "editing" aspect related to CGI in video production typically refers to the process of compositing and finishing the video.
Here's how it generally works:
- CGI Creation: 3D artists and animators use specialized software (like Blender, Maya, 3ds Max) to build models, create textures, set up lighting, and animate scenes.
- Rendering: The computer processes the 3D scene to create 2D image sequences or video files. This can be time-consuming depending on complexity.
- Integration (Compositing): These rendered CGI elements are brought into compositing software (like Adobe After Effects, Nuke) or sometimes directly into video editing software. Here, they are combined with the live-action footage. This involves:
- Matching lighting and perspective.
- Adding shadows and reflections.
- Color correction to blend elements seamlessly.
- Using alpha channels (transparency) to layer elements.
- Video Editing: The final combined shots (live-action + CGI) are then assembled in standard video editing software (like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve) alongside other non-CGI footage, audio, and graphics to create the final video sequence.
This means "CGI video editing" is more accurately described as "video editing that incorporates CGI" or the broader process of "post-production involving CGI."
Common Uses of CGI in Video
CGI is used across various forms of video content:
| Video Type | How CGI is Used | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Feature Films | Creating fantastical creatures, large-scale environments, complex destruction, superhero powers. | Dragons in *Game of Thrones*, spaceship battles in *Star Wars*, entire worlds in *Avatar*. |
| Television Shows | Adding historical backdrops, enhancing action sequences, creating digital sets or props. | Period cityscapes, subtle enhancements to stunts, alien planets in sci-fi shows. |
| Commercials | Animating products, creating eye-catching effects, placing products in impossible scenarios. | Liquid simulations for drinks, product transformations, digital mascots. |
| Music Videos | Building surreal landscapes, animating graphics, creating abstract visual effects. | Floating islands, animated character overlays, psychedelic transitions. |
| Corporate/Explainer Videos | Animating complex diagrams, visualizing data, creating digital prototypes. | Animated charts, 3D models of products, visualizations of processes. |
Understanding CGI's role as a tool for creating digital visual elements and how those elements are integrated into the overall video structure is key to grasping its importance in modern video production.
