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What's After the Movie?
Filmmaking Camera, lighting, sound, editing and the crew roles behind every shot.

Visual Effects: Meaning & Definition in Film

Post-production techniques that enhance or create imagery not captured on set.

  • 4 sections
  • 1 min read
  • Updated
On this page 4 sections

Definition and Scope

Visual effects (VFX) encompass CGI, compositing, matte painting and digital manipulation. VFX teams integrate these elements to achieve shots impossible through practical means alone.

Pipeline and Workflow

A VFX pipeline includes previsualization, asset creation, animation, lighting, rendering and compositing. Collaboration between directors, VFX supervisors and artists ensures consistency with the film’s vision.

Visual Effects: Industry Evolution

Landmark VFX achievements—from Star Wars’ original practical effects to modern digital spectacles—have continually expanded audience expectations and technical capabilities.

Visual Effects: Exemplary Films

Inception, Mad Max: Fury Road, Blade Runner 2049 and Avengers: Endgame exemplify top-tier VFX, blending practical and digital techniques to immerse viewers in fantastical worlds.

See the vocabulary at work in real films

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More Filmmaking Terms

Entries filed on the same shelf as Visual Effects, each with the one-line answer first. They are the words that usually come up in the same conversation.

All 913 terms

  • LED Volume

    Enclosed wall-and-ceiling LED stage used to display real-time environments for in-camera visual effects.

  • Pull Focus

    Pull focus is a technique where a camera operator adjusts focus to keep moving subjects sharp during a shot.

  • AI ADR

    AI ADR is the process of using artificial intelligence and voice cloning technology to perform Automated Dialogue Replacement, creating or altering dialogue in post-production without the actor.

  • CRI

    The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a 0-100 scale that measures a light source's ability to accurately reproduce the colors of an object compared to a perfect reference light source.

  • Virtual Art Department

    Team that builds and maintains digital sets, props, and environments for real-time visualization and in-camera use.

  • Revision Page

    A script page updated to reflect changes in dialogue, action, or formatting during production.