# Practical effect

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{{Short description|Real-world (non-visual) special effect for cinema}}
{{redirect|Physical effects||Physical effect (disambiguation){{!}}Physical effect}}

[[Image:Black Dahlia Film Shoot 3.jpg|thumb|right|A [location](/source/Filming_location) shot for ''[The Black Dahlia](/source/The_Black_Dahlia_(film))'' with a rainmaking rig, a sprinkler system used to create the appearance of rain—a common practical effect]]
[[File:Exploded_bullet_hit_squibs_on_an_actor_wearing_scrubs_(cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|An actor behind-the-scenes with pre-scored "bullet holes" on his [costume](/source/dead-character_costume) and [squibs](/source/bullet_hit_squib) blowing open [fake blood](/source/fake_blood) packets for a [gunshot wound](/source/gunshot_wound) stunt.]]
{{One source|date=August 2025}}
In [filmmaking](/source/filmmaking), a '''practical effect''' is a [special effect](/source/special_effect) produced physically, without [computer-generated imagery](/source/computer-generated_imagery) or other post-production techniques. In some contexts, "special effect" is used as a [synonym](/source/synonym) of "practical effect", in contrast to "[visual effects](/source/visual_effects)" which are created in [post-production](/source/post-production) through photographic manipulation or computer generation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Are 'Practical Effects'? |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/what-are-practical-effects |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref>

Practical effects often use principles from [magic tricks](/source/magic_(illusion)), exploiting the camera's single viewpoint to create convincing illusions that may work only from certain angles, or using specially created [prop](/source/prop)s designed to achieve the desired effect. These effects require an interdisciplinary skill set, combining artistic craftsmanship with technical expertise in mechanics and engineering to achieve the desired result.

Many of the staples of action movies are practical effects. Gunfire, [bullet wounds](/source/bullet_hit_squib), rain, wind, fire, and explosions can all be produced on a movie set by someone skilled in practical effects. Non-human characters and creatures produced with make-up, prosthetics, masks, and {{nowrap|puppets{{mdash}}}}in contrast to computer-generated {{nowrap|images{{mdash}}}}are also examples of practical effects.

==Practical effect techniques==
* The use of [prosthetic makeup](/source/prosthetic_makeup), [animatronics](/source/animatronics), [puppetry](/source/puppetry), or [creature suits](/source/Creature_suit) to create the appearance of living creatures.
* [Miniature effect](/source/Miniature_effect)s, which is the use of [scale models](/source/scale_models) which are photographed in a way that they appear full sized.
* Mechanical effects, such as [aerial rigging](/source/aerial_rigging) to simulate flight, stage mounted [gimbals](/source/gimbals) to make the ground move, or other mechanical devices to physically manipulate the environment.
* [Pyrotechnics](/source/Pyrotechnics) for the appearance of fire and explosions.
* Weather effects such as [sprinkler system](/source/Irrigation_sprinkler)s to create rain, [fog machine](/source/fog_machine)s to create smoke, and [fake snow](/source/fake_snow).
* [Body mutilation effects](/source/Bodily_mutilation_in_film) such as [bullet hit squibs](/source/bullet_hit_squibs) and [fake blood](/source/fake_blood) to create the illusion of gunshot wounds.

==See also==
*[Special effects](/source/Special_effect)
*[Computer-generated imagery](/source/Computer-generated_imagery)
*[Visual effects](/source/Visual_effects)
*[Optics: Visual effects](/source/Optics)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Practical Effect}}
Category:Special effects

{{Special Effects}}
{{Filmmaking-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Practical effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practical_effect) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practical_effect?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.