Visual effects software: Transforming reality
Visual effects software: Transforming reality
Autodesk software for visual effects (VFX) powers modern production pipelines.
Autodesk software for visual effects (VFX) powers modern production pipelines.
Image courtesy of Rising Sun Pictures
What are visual effects (VFX)?
What are visual effects (VFX)?
Visual effects (VFX) are images that have been altered, created, or enhanced for live-action media. VFX work is often applied to footage that could not be fully captured during live-action filming due to it being costly, dangerous, impractical, or impossible to shoot. Visual effects compositing integrates live-action footage with VFX to create realistic objects, characters, and environments.
Visual effects (VFX) are images that have been altered, created, or enhanced for live-action media. VFX work is often applied to footage that could not be fully captured during live-action filming due to it being costly, dangerous, impractical, or impossible to shoot. Visual effects compositing integrates live-action footage with VFX to create realistic objects, characters, and environments.
VFX software can produce otherwordly images and simulations. Image courtesy of Filippo Nicea Bovolini.What is VFX software used for?
What is VFX software used for?
Visual effects (VFX) software is used in movies, episodic TV, video games, virtual reality (VR), and advertising to create imaginary worlds, enhance action sequences, develop characters and creatures, build environmental effects, and more.
VFX software is also heavily used in conjunction with virtual production—a technique that combines live-action shots with digital assets and environment—enabling filmmakers to be more agile and streamline their production process.
This software provides several key components:
3D modeling: Powerful 3D tools bring shape to fully dimensional objects, characters, and scenes.
Animation: Robust rigging and animation capabilities help artists create the most realistic character performances.
Simulation: Professional tools can generate complex simulations and effects like combustion, snow, and particles.
Compositing: Artists can unify 2D and 3D visual elements from different sources into a single visual element. Compositing can create otherworldly illusions where many separate visual elements exist together in the same scene.
Rendering: As one of the final steps of media production, high-quality rendering ranks among the most important aspects of VFX software. Rendering takes all the composited elements of highly complex scenes, including 2D graphics, 3D models and animations, simulations, and other VFX, and distills them into a high-quality, cohesive still or moving image.
Visual effects (VFX) software is used in movies, episodic TV, video games, virtual reality (VR), and advertising to create imaginary worlds, enhance action sequences, develop characters and creatures, build environmental effects, and more.
VFX software is also heavily used in conjunction with virtual production—a technique that combines live-action shots with digital assets and environment—enabling filmmakers to be more agile and streamline their production process.
This software provides several key components:
3D modeling: Powerful 3D tools bring shape to fully dimensional objects, characters, and scenes.
Animation: Robust rigging and animation capabilities help artists create the most realistic character performances.
Simulation: Professional tools can generate complex simulations and effects like combustion, snow, and particles.
Compositing: Artists can unify 2D and 3D visual elements from different sources into a single visual element. Compositing can create otherworldly illusions where many separate visual elements exist together in the same scene.
Rendering: As one of the final steps of media production, high-quality rendering ranks among the most important aspects of VFX software. Rendering takes all the composited elements of highly complex scenes, including 2D graphics, 3D models and animations, simulations, and other VFX, and distills them into a high-quality, cohesive still or moving image.
What is the difference between VFX, CGI, and special effects?
Movie effects terms are often used interchangeably, but they are different: VFX is created using a combination of live-action shots and digital imagery; CGI is anything created digitally; and special effects are captured live, without the aid of a computer.
Movie effects terms are often used interchangeably, but they are different: VFX is created using a combination of live-action shots and digital imagery; CGI is anything created digitally; and special effects are captured live, without the aid of a computer.
Visual effects (VFX)
Visual effects (VFX)
VFX (visual effects) in film is a process of creating imagery that does not physically exist through the use of CGI, compositing, and motion capture. Examples include 3D modeling, green screen filming, and performance capture.
VFX (visual effects) in film is a process of creating imagery that does not physically exist through the use of CGI, compositing, and motion capture. Examples include 3D modeling, green screen filming, and performance capture.
Computer-generated imagery (CGI)
Computer-generated imagery (CGI)
Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is any imagery created digitally within a computer. CGI can be incorporated into a VFX shot in a live-action movie (such as the dinosaurs in Jurassic World) or used to create a fully CG film (like Toy Story).
Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is any imagery created digitally within a computer. CGI can be incorporated into a VFX shot in a live-action movie (such as the dinosaurs in Jurassic World) or used to create a fully CG film (like Toy Story).
VFX software features
Discover top visual effects tools and features available with Autodesk software.
Discover top visual effects tools and features available with Autodesk software.
Simulations and effects
Simulations and effects
Deliver natural-looking effects like combustion, snow, waves, or particles with aerodynamic (aero), material point method (MPM), ocean, and particle simulation systems in Bifrost for Maya.
Deliver natural-looking effects like combustion, snow, waves, or particles with aerodynamic (aero), material point method (MPM), ocean, and particle simulation systems in Bifrost for Maya.
Scattering and instancing
Scattering and instancing
Create large-scale complexity for world-building or set dressing with expressive scattering and instancing tools in Bifrost for Maya.
Create large-scale complexity for world-building or set dressing with expressive scattering and instancing tools in Bifrost for Maya.
Compositing
Compositing
Traditional 2D compositing combines multiple images or video clips into a final composite shot. Compositing with Autodesk VFX software combines the interactive speed of 2D compositing and powerful 3D visual effects.
Traditional 2D compositing combines multiple images or video clips into a final composite shot. Compositing with Autodesk VFX software combines the interactive speed of 2D compositing and powerful 3D visual effects.
Autodesk VFX software
Maya
Flame
Flow Studio
Arnold
Media & Entertainment collection
See how studios are using visual effects software
See how professional studios are using visual effects software from Autodesk.
See how professional studios are using visual effects software from Autodesk.
Raising the visual bar with collaborative cloud workflows
Raising the visual bar with collaborative cloud workflows
Amaan Akram, Head of VFX at Untold Studios, shares how Autodesk Design & Make platform enables them to push the boundaries of technology.
Amaan Akram, Head of VFX at Untold Studios, shares how Autodesk Design & Make platform enables them to push the boundaries of technology.
Streamlining VFX to create a fantastical forest
Streamlining VFX to create a fantastical forest
See how Pixomondo used Autodesk Maya with Bifrost to help streamline VFX delivery and master the details of otherworldly creatures, animals, trees, and vegetation.
See how Pixomondo used Autodesk Maya with Bifrost to help streamline VFX delivery and master the details of otherworldly creatures, animals, trees, and vegetation.
Crafting complex simulations with Bifrost for Maya
Crafting complex simulations with Bifrost for Maya
Summoning sandworms in Dune-inspired commercial
Summoning sandworms in Dune-inspired commercial
One of the world’s leading educators in the fields of game development, VFX, and animation, CG Spectrum demonstrates its expertise in VFX with a Dune-inspired commercial for the school.
One of the world’s leading educators in the fields of game development, VFX, and animation, CG Spectrum demonstrates its expertise in VFX with a Dune-inspired commercial for the school.
Free VFX resources
Learn more about visual effects software with these free tutorials, tips, and guides.
Learn more about visual effects software with these free tutorials, tips, and guides.
Autodesk Media & Entertainment YouTube channel
Get exclusive learning content, industry insights, and behind-the-scenes access to realistic 3D characters, exceptional effects, and expansive worlds.
Get exclusive learning content, industry insights, and behind-the-scenes access to realistic 3D characters, exceptional effects, and expansive worlds.
3D simulation software
Learn about the importance and potential of 3D simulations as part of the visual effects pipeline. With the right software, 3D simulations can create incredibly realistic fire, explosions, smoke, water, sand, and other effects reliant on particle flow.
Learn about the importance and potential of 3D simulations as part of the visual effects pipeline. With the right software, 3D simulations can create incredibly realistic fire, explosions, smoke, water, sand, and other effects reliant on particle flow.
Digital content creation
Learn all about digital content creation (DCC)—including audiovisual media, animation, and visual effects made for entertainment, education, and advertising—and the software needed to do it.
Learn all about digital content creation (DCC)—including audiovisual media, animation, and visual effects made for entertainment, education, and advertising—and the software needed to do it.
Autodesk Media & Entertainment blog
Stay ahead of industry trends, events, artist stories, tutorials, and more.
Stay ahead of industry trends, events, artist stories, tutorials, and more.
Autodesk Flow Studio | Free animation & VFX software for students
Free for eligible university students and educators (18+). Autodesk Flow Studio is a cloud-based, AI-powered 3D toolset that turns live-action footage into editable CG scenes for class projects, portfolio building, and learning.
Free for eligible university students and educators (18+). Autodesk Flow Studio is a cloud-based, AI-powered 3D toolset that turns live-action footage into editable CG scenes for class projects, portfolio building, and learning.
Visual effects software frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Autodesk software, including Maya, 3ds Max, and Flame, can be used for a wide range of VFX, from sophisticated particle, liquid, and character effects to 3D compositing and finishing.
Whether you’re looking to create blazing explosions or complex snowstorms, Bifrost for Maya is a powerful visual programming environment for creating blockbuster-worthy VFX simulations. Bifrost for Maya includes ready-to-use graphs, physically based solvers for aerodynamics, combustion, granular effects, cloth simulation, and more.
Look to visual effects software from Autodesk for the support to help your teams work quickly and create stunning visual effects. With Bifrost for Maya’s prebuilt graphs, you can create realistic effects right out of the box. Autodesk Arnold is integrated with Maya and 3ds Max, so you can see high-quality previews and iterate changes quickly. Flame 3D VFX and finishing software provides powerful tools for 3D compositing, visual effects, and editorial finishing.
Autodesk software is engineered to streamline collaboration throughout the VFX pipeline by connecting creative workflows and teams. Flow Production Tracking (formerly ShotGrid) production management software enables creative teams to seamlessly submit work for reviews, collaborate, and iterate on changes, even while geographically dispersed.