ABSTRACT
Movies are a flat, two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional world. That third dimension-depth-is lost the moment the image is captured. It is logical to assume that visual effects (VFX) work itself should be done in 2D. From the filmmaker's standpoint, optical or physical effects are the resulting by-products of the desired move. But from the VFX point of view it is exactly these factors that matter the most because they define the way the shot should be approached. As the train is traveling, nearby objects appear to move across the window faster than objects further away. The trees right next to the tracks whoosh by quickly while the mountains move slowly. This complex overlapping motion is known as parallax. In VFX terminology, a perspective shift means that the camera reveals different parts or areas of an object as the camera moves. The reality of VFX work is that many shots are done as a combination of 2D, 3D, and 2.5D.
