Scanning & XR · Beginner

CGI (computer-generated imagery)

Any image or video made with computer graphics, from film effects to product shots

Also called Computer-generated imagery

What is CGI?

CGI, short for computer-generated imagery, is any image or footage created with computer graphics instead of filmed with a camera. It usually means 3D models, rendered and often combined with live footage, but 2D digital art counts too. Films, ads, games and product images all use it.

Think of it like this

It is like building a film set, actors or props out of numbers, then photographing them with a virtual camera that can go anywhere.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Render: Lighting the scene and turning it into images or video.

How CGI works

  1. 01Artists model, texture and rig the 3D elements.
  2. 02They animate them and set up lights and cameras.
  3. 03The scene is rendered into frames.
  4. 04For live-action work, the frames are composited with filmed footage.

CGI (computer-generated imagery) vs practical effects

PropertyCGI (computer-generated imagery)Practical effects
Made withSoftware and renderingReal props, makeup and stunts
CapturedRendered by a computerFilmed on set
Changes laterPossible until deliveryMostly fixed once shot
StrengthImpossible shots and huge scaleReal light and texture

Most modern productions blend the two: practical effects for what can be built on set, CGI for what cannot or would be unsafe.

Where CGI is used

  • Creatures, crowds and environments in film and TV
  • Product images and ads
  • Architecture renders and walk-throughs
  • Game trailers and cinematics

Beginner tip

When CGI looks fake, the cause is usually light or motion that does not match the real footage. Study reference for both before adding more detail to the model.

Terms related to CGI

CGI (computer-generated imagery) FAQ

What does CGI stand for?
Computer-generated imagery. It covers any image made with computer graphics rather than captured by a camera, from a single product render to a fully animated film.
CGI vs VFX: what is the difference?
VFX, or visual effects, is any change made to footage after filming, such as adding explosions, removing wires or replacing a sky. CGI is often how VFX are made, but VFX also include compositing and cleanup with no 3D at all.
Is CGI the same as 3D?
Mostly, in everyday use. Most CGI today is 3D: models rendered from a virtual camera. Strictly, CGI also includes 2D computer graphics, so every 3D render is CGI, while some CGI is flat.
CGI vs animation: which is which?
Animation is any technique that makes images move, including hand-drawn and stop-motion. CGI describes how images are made. A 3D animated film is both; a still product render is CGI with no animation.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms