Computer-Generated Imagery

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how special effects have played a large part in the film industry since its initial birth. It looks at how it started with simple illusions and how it wasn't until the latter part of the 20th century that technology had progressed enough for these effects to begin to take on a highly evolved form of sophistication and depth and move toward what is today known as computer-generated imagery, or CGI. Through a review of films such as "Star Wars" and "Toy Story," it looks at how the field of computer-generated imagery requires, not only computer skills, but also basic art and animation skills.

From the Paper:

"As a teenager Edwin Catmull dreamed of becoming an animator. By the time he was old enough to begin to realize this dream he ran into two barriers that would prevent him from achieving his goal. The world of animation had come almost to a complete halt. The 1960s had resulted in only a few "dire, static efforts" at full-animated features due to the fact that animation was an immensely "labor-intensive" process that made the production of full, feature animated films a long and tedious procedure (McHugh). Secondly, Catmull discovered that he had no drawing talent. So he then settled on the pursuit of a degree in physics and computer science."

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