Practical Effects vs CGI in Film Production
Practical Effects vs CGI in Film Production
The debate between practical effects and CGI continues to shape modern filmmaking.
While digital effects have transformed cinema, practical effects remain a powerful and often irreplaceable tool in film and television production.
At Oracle FX, we work at the intersection of craftsmanship and technology — understanding when physical builds elevate storytelling and when digital enhancement complements them.
What Are Practical Effects?
Practical effects are physical, tangible effects created in real space during production.
They include:
- Prosthetic makeup design
- Creature effects and full suits
- Animatronic systems
- Mechanical props
- Environmental effects
Unlike CGI, practical effects exist physically on set — interacting naturally with light, performers and camera movement.
What Is CGI?
Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) refers to digital effects created during post-production.
CGI allows filmmakers to:
- Create large-scale environments
- Enhance or extend practical builds
- Add complex visual effects
- Generate entirely digital characters
It offers flexibility, but often requires significant post-production time and budget.
When Practical Effects Excel
Practical effects often deliver superior results when:
Close-up realism is required
Actors must physically interact with characters
Lighting authenticity is critical
Emotional performance relies on tangible presence
Budgets favour on-set solutions over extended VFX pipelines
Physical prosthetics and creature builds provide an immediacy that digital doubles can struggle to replicate.
When CGI Is the Right Choice
CGI is often preferable when:
- Scenes require large-scale destruction or impossible environments
- Extensive duplication or crowd work is needed
- Safety concerns limit physical builds
- Post-production flexibility is essential
The strongest productions understand that the decision is not binary.
The Hybrid Approach: Practical + Digital
Modern filmmaking increasingly blends practical effects with digital enhancement. The result is often more convincing than purely digital or purely practical solutions.
Examples of hybrid workflows include:
Animatronic creatures enhanced with CGI facial refinement
Prosthetic makeup supported by digital touch-ups
Practical props digitally extended
Physical creature suits augmented for scale
Why Productions Still Choose Practical Effects
Despite technological advancement, practical effects continue to be selected by major productions because they:
- Enhance actor immersion
- Interact authentically with lighting
- Reduce over-reliance on post-production
- Deliver grounded realism
For many directors, practical effects remain essential to maintaining tactile cinematic quality.
At Oracle FX, our expertise lies in:
We collaborate with production teams to determine the most effective practical solutions for each project.
A Studio Built on Practical Craftsmanship
Discuss Your Production Approach
If you are developing a film or television project and weighing practical effects against digital solutions, our team would be pleased to discuss how physical craftsmanship can support your vision.