People working in visual effects concentrate on creating frames
Visual effects refers to the artificial generation and manipulation of visual components in film and video. These manipulations of frames, nowadays often done in conjunction with compositing, range from unspectacular touch-ups to the addition and subtraction of entire components within a scene.
The production of artificial matte paintings also has an important role here.
The effects this process produces can be generated by hand as well as through the use of digital 2-D and 3-D imagery.
People working in visual effects concentrate on creating frames that are difficult to realize using live action means, either because of budgetary reasons or simply because of the laws of physics (impossibly large buildings, alien landscapes, crowd scenes, simulated physical effects). The history of visual effects is as old as the history of film itself.
As early as 1902, the Lumire brothers used techniques to simulate nonexistent objects in their film Le voyage dans la lune. Early techniques included multiple exposures, rear projections, and the integration of analog animation elements. Nowadays, thanks to the development of powerful computer and robotic technologies, almost every concept is realizable through visual effects; the realistic simulation of humans represents one of the last visual effects hurdles.
The distinctions between the terms “visual effects” and “special effects” (SFX or FX) have largely disappeared.