#Computer-generated imagery (CGI)

[ashitakaxsan]

I Found it!!

A while ago i posted about a CGI animation,that i didn't know it's title:https://ashitakaxsan.tumblr.com/post/679300342215819264/remaining-unknown

I didn't give up,I searched about it with intuition. I identified it:

It's part of "Beyond the Mind's Eye",Jan Hammer's classic 1992 computer animated movie. it's in the 10th track Theater Of Magic,31:48-32.02.

I'm so Glad I made it:)

[t-jfh]

Earl Simmons, also known as DMX.

(Artwork by Jay Sims via Facebook)

Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021), known professionally as DMX, was an American rapper and actor. Regarded as an influential figure in late 1990s and early 2000s hip hop, his music is characterized by an aggressive rapping style, with lyrical content varying from hardcore themes to prayers.

•

Give the greats their flowers

Art from Jay Sims via Facebook.

[leahmcewen]

Computer Generated Imagery - week 2

As mentioned in last weeks post, I've been struggling with an idea for this class project. I managed to speak further about this with my lecturer which definitely helped a lot and we worked on brainstorming with my main interests. In class, we were also introduced to using EKO, and I definitely found that using the software opened my eyes to the possibilities of what I can do and achieve within the time frame, as well as the fact that knowing the limits somehow made me feel more creative.

Doing more research into a relationship themed graphic novel, with the main interest being that it remains lighthearted, I thought about doing a fantasy based setting to make it more interesting. I looked into the retro futuristic style of some posters (which I added to a moodboard I am working on), which I found really inspiring for a potential character. To encourage this, I completed my moodboard, and worked on some sketches from here, as well as some basic interactive story planning. I need to decide if I want the graphic novel to be about the character setting up a dating profile, or if the character can choose which character to go on a date with, or if the character can choose where/what to do on a date.

Outside of class, I finalised this a lot more, doing more sketches, working on a basic character turnaround based on features I found interesting in my initial sketches. I also made some storyboards for the planned pathways in my interactive graphic novel. Next week, I aim to do a finalised layout, so that I can clearly see what to work on.

[visconsio]

Introducing NEKOLAND, 3D Animasi 100% made in Indonesia. YouTube, TikTok, & Instagram: @Visconsio @VisconsioCenter

[carlocarrasco]

GMA Network's fake Filipinos (AI sportscasters) should remind you that AI has no soul

Recently here in the Philippines, GMA Network made waves to boost their sports coverage by unveiling their artificial intelligence (AI) sportscasters named Maia and Marco which drew varied reactions from Filipinos online. Check out the official video unveiling of the AI sportscasters from GMA Integrated News’ YouTube channel below… If you look at Maia and Marco’s unveiling, you probably would…

[silverylime]

THIS is what happens when you're high and with a dumb photo editor. Really like the middle one, not so sure about the other two.

[facts-i-just-made-up]

CONTROVERSY: Did From Software Use CGI in Shadow of the Erdtree?

FIJMU News 5-23-24 by Scrute Schroedinger

With the new trailer for Elden Ring's upcoming DLC, sharp eyed viewers think they may have caught From Software in the act of using computer generated imagery.

According to Computer Graphics expert Khan Putretsper, "I've seen quite a few pixels in my day and I'm certain the trailer contains at least three. This may not have been shot on film, it may not even have any live action footage in it whatsoever."

With recent controversies over Disney using AI in their films, novelists using ChatGPT writing in their stories, and even certain celebrities such as Hatsune Miku using autotune and pitch-shifting technology to change their voices, From Software is the latest to face accusations right as their new work is released.

Computer Generated Imagery or "CGI" was first used in the film "Tron," which lost its special effects nomination for such a cheat. Still, CGI has been used on films such as James Cameron's "Avatar," M. Night Shyamalan's film "The Last Airbender," and Netflix's series "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Now From Software will have to face the scrutiny of its audiences. According to gamer and watchdog group founder Luigi Samus Zeldasen, "I'd hate to see a game like Elden Ring stoop use a computer for its imagery, but I've seen the new trailer myself, and I don't think that tower of ten thousand skinned bodies is real."

Troubling words indeed.

[archibaldtuttle]

"Fuck CGI all my homies hate CGI here we love practical effects" ok ok ok alright I know I KNOW that I'm being pedantic and nitpicky (which is why I'm making my own post and not adding this to one of those I've seen floating around) but you don't hate CGI you just hate capitalism

CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) is a very broad term, but in the context of films it is an 60 year old technique used in a variety of contexts for a variety of reasons. It is not only excessive green screens and bad mocap.

CGI is actually a central part of why practical effects look so much better now than they did in the 60s - I can guarantee that you have not seen one practical effect without the addition of CGI in a film after the 90s and maybe even earlier (excepting micro budget films, and even then). Every squib of fake blood that pops on under the actor's costume is cleaned up in post. And to be clear - this is a good thing! It looks better when it's well done!

What you hate is the overreliance on underpaid, overworked contract workers who are ground into the dirt by big studios with crunch times and wildly unreasonable expectations, that results in catastrophic looking messes. Yes, I also subscribe to "a bad practical effect is better than a bad CGI effect because at least it's there", but there are hundreds of people being exploited for their labor who are honest to god artists and dismissing their entire field is missing the point. A backlash against CGI as a concept could lead to a devaluation of the artists' work - less support from the public isn't exactly what they need. That's exactly what happened after Cats, when two of the actors dared mock the effects on stage during the Academy Awards while the companies which had been crushed by the film were going bankrupt - through no fault of their own.

Pitting those two disciplines against each other isn't only useless it's also just plain wrong - they have been working hand in hand for over 60 years. Know how to recognize the qualities and flaws of both and defend workers in all fields.

[kob131]

Out of nowhere I bet but I wanna try listing off why AI Art isn't good-

The common argument against the accusation of AI Art is that human beings themselves take ideas from their surroundings and mix them together to make 'original' ideas (like a horse with a horn to make a unicorn). However, the difference between an AI and a human being comes not only from how the human brain is infinitely more powerful than any computer ever made by humanity (meaning it can consider ideas and alter them at a far greater rate than any algorithm) but also that the human brain is affected by things like 'preference' and 'bias' for certain ideas or expressions.

For example, a person who prefers anime style drawings will almost always interpret the idea of 'badass horse' will interpret that to mean 'badass horse in an anime style'. While this seems simplistic and easy to replicate with AI (keyword being replicate)- there are INNUMERABLE preferences and biases that come into play when making art. To the point that an ultra specific prompt could still result in innumerable different interpretations because of people's individual tastes. This can then satisfy numerous peoples' different desires or perhaps even create a new demand. AI can't really do this- It will give you exactly what you asked for. ... Exactly. No differing interpretations or unique ideas mixed in. You ask for 'horse with a water mane' and you get a horse with a water mane. That's it.

Another reason why AI Art isn't good is that AI art...is just a dead end. The way it works is that the algorithm is taught to look at certain images in association with certain keywords and then, based off the data given, it will spit out an image to match. ... Notice how, in this process- the AI is reliant on outside information to make the image. As in, the AI NEEDS to be able to look at certain artstyles in order to properly fulfill its request. Unlike a human artist, who can use the data gained from other experiences (like touch, taste and hearing) along with how those would be associated with certain imagery to create new styles or interpretations. Humans can independently create ideas, AI can only regurgitate.

There's also how the human brain has this...uncanny ability to detect when something looks wrong or doesn't look real. You see this most often in movies or shows with heavy use of CGI- the images might be more technically impressive but without the grounding in real life that practical effects have they can easily look off because computers...just can't generate anything on par with reality. Same with AI- it can generate images resembling real works of art. ... But there's always something in them, some variable the AI can never account for, that will tip off the human brain to the fact that a human didn't make this.

In short- AI cannot take creative liberties, is basically parasitic with human artists and is too simplistic to match a real artist.

That's why AI art is a bad idea from my point of view.

[pain-in-the-butler]

Season Four review

Last night I finally had time to finish the new anime, and here are my thoughts, because I had at least one or two of those while I watched. I saw the whole thing with my bud @warmmilk-n-honey, whose presence helped to make the whole thing bearable:

I've seen some other people mentioning the lack of animation and the fact that most of the angles were copied straight from the manga, and yeah it's very evident lol... At one point while I was watching there was a thunderstorm, and I just had to marvel at the fact that there was far more movement outside my window than there was on the computer screen -

The episodes felt like they went by really fast and yet nothing really happened during them. It did make it clear that this is probably not an easy arc to adapt to an eleven-episode run, but then it just makes you question the small amount of cut content. Easter episode? When did they decide to get rid of you? Why? It's the Nina curse I swear to god -

Even when action was happening, sometimes it was painfully obvious they were padding for time. I nearly lost my mind during the Midnight Tea Party when Undertaker just ate an entire cupcake in between dialogue. Like, sir, please. You are on television -

The CGI moments were sometimes pretty state-of-the-art but other times really badly executed. Though warmmilk-n-honey did note that the terrible-looking horses are tradition, so thank god for them -

I felt the lack of budget most during the scene where Ciel has to run up to Sebastian and pretend to be excited that Seb elected him to be on the cricket team. He says something like "oh damn people are around, guess I'll have to milk the performance" but there's like two boys in the background and they're not even looking his way?? Guys... -

Some of the background music was fun and I will likely listen to it again on my own time. The opening really won me over too. While I still don't know what was up with the titan, at least the imagery was interesting, and we only ended up skipping it when we were in a hurry because it was fun to watch -

The voice actors did a good job, as far as I could tell. Funimation has definitely made some odd casting choices in terms of accents, but I really felt like the new members of the Japanese cast were giving it their all especially, and it was admittedly pretty fun to have so many familiar voices back in the roles in both languages -

I've always found this arc, especially the second half, to be a weak one, and overall I just thought the execution here worsened it. Goofy faces were made less goofy, flavor text was cut, and Funimation was actually out here changing some lines of dialogue for who knows what reason? Weird vibes -

The last episode was the most fun one by far. Cloverworks finally figured out how to do silly chibis, and they increased the Phantomfam antics in order to pad for time again, but in this instance it actually worked. The teaser at the end was slow-paced too but it was also for a legitimately good reason, so yay. The ambiance in the forest was spooky and quiet. It made me actually excited to see what comes next despite how rough this season was

I can't really say I was too disappointed though because I definitely expected not to be satisfied, you know me, I'm a stinker. I'm still glad the anime exists: the fandom was really out here starving and finally we've been given some juice. But overall I'm gonna give it a 4/10, which I think is actually very generous of me because I don't have a lot of nice things to say. Oh well. Green Witch, here we come

[leahmcewen]

Computer Generated Imagery - Week 1

For the start of this new term, the brief is to create an interactive graphic novel. We were introduced to a new online software that we will be using to compile this project, called EKO, and were also given a list of topics to take inspiration from, such as gender, media, and relationships.

I first started a mindmap looking at a few of the topics in the list that I was interested in. As I initially didn't really know what an interactive graphic novel was, I didn't have any initial inspiration going into the class, so I definitely found it challenging. I think I over complicated it, as I wanted to make a project that was more lighthearted, and I also think I was overwhelmed by the choice of how many interactive elements I could include, especially when trying to consider my own workload, and how much I could achieve in the time given.

Considering I'm still struggling with any main idea so far, I want to work more on getting inspiration this week, then work on it more in class when we are introduced to using EKO which we will be doing next week.

[dani-luminae]

Recently saw a post about CGI (computer-generated imagery) that bugged me so I'm going on a minor rant.

"CGI is shouldn't exist!!! It was the gateway drug to AI!"

CGI is human-driven. Every single CGI you've ever seen was worked on!!! By a human!!!! It's not that different from animation! It has fucking nothing to do with AI except AI goes "oh look an art-style to copy!" which it would do with literally any art that exists. AI would have happened with or without the advent of CGI.

"CGI steals jobs from costume designers, set designers, prop-masters, etc."

Sometimes, it does. But I can assure you that most if not all CGI artists have at least once look at the sh*t they're being instructed to do and go "why couldn't this be done with costume/set/props and not underpaid hours of labor?" It's not CGI itself, it's how capitalism uses it.

"CGI artists are not unionized!"

Yes, most of them aren't. I'd think the solution to this is actually supporting them unionizing instead of arguing that their creative efforts shouldn't exist ever. Everyone, regardless of what they create or whether or not it appeals to you, deserves dignity.

"There's nothing that CGI can do that couldn't be made with physical effects!"

Yes and no. Yes, too many physical/practical effects these days are replaced by CGI (see the above: because propmasters, stunt coordinators, etc. are unionized and CGI artists are not) but. There's also a lot of stuff that no amount of practical effects alone could make look as good without a little CGI polish. (Note that I said polish! As in addition to the practical effects! See:)

The late 2000s/early 2010s were a fantastic blend of CGI with practical effects. We have the first James Cameron Avatar movie, we had a Tron movie, we had Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Dead Man's Chest featuring the incredible Davy Jones. These were all done with sets, costumes, *and* CGI on top it.

You shouldn't hate CGI. What you should hate is how the ununionized artists are taken advantage of: plain green screen soundstages with absolutely no physical props, motion-capture suits replacing actual costumes, motion capture dots replacing actual makeup, and everything else.

You can hate the abuse of it. But CGI itself is not the enemy and acting like it is, instead of criticizing the over-use of it as a system, makes it way too easy for corporations to brush of your concerns as "oh lol they just hate the CGI, no use trying to placate them."

[carlocarrasco]

Carlo Carrasco’s Movie Review: Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from watching the movie and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal…

[wings-n-bees]

An Artist's Take on The Night Comes Down

This might piss some people off, but I don't care, because you need to hear it. Most of this is taken from an earlier conversation I had about the use of AI in art.

I have a lot of thoughts about using AI. To me, it's like a crutch when you're an artist. Should AI have been used in the music video? Probably not, but with how shitty some of you were behaving about the art style used for the Face It Alone video (I seem to recall the words 'lazy' and 'cheap' being used), I do not blame the creative department for using AI. People's expectations are far too high when it comes to art - from both a professional standpoint and a hobbyist standpoint.

Artists are already underpaid and undervalued - I cannot blame an artist for using a tool that's available to them when their pay is probably pennies to the dollar for what their normal art is worth.

Expecting an artist to make a grandiose piece and then paying them for the most basic work they've made is not a mindset any of us should have. You can't have it both ways.

AI, when used appropriately and when it's credited as such, has great value to the artistic world.

Now comes the part that is going to be a hard pill for some of you to swallow: AI has been around for decades. You might not know of it as such, but guess what? It has. You might know it better as "Computer Generated Imagery" - CGI for short. All AI is CGI. This is a concept that has been around since AT LEAST the 1970s - if not earlier, and has been used in almost every blockbuster film to date, including (but not limited to) films like Lord Of The Rings, Captain America, and The Dark Knight Series.

The issue around AI arises when people are not forthright about their use of it - something that was immediately disclosed in the description of the video. My feelings about this would be different had it not been disclosed.

Do I want my art used to train AI models? Not particularly, but you can't have your cake and eat it, too. The most basic Photoshop Filters and Elements, all the way back to the first editions of Photoshop, are all technically AI... because they are computer generated. I use those filters and elements in my own art and graphics all the time.