Computer graphics is the creation of visual media using computers and software programs. It includes 2D and 3D images, animation, and interactive media like video games. Most finished artwork is created with a computer, and computer graphics are used for film and television special effects and video games.
Computer graphics refers to a fairly broad field of digital creation that is primarily concerned with the use of computers and software programs to create visual media. Sometimes referred to simply as CG, computer graphics can include two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) still images, animated works, interactive media such as video games, and anything else visually engaging and created through the use of computers. These types of graphics are often found in special effects for movies and television programs and for personal computers (PCs) and video games.
In one sense, nearly all images created and used in all forms of media are probably computer graphics. While hand-drawn artwork is still used for some purposes, most finished artwork created by graphic designers for use in websites, company logos, and advertisements is created with a computer. The advantages of digital media, such as ease of transport, printing and editing, have made other forms of visual creation less attractive to many professional artists. Even formats such as comics are often created by scanning hand-drawn images into a computer and using illustration programs to ink, color, and refine the finalized page.
A great deal of computer graphics work is done for film and television special effects. These types of graphics are often created in an attempt to create realistic or photo-realistic creations that blend seamlessly into a scene that has been filmed or recorded. This can include explosions, giant robots, alien creatures and all-digital action sequences where nothing was actually filmed and the entire scene created on a computer. Often created by teams of dozens, these computer graphics typically set the record for other companies and forms of visual media. While the use of computer graphics has been criticized by some critics, many filmmakers consider digital images to be just another creative tool at their disposal.
PC games and video games are almost entirely composed of computer graphics. With the introduction of compact disc (CD) formats for storing video games in the 1990s, some games used footage of live people mixed together with the digital images. However, these were unsuccessful, and the industry standard has traditionally been to use computer graphics to create characters, environments, and action. While the sophistication and complexity of the visuals created by the video game industry have progressed far since the first games, the principles and designs behind games have remained fairly consistent.
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