What is CGI and how is it used?

CGI (computer-generated imagery) is a set of technologies that allow you to create graphics using a computer. These can be static images or video streams. Well, or three-dimensional and two-dimensional images.

Read on and we will try to understand this phenomenon in detail!

Types of CGI

First of all, all computer-generated images are divided into photorealistic and non-photorealistic. In the first case, the image is practically indistinguishable from a photograph. Everything is clear. This approach is used when there is an urgent need to convince the viewer that everything he sees is real.

In the second case, there is no such need.

Since developers and designers usually do not have the goal of convincing people of the reality of what is happening, the second option is used much more often.

Cartoons, computer games, commercials and much more are made exactly this way.

But this is not the only way to stratify CGI. It can also be divided by the format of what you get as a result:

• Render - 3D images that are created on a variety of topics.
  
• Video - animation is created based on three-dimensional models, showing modeled objects in motion.
  
• AR - combining modeled three-dimensional objects and real space. This means, for example, that you can be at home, turn on the application with AR technology and observe objects in your home from it. You can even interact with them.
  
• VR - here all objects and the surrounding space are modeled in three-dimensional format. The technology is actively used in game development and has recently been introduced into other fields: engineering, e-commerce, medicine and even rocket science.
  

Where and how CGI is used

Here are some of the most common uses of CGI graphics.

Creating a mascot for a brand

Many major brands create mascots that people associate with the company. Think of the cute pink bunny on every pack of Duracell batteries, the McDonald's fries box, or even the occasional Sparkly - a bright and fluffy creature who acts as an interactive assistant in Philips' apps for kids.

Making promotions more fun

It is possible to use CGIs to visualize non-existent objects and incorporate them into this or that promotional video. The idea is to create something from scratch. But CGI can also be used to enhance existing real objects, giving them unusual properties. For example, from a can of soda, gases, berries, fruits (in general, anything that corresponds to the taste of the drink) can fly out.

Such advertising is more spectacular than the usual product photography, so it attracts eyes and is better remembered.

Branding the images

In graphics, it is easier to use the company's brand colors or identity. For example, you can embed a three-dimensional logo into the commercial or draw characters on the banner in the style of the brand, which will definitely have a good effect on its recognizability, and even better - on its memorability.

Making a deepfake!

Deepfake is a technology that helps to recreate the appearance and voice of real people using computer graphics and neural networks. For example, an actor in a commercial can have the face of a movie star completed - using a famous image, but not inviting a real celebrity to the shoot.

Of course, this is not entirely ethical. And when you consider what other things deepfakes are made for, it becomes doubly unethical. Either way, it can still be put to good use.

There you have it.

By the way, on our hub you can find everything you need for your game or architecture project: from textures to full-fledged models and even various scripts that will make your development process much easier. We also have content for specific game engines. For example for Unity and Unreal Engine 4 and 5. These are for example the already mentioned 3D models, blueprints, VFX and much more. Everything is completely free and without registration.