Visual effects is the term used to describe any imagery created,
altered, or enhanced for a film or other moving media that can-
not be accomplished during live-action shooting. In other words,
much of the art of visual effects takes place in post-production,
after primary image capture is complete. Visual effects can be
added to live-action capture through techniques such as matte
painting; rear- and front-screen projection; miniature or forced
perspective sets; computer graphic objects, characters, and envi-
ronments; and compositing of disparate images recorded in any
number of ways. The recent explosion in digital tools that make
flawless compositing, digital sets, and fully computer-generated
characters possible and accessible to moving image makers at
all levels has made visual effects a standard part of every moving
image maker’s tool kit.