A Comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to the World of Visual Effects

As far as I have understood, great visual effects work in extremes. Either it will mesmerize the heck out of you, or you’ll barely notice it’s there. If it’s anywhere in the middle, it has probably missed its mark.

Visual effects artists might seem like an enjoyable job, but they are tasked with creating the most impractical scenarios that are unachievable in the real world. Hence, they require a fine balance of ample creativity and adequate technical skills that create the magic that we see on screen.

Enthusiasts willing to pursue a career in visual effects need to start from the basics, enroll in VFX courses, and work their way through the ranks. We are here to guide them briefly in their journey in the world of VFX.

What are the visual effects?

VFX, short for Visual Effects, entails the process of creating digital imagery for enhancing or manipulating real-life video footage filmed through a video camera.

It involves integrating video footage and generating images that create a realistic environment that would be impractical, dangerous, expensive, time-consuming, and sometimes impossible to capture in real life. 

Visual effects have their applications not only in blockbuster movies but also in TV commercials, architecture, advertising, broadcast series, and so on. VFX artists are basically software engineers with a heightened sense of creativity.

They are entrusted with creating next to impossible scenes on the screen that make our favorite movies all the more enthralling. VFX artists are often referred to as animators or multimedia artists, and their job description varies with respect to their position. Some of the common responsibilities they shoulder are as follows.

1. Using computer software and hand-drawn illustrations to create animations and graphic imagery.
2. Researching upcoming projects that would help create enhanced designs and realistic animations.
3. Developing storyboards mapping out the vital scenes in movies and animations.
4. Editing special effects and animations as per the director’s or client’s directive.
5. Working with a team of efficient animators and artists to create scenes as per their directive.

Why become a Visual Artist?

One of the primary reasons I would be eager to pursue a career in Visual effects is because it provides the perfect blend of story-telling, creativity, and modern computer technology to create out-of-the-world video imagery that provides scenes the surrealism it requires.

Well, that was just me. Some might say that it would give them a chance to hang around with movie stars and work with big production houses with heavy bank accounts. Some might feel attracted to all the travel that might entail once you start shooting big-budget productions, and others might want to start the VFX journey as it opens up many doors in the future across multiple industries. 

If you are really fascinated by movies and TV shows and have a knack for drawing illustrations and creative imagery, then becoming a VFX artist might not be such a bad idea. In fact, with the right amount of guidance, hard work, and expertise, it can become a life-changing idea.

Not only does it provide you the scope to do very exciting work with video footage and create scenes that would just be impossible to capture, but also it encompasses a large industry worth being a part of.

How to become a good VFX artist?

Now that we have got you interested in the world of visual effects let browse through the basics that you need to learn in order to become a VFX artist.

There is no strict path to success when it comes to learning visual effects, but we do have a few steps for you to follow and become acquainted with the world of VFX and possibly become a great artist. Let us start from the beginning.

1. Learn the necessary skills

Every job requires a skill set that we have to acquire in order to move ahead towards our goal. A VFX artist has no exceptions. Good artists must acquire a host of abilities in visual effects.

They need to blend their artistic prowess with their technical craftsmanship in order to bring basic images and footage to life. Few of those skills are mentioned below.

Technical skills

• Adobe Creative Suite
• UX wireframes
• JavaScript
• 3D Modeling
• UI design
• Prototyping

Transferable skills

• Attention to details
• Research and Development
• Collaborative skills
• Creative designing
• Problem-solving

These skills are just the basic ones that would help one to build upon the aesthetics of visual effects. The technical skills mentioned might sound too much to comprehend, but it can be easily acquired through enrolling in a VFX Course in a reputed VFX training institute.

One could also choose the virtual way and take part in the best VFX training through one of the many available VFX online courses. 

2. Get educated

Creating visual effects involves a lot of complex tasks where a lot of knowledge and technicalities come together in sync. It hence recommended that you go through proper education on this front if you plan to pursue a career in it.

A Bachelor’s Degree is the most basic criterion required to land the job of a VFX artist at any reputed company. Degrees in Computer graphics, Animation, or Fine Arts has become the norm to proceed in the path of visual effects as a professional.

Other than formal education, you can also choose to go through a few VFX courses online. A number of noteworthy VFX Online courses are available that will help you guide widen your views regarding certain nuances of the subject.

Modern technological developments have rendered many exciting developments in the field of visual effects. Newer tools, trends, and techniques are always cropping up, and hence VFX artists must find a way to stay in the thick of things.

Getting a Diploma or degree won’t imply that you have completed learning the craft. It is a continuous learning process that must be facilitated through pursuing VFX courses and working hands-on in multiple projects.  You can also opt to pursue VFX courses from reputed VFX Training Institutes and expand your horizon.

3. Pursuing a career

Once you have equipped yourself with adequate know-how on the topic of visual effects, you need to pick out a career that interests you most. One can get multiple options in this regard as the job description of a VFX artist encompasses multiple industries.

The key is to balance a career that fulfills your creative hunger as well as provides the financial security and stability that everyone seeks.

At the rate at which the Animation and visual effects sector is growing, we can expect that in the next five years employment will increase by around 10 percent. The current global economy offers a more than average salary to VFX artists.

If you land a typical VFX artist job in major production studios and large companies, your salary will obviously be on the upper side. Chances are you will also fulfill your creative aspects while doing your job as well.

In many cases, VFX artists fail to achieve their desired job satisfaction by working in large teams for major studios. They can hence take this opportunity to freelance as a visual effects designer. This will allow them to set their own schedule and manage their workload as per their will.

Conclusion

Visual effects artists enjoy having one of the most happening job descriptions there can be, turning or visual dreams into realities using their own creative thinking and software.

Those eager to pursue a career in VFX design must acquire the necessary skills through appropriate VFX courses from VFX training Institutes or VFX Online courses and apply for jobs that suit their requirements best.