Terminology

Refers to a digital setup or control system used to animate characters, objects, or elements. A rig typically includes a hierarchy of bones, joints, and control handles that allow animators to pose and manipulate the rig.

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The process of creating a skeleton or structure for character models, allowing for animation and deformation. Rigging involves defining joints, control systems, and weight assignments to enable realistic movement and posing.

A simulated object that behaves like a solid and maintains its shape, size, and physical properties during interactions and collisions. Rigid bodies are often used for objects with fixed or unchanging deformations.

A technique in  animation where an object or character’s movement is driven by its root or base position, allowing for more natural and dynamic animations and interactions with the environment.

The act of rotating an object or element around a specific axis or point, altering its orientation in 2D or 3D space. Rotation is commonly used for animations, camera movements, or transforming objects.

A property in VFX materials that determines how light scatters or reflects off a surface. Roughness affects the perceived smoothness or roughness of objects and is often used in physically based rendering (PBR) workflows.

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A function or operation that limits or clamps a value within a specific range, often used to prevent color values from exceeding the maximum or minimum limits

A visual property that refers to the intensity or purity of a color. Adjusting saturation can result in more vibrant or muted color appearances.

Refers to the size or proportion of objects, environments, or effects. Scale is an important consideration in creating believable scenes and ensuring proper visual relationships between different elements.

Refers to calculations and effects performed within the visible area of the screen. Screen space techniques are often used for effects like depth of field, motion blur, ambient occlusion, and reflections.

A set of instructions or code written in a programming language to define specific behaviors or actions. Scripts can control various aspects of a game or VFX application, such as character behavior, event triggers, or gameplay mechanics.

A random value or input used to initialize or control procedural generation algorithms or simulations. Seeds are used to ensure consistent and replicable results.

A style that blends realistic and stylized elements in-game art.

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A program or script used to define the appearance and behavior of materials, surfaces, or objects. Shaders control various visual properties such as color, texture mapping, lighting, transparency, and special effects.

Tools that allow developers to create and modify shaders or materials graphically.

The process of defining the appearance of surfaces. Shading involves assigning properties such as color, texture, reflectivity, transparency, and illumination to surfaces or objects to create realistic or stylized visual effects.

A particle system in Unity used for creating various visual effects.

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The process of replicating real-world phenomena or behaviors in a virtual environment in VFX. Simulations can include physics simulations (such as rigid bodies, pyro, cloth, or fluid dynamics), particle systems, weather effects, and more.

An abbreviation for the sine function, a mathematical operation commonly to generate smooth oscillating or wave-like motions or effects.

A lighting setup that uses six different light sources to achieve realistic and detailed lighting in a scene.

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A technique where animations are driven by manipulating a character or object’s underlying skeletal structure. Skeletal animations use a hierarchy of interconnected bones or joints to control the movement and deformation of characters.

A technique where a textured cube or sphere is used to create the appearance of a background or sky in a 3D scene. Skyboxes are commonly used to provide a sense of depth and environmental context.

The process of creating or selecting audio elements, such as music, sound effects, or voiceovers, to enhance the immersive experience of a game. Sound design contributes to the overall atmosphere, mood, and storytelling.

A term that refers to the highlight or reflection of light on a surface. Specular highlights are often used to simulate shiny or reflective materials and can vary in intensity, color, and shape.

A technique for creating dynamic and flexible geometry by defining a path for a mesh to follow.

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In visual effects (VFX), splines are used to define the motion or shape of objects or particle systems. They provide a flexible way to create smooth and natural movements or curves in animations. VFX artists use splines to define paths for particle systems, create dynamic camera movements, or shape visual effects like trails or smoke. Splines help achieve realistic and visually appealing motion and allow for precise control over the animation

In game engines, splines are used to define paths or trajectories for objects or entities in a game. They are commonly employed to create character animations, camera movements, or vehicle paths. Game developers use splines to define curves or paths that guide the movement of characters or objects, providing smooth and controlled animations. Splines help create dynamic and engaging gameplay experiences by allowing objects to follow predefined paths or curves.

A 2D image or texture used to represent objects, characters, or effects. Sprites are often used in 2D games or as elements in particle systems to create visual effects like explosions, sparks, or fire.

A single image or texture that contains multiple frames or variations of a sprite or animation sequence. Sprite sheets are used in VFX to efficiently store and animate 2D elements, such as character animations or particle effects.

3D models that do not have any animations and remain fixed in place.

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Refers to a visual art style or approach that emphasizes a particular artistic or aesthetic direction, often deviating from strict realism. Stylized can include exaggerated proportions, bold colors, unique textures, or unconventional designs.

A software tool used for creating procedural textures and materials.

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A rendering technique that simulates the behavior of light as it passes through translucent materials, such as skin, leaves, or wax. Subsurface scattering creates a more realistic appearance by accounting for light scattering beneath the surface

A file format commonly used for storing images, textures, and other graphic assets in game development. TGA files support various color depths and alpha channels.

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A vector that defines the orientation or direction of a surface or mesh. Tangents are used in shading calculations, normal mapping, and other operations that require surface orientation information.

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The specific hardware or platform for which a game or project is developed and optimized. Target platforms can include consoles, PCs, mobile devices, or virtual reality platforms.

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A role in game development that combines artistic and technical skills to create and implement visual assets, shaders, tools, and pipelines for games.

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The natural landscape or ground surface. Terrains can be created using heightmaps, procedural algorithms, or by sculpting and painting terrain features to simulate various environments.

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A rendering technique that increases the geometric detail of a mesh by subdividing its surfaces into smaller triangles or polygons. Tessellation is used to enhance the visual quality of objects and surfaces with more detailed geometry.

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A controlled and isolated environment in VFX where developers can evaluate and iterate on specific features, effects, or mechanics before integrating them into the final game or project.

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Short for “texture element.” It refers to the smallest unit or pixel in a texture. Texels contain color information that is used to map onto 3D objects, surfaces, or polygons.

A 2D image or data used to define the appearance of surfaces or objects. Textures can contain color information, patterns, details, or other visual properties that enhance the realism or style of a game.

A technique where multiple smaller textures are combined into a larger texture sheet to reduce draw calls and improve performance. Texture atlases are commonly used for optimizing the rendering of objects with multiple materials or textures.

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A grayscale image or texture used to define threshold values for various effects, such as alpha masking, blending, or transitions. Threshold maps determine which areas are affected by specific operations based on their grayscale values.

A small-sized image or preview used to represent a larger asset, such as textures, materials, or animations. Thumbnails provide a quick visual reference and aid in asset organization and selection.

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Tagged Image File Format. A file format commonly used for storing high-quality images and textures in game development. TIFF files support lossless compression and can contain multiple layers and color channels.

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The process of seamlessly repeating or tiling textures, patterns, or materials. Tiling allows for efficient use of texture resources and enables the creation of larger or more complex surfaces.

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Effects that change or evolve over time. These effects can include animations, particle systems, simulations, and dynamic behaviors that are influenced by the passage of time.

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The precise control and synchronization of visual effects, animations, and gameplay events. Timing is crucial for creating smooth and responsive experiences in games.

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The process of applying a color cast or modifying the color balance of an image or texture. Tinting is often used to create specific moods, atmosphere, or stylistic effects.

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A technique that adjusts the dynamic range of an image or scene to display it on devices with limited color or brightness capabilities. Tone mapping ensures that details are preserved and the overall appearance remains visually pleasing.

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Software applications, scripts, or utilities used by artists and developers to create, edit, and manipulate assets, effects, or game content. Tools facilitate the workflow and efficiency of production.

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The arrangement and connectivity of vertices, edges, and faces in a mesh. Topology affects the overall shape, structure, and deformation characteristics of 3D objects.

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The process of analyzing and matching the movement of objects or elements to real-world footage or reference data. Tracking is used to integrate CG elements seamlessly into live-action footage or to generate accurate camera or object motion.

The process of balancing different aspects or factors in VFX, such as visual quality, performance, memory usage, or development time. Trade-offs involve making decisions and compromises to achieve the desired outcome within project constraints.

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A visual effect that creates a trail or streak of particles or geometry following the movement of an object. Trails are often used to depict fast motion, projectiles, or lingering effects.

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The process of changing the position, orientation, scale, or other properties of objects. Transformations are used to animate objects, create motion, or manipulate the appearance of assets.

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The gradual change or blending between two different states, effects, or animations. Transitions are often used to create smooth and visually appealing changes between scenes, levels, or gameplay elements.

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The visual property  that allows objects or surfaces to be partially or fully see-through. Transparency is often used to create effects like glass, water, or fog.

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A grayscale texture or mask used to define the transparency or alpha values of a corresponding color texture or image. Transparency masks allow for precise control over which areas of an asset are transparent or opaque.

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An event or condition that initiates or activates a specific action or effect. Triggers can be used to control animations, particle emissions, sound effects, or other interactive elements in response to player input or game events.

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The graphical elements and controls displayed on the screen that allow players to interact with the game. UI can include menus, buttons, HUD (Heads-Up Display), and other visual elements.

The creation of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) elements in a game.

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The 2D coordinates assigned to each vertex of a 3D mesh that determine how textures are mapped onto the surface. UV coordinates provide the mapping information required to accurately apply textures and materials to objects.

The distortion or stretching of UV coordinates, typically caused by non-uniform scaling, deformation, or complex geometry. UV distortion can affect the appearance and mapping accuracy of textures on 3D objects.

The process of assigning 2D texture coordinates to the vertices of a 3D mesh in VFX. UV mapping enables the mapping of textures and materials onto the surface of 3D objects accurately.

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The process of creating a 2D representation of a 3D mesh by flattening its surfaces onto a 2D plane. UV unwrapping allows for precise texture mapping by providing a visual template for texturing artists

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Another popular game engine widely used in the industry for creating games and interactive experiences. Unity provides a comprehensive set of tools and features for VFX creation, including a visual scripting system, physics simulation, and asset management.

A shader or material that doesn’t consider lighting calculations and displays colors or textures without any influence from light sources. Unlit materials are often used for UI elements, special effects, or specific art styles.

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A popular game engine developed by Epic Games that provides a suite of tools and features for creating interactive experiences. Unreal Engine offers a visual scripting system, advanced rendering capabilities, and extensive content creation tools.

The process of refreshing or modifying the state of objects, variables, or parameters. Updates can include changes to particle positions, animation states, material properties, or any other dynamic aspect of the game world.

The process of increasing the resolution or quality of an image, texture, or frame. Upsampling is often used to enhance visual fidelity, reduce aliasing, or improve the level of detail in rendered images.

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The input, opinions, and observations provided by players or users of a game. User feedback is valuable for improving the gameplay experience, identifying issues, and refining elements based on player preferences.

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A technique that animates geometry by storing animation data in textures.

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A proprietary shading and scripting language used in Houdini, a popular 3D animation and VFX software. VEX allows for complex procedural effects, custom shader creation, and efficient computation in pipelines.

A visual effects graph in Unity used for creating complex and dynamic visual effects.

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A mathematical representation of a magnitude and direction. Vectors are commonly used to describe positions, movements, forces, velocities, and other physical quantities in games.

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A spatial grid or texture that stores vector values at each point in the grid. Vectorfields are used to influence particle motion, simulate fluid dynamics, or define directional forces and effects.

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The speed and direction of an object’s motion. Velocity is often used to calculate the movement of particles, simulate physical forces, determine collision responses, or create realistic motion blur effects.

A point in 3D space that defines the position of a corner or intersection of geometric shapes or polygons. Vertices collectively form the geometry of objects and are used for calculations like shading, deformation, and animation.

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A technique where the position, orientation, or other attributes of individual vertices are animated to create dynamic and deformable surfaces without relying on skeletal animation. Vertex animation can be used for cloth simulation, fluid effects, or organic deformations.

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Color information assigned to individual vertices of a 3D mesh. Vertex colors can be used for various purposes, such as shading, blending, or custom effects based on per-vertex attributes.

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A technique that modifies the position of vertices in a 3D model to create animated effects.

Interpolating values from fragment to vertex shader for significant performance boost.

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The process of assigning colors to vertices in a 3D model to control various visual aspects.

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A type of shader that operates on individual vertices of a 3D model, allowing for manipulation of their properties such as position, normal, or color. Vertex shaders are essential for transforming and animating geometry.

A small, representative section of a game that demonstrates its core mechanics and features.

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The graphical display area in a game engine or 3D software where artists and developers can view and manipulate the scene or assets. The viewport provides real-time feedback on the changes made to objects, materials, and VFX.

A visual effect applied to the edges or corners of the screen  that darkens or fades the image. Vignettes are commonly used to enhance focus, draw attention, or evoke a specific mood or style.

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A virtual representation of a camera in a game engine used to define the perspective and view of the player or the in-game cinematic sequences. Virtual cameras allow for controlling the framing, movement, and other parameters of the camera.

An immersive technology that creates a simulated environment or experience, typically through the use of head-mounted displays (HMDs) and interactive devices. VR allows players to perceive and interact with a virtual world.

The property of an object, particle, or effect being visible or invisible in the game world. Visibility can be controlled based on factors such as distance, occlusion, alpha values, or custom conditions.

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The creation and implementation of visual elements in games to enhance the player’s experience. VFX includes various effects such as explosions, fire, smoke, water, particle systems, lighting effects, and more.

A method of creating gameplay mechanics, logic, using a visual interface or node-based system instead of traditional programming. Visual scripting allows artists and designers to create interactive experiences without extensive coding knowledge.

A 3D region or space that represents a quantity or property, such as density, fog, or particle distribution. Volumetric effects are used to create atmospheric and immersive visuals, including volumetric lighting and clouds.

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A texture type that stores 3D volumetric data instead of traditional 2D images. Volume textures are used for representing complex effects such as clouds, smoke, fire, or procedural terrains.

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Referring to effects or techniques that represent or simulate a volume or three-dimensional space. Volumetric effects are commonly used for atmospheric rendering, clouds, fog, and other visually immersive elements.

A volumetric pixel or volumetric element. Voxels are used to represent three-dimensional data, such as volumetric textures or grids used for effects like voxel-based fluid simulation, terrain representation, or dynamic destruction.

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A natural or artificial cascade of water. Waterfall effects are used to simulate flowing water, splashes, and other water-related phenomena in games.