Visual Effects vs Special Effects

Visual effects and Special effects are two different things in the media industry and are often confused that they are the same. Visual effects are techniques that take place during the editing stage of production where camera footage has been manipulated due to the effects used in the editing process to make it look perfect to the audience. However, Special effects happen at the location whilst being filmed such as using props and makeup which create dramatising effects. This is additional to the theme of the media product being created.   

The techniques used in Visual effects are:
- Digital Composition
- Blue Screen/Green Screen
- Chromakey
- CGI (Computer Generated Images)
- Mattes
- Morphing
- Rotoscoping
- 3D Graphics


Digital Composition: This is a technique process of digitally assembling multiple images over to make a final image. This is done sometimes using blue screen or green screen. The types of media products this has been used on are print, motion pictures or screen display. An example of how this is used in a film is in Bridge to Terabithia where towards the end of the scene, they show a fantasy world for the background where they had layered images together to create a whole different dimension. This is shown at 1:48 minutes. 



Blue Screen & Green Screen: These are both used for the background of the film or TV scene and can replace it with a new background that has been digitally added. The only difference between the two screens is the colour. In some circumstances, if the actors clothing is the same colour as the screen, it will get cropped out or replaced with another image when it comes to the editing stage. A Chroma Key is used for when using green/blue screens. Also, for Bridge to Terabithia, green screen was used to add the image of the fantasy world around the two characters. The purpose and effect of using the green screen was to portray the children's imagination of Terabithia. 

Chroma Key: This is used for combining two frames or images by replacing the colour in one frame with that from another frame. In other words it is used to place subjects in front of the projected background. Here is an example of a marketing trailer that used green screens and Chroma keys. An example of this used in a TV show is Ugly Betty where they had used chroma key to portray the fake city of New York and Betty's house. 

Computer Generated Image (CGI): This is a field of 3D Graphics to Special effects. It is a creation of still or animated visual content with imaging software. It is used in movies, TV, Video Game Art, Commercials and Animation etc. In movies such as Captain America they portray his body image as Anorexic at first to show how he develops his image when he becomes a superhero. The CGI perceives an illusion of what his body looks like and make it a lot smaller than he looks. 

Mattes: This is a painted glass frame that is used as a landscape or portrait in movie and TV. An example of this is that it has been used to manipulate several people in film such as in Star Wars they used it to create an army of Storm Troopers. This illustrates in the movie that there is a large army of Storm Troopers that all look very identical and impacts the audience  by making them think that there realistically is a huge army.  

Morphing: This is used in motion pictures and animations that change one image or shape through a seamless transition such as Twilight.  This can scan the details in an actors face and can be changed and manipulated through technology. In the movie Twilight, Jacobs face and body transforms into a wolf, this is an example of morphing at 1:10.

Rotoscoping: This an animation technique where they use to trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame to produce a realistic action. An example of where this has been used is in a music video for BTS where they used sketch animations to introduce the group. The sketches portray their choreography. 



3D Graphics: 3D software is used to give a more dynamic feel to the image/scene being captured. An example where 3D graphics was created was in the movie 2012 where the ground would look like it was collapsing and all the vehicles and trees were crumbling down. The 3D graphics would make it look more realistic.  

The techinques used in Special effects are: 
- Mechanical Props
- Stunt Props
- MakeUp
- Pyrotechnics

Mechanical Props: This is an operated device used in films to create a special effect within the production. This could be a high tech device such as a laser pen or watch or a real life example used in movies are fake animals used in Jaws and life of Pi where they make the animals look real. 

Stunt Props: In films and televisions, stunt props are used to create dramatic scenes in fights. There are fake props that are used when they use material such as sugar glass and Bansa wood where the glass or wood can breaks very easily because it is brittle. Examples of where these materials are used are when glass bottles are involved or chairs and they are thrown across the room and have broken easily. 


MakeUp: This is used to make a person look completely different to fit the character they are trying to portray. For an example, in the movie Edward Scissorhands the makeup artists had created a look for Johnny Depp where he displayed many cuts on this face created by makeup. This created the illusion that he actually had several cuts on his face and displayed quite dark and gothic. 

Pyrotechnics: This is a special effect that involves illustrating firework displays that are bold and are a brilliant performance of a specified skill, however this can be quite hazardous. This is used in several movies. An example of where this is used in a real life media text is in a movie called the Lizzie McGuire Movie.