Introduction
Behind many of the most impactful scenes in film and television lies a process that the viewer barely perceives: visual effects or VFX (Visual Effects)From the creation of fantastic creatures to the reconstruction of cities, landscapes, and historical settings, this discipline allows images to be brought to the screen that would be impossible, dangerous, or too expensive to achieve through conventional filming.
But VFX isn't limited to big Hollywood blockbusters. In Spain there is a industry specializing in visual effects that participates in both national projects and international productions, combining creativity, technological innovation and highly qualified professionals.
How is a visual effects project developed? What professionals are involved and what technologies are used? To understand this, it's necessary to know the different aspects. production phases that transform an initial idea into an image integrated into the screen.
What are VFX and what are they used for?
VFX are digital techniques used to create, modify, or combine images within an audiovisual production. Its aim is to generate scenes that cannot be captured directly with a camera or to improve the images obtained during filming.
Although we usually associate visual effects with spectacular explosions, digital creatures or futuristic settings, many of their applications are practically invisible.
For example, VFX allow:
- Remove unwanted items of a recording (cables, microphones or reflections).
- Expand decorated spaces and reconstruct historical or impossible scenarios.
- Modify weather conditions and environmental aspects in post-production.
- Multiply digitally the number of people or crowds present at a scene.
They also play a fundamental role in advertising, content for streaming platforms, and audiovisual productions that require integrating computer-generated elements with real images.
It is important to distinguish the visual effects (VFX) of the physical special effects (SFX)While the former are created or modified digitally, the latter are created during filming using mechanical means, prosthetics, controlled explosions, or live atmospheric effects. Both disciplines often work together to achieve convincing results.
The main phases of a VFX project
Creating visual effects is a complex process that requires rigorous planning, coordination, and the involvement of specialized artistic and technical profiles.
Although each production has specific needs, the work is usually organized into three main stages: pre-production, filming and post-production.
1. Pre-production: planning the visual effects
Pre-production is the starting point for any VFX project. During this phase, the script's needs are analyzed, and it's determined exactly which scenes require digital intervention.
The production and visual effects supervision team works closely with the director to establish the most appropriate solutions from a narrative, technical, and budgetary point of view.
The main tasks include:
- Plan breakdown: Identify the sequences that need visual effects and classify their complexity.
- Conceptual design: Develop visual references, characters, creatures, and digital environments.
- Storyboard and preview (previz): Rehearse the sequences before filming to study framing, camera movements, and dynamic actions.
- Technical planning: Select software tools, human resources, production schedule, and on-set data capture needs.
This phase allows for anticipating potential difficulties and optimizing available resources. For example, if a film needs to depict a futuristic city, the artists can create an initial digital rendering of the environment before filming begins, knowing which elements need to be physically constructed and which will be generated digitally.
2. Filming: connecting real images with digital effects
Although much of the VFX work is done in post-production, The filming process is essential to guarantee a convincing final result..
During this stage, visual effects supervisors collaborate on set with the photography, art direction, and lighting departments to gather all the essential technical information.
One of the best-known techniques is the use of green or blue screens (chroma keying), which allow for the replacement of certain backgrounds. However, VFX goes far beyond that:
- Camera and lens data capture: focal length, aperture, distortion, and camera height.
- Illumination measurement (HDRI): Spherical photography to accurately replicate the set lighting in 3D digital models.
- Three-dimensional scanning and photogrammetry: precise digitization of sets, props and actors.
Likewise, the virtual production It is introducing new possibilities through interactive scenarios rendered in real time on large format LED screens, allowing the environments to be visualized during filming itself.
3. Post-production: creating and integrating visual effects
Post-production is the stage where the core of the digital work takes place. Artists transform the recorded material, model and animate the necessary elements, and combine the different visual layers until they reach the final image.
The work is structured through a pipeline de VFXAn optimized workflow that defines how plans are transferred, approved, and versioned between artistic departments (modeling, animation, FX simulation, lighting, rendering, and digital compositing), ensuring consistency and exhaustive control of each shot.
Animation, compositing, 3D and rendering: how visual effects are created
A VFX project involves several highly specialized disciplines that must operate with absolute coordination. Each one contributes an essential layer to the visual result.
3D modeling and scene creation
Three-dimensional modeling allows for the development of everything from everyday objects and vehicles to hyperrealistic creatures and vast digital environments. Once the geometry is built, artists apply textures, materials, and shading properties to determine how each surface interacts with the surrounding light.
Animation and digital simulation
Animation breathes life and movement into synthetic characters and elements, carefully considering biomechanics, weight, and dramatic expressiveness. Meanwhile, physics simulation specialists recreate highly dynamic phenomena (fire, smoke, fluids, explosions, geometric fragmentation, and the simulation of clothing and hair), essential for sequences that are risky or physically impossible to film.
Lighting and rendering
Once the models and simulations are prepared, the digital light sources are configured to replicate the original filming lighting with maximum fidelity. 3D rendering It calculates the physics of light (ray tracing), shadows and reflections, transforming three-dimensional models into high-resolution 2D images.
Given the colossal volume of processing required, studios resort to advanced computing infrastructures and distributed computing solutions such as local and cloud-based rendering farms.
Digital composition: integrating all elements
The composition This is the culminating stage where real images, 3D renders, matte backgrounds, and simulations converge into a unified image. Compositors adjust color grading, depth of field, film grain, chromatic aberration, and light interaction.
The ultimate goal is invisibility: The best visual effects are those that the viewer never perceives as such..
VFX studios in Spain and their role in international productions
The visual effects industry in Spain has reached a top-level international recognition, thanks to an ecosystem of studios with outstanding technical and artistic capabilities.
One of the greatest exponents is The Little Ranch, an internationally acclaimed Spanish studio known for its work on blockbusters such as Game of Thrones (including the famous Emmy Award for the battle of 'Beyond the Wall'), The Mandalorian, Stranger Things and feature films like The Snow Society.
Another undisputed benchmark is Twin Pines, specializing in high-precision visual effects for prestigious films and series, with contributions to titles such as The Snow Society, Nowhere or the international series See.
Specifically, The Snow SocietyDirected by JA Bayona, it is a paradigmatic example of how VFX act as invisible narrative tool: recreating the Andes mountain range, simulating extreme weather conditions and merging real locations in Sierra Nevada with faithful digital backgrounds without breaking the dramatic excitement.
The growth of the VFX sector in Spain is closely linked to the rise of the animation production in Spainsharing technologies, high-performance professional talent and global export projection.
New technologies that are transforming VFX
Constant technological evolution is the driving force behind the frontier of visual effects, allowing us to tackle increasingly daring narrative challenges within more competitive timeframes.
Artificial intelligence applied to visual effects
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are rapidly being integrated into intensive tasks such as intelligent rotoscoping, inpainting (removal of unwanted objects), motion tracking, and grain reduction. These tools accelerate mechanical work, allowing artists to focus their time on creative oversight and fine detail.
Furthermore, its adoption requires clear ethical frameworks regarding intellectual property and copyright, as we analyzed in our Article on artificial intelligence in the audiovisual industry.
Virtual production and real-time technologies
Real-time graphics engines (Unreal Engine) combined with synchronized cameras and large-scale LED screens (virtual production volumes) are redefining traditional filmmaking. They allow for the simultaneous capture of reflections and interactive natural lighting on actors and physical sets.
Cloud rendering: greater flexibility and power
Rendering is one of the most computationally and energy-intensive phases. Cloud-based rendering farms allow for scaling computing capacity according to the delivery needs of each project, without requiring studios to make disproportionate investments in permanent hardware.
In this sense, DIBOOS has consolidated a strategic alliance with Fox RenderfarmA global leader in cloud rendering services, offering preferential terms, specialized technical support, and operational advantages to its partner companies. See all the details in the News of the agreement between DIBOOS and Fox Renderfarm.
The future of visual effects in Spain
The future of the Spanish visual effects industry rests on solid foundations: a network of established companies, international critical acclaim, and an excellent training program.
However, maintaining this competitive position requires responding to crucial challenges:
- Attracting and retaining talent: Strengthen continuing education and the conditions of the sector in the face of strong international demand.
- Investment in R&D and technological infrastructure: adopt real-time workflows, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.
- International partnerships and co-production: to consolidate Spanish participation in pan-European and global projects.
In this scenario, DIBOOS (Spanish Federation of Associations of Animation and Visual Effects Producers) It plays a key role as a sectoral interlocutor, promoting regulatory improvements, tax incentives and international visibility for the VFX sector.
Frequently Asked Questions about VFX
How long does it take to create the visual effects for a movie?
It depends directly on the total number of shots, their technical complexity, and the allocated budget. Simple background clean-up or zoom shots can be completed in days, while complex sequences with digital creatures or massive destruction can require months of coordinated work among dozens of artists. Furthermore, the VFX team's involvement typically begins months before filming itself.
What is the difference between VFX and 3D animation?
The VFX (Visual Effects) They encompass all digital techniques designed to create, retouch, or assemble images within a live-action or hybrid audiovisual production. 3D animation It is a specific specialty focused on giving movement to three-dimensional models (characters, creatures, vehicles), which often constitutes one of the essential components within the VFX pipeline.
Is it necessary to use a green screen to create VFX?
No. Although chroma keying is a widespread resource for background replacement, a vast number of visual effects are executed directly on real location footage using techniques such as digital rotoscoping, matte painting, matchmoving (3D camera tracking), element removal, and advanced compositing.
What professionals work on a visual effects project?
A VFX pipeline brings together very diverse profiles: VFX supervisors and producers, concept art directors, 3D modelers and texture artists, riggers, animators, physical simulation (FX) artists, lighting specialists, rotoscoping and tracking artists, digital compositors (compositors), pipeline technical directors (TDs), and systems engineers.
DIBOOS: boosting the Spanish visual effects industry
VFX represent much more than a technical tool for transforming images: they are a discipline where artistic creation, technological research and cultural industry converge with a decided global projection.
Spain has top-tier talent and established companies that have amply demonstrated their ability to compete in the world's largest productions. From RETURN We work daily to consolidate the animation and visual effects ecosystem in our country, fostering industrial cooperation, technological competitiveness and access to new international markets.
Does your company develop animation, visual effects, or digital production? Discover the advantages of being part of DIBOOS and actively contribute to the growth of an innovative, competitive and globally connected audiovisual industry.