20 Ways to Totally Wreck Your VFX Project #2

Reference? Who Needs It? The Blissful Ignorance of Skipping Visual Research

When it comes to creating stunning VFX, reference materials are like cheat codes for reality. They show you how light interacts with water, how fire dances in the wind, or how a real tiger’s muscles move as it prowls. But who has time for that kind of homework? Isn’t the whole point of visual effects to create things that don’t exist? Why be shackled by the dull chains of reality when you can just wing it and make everything look “cool”?

Here’s the thing: skipping reference materials is the ultimate gamble. At first, it feels liberating. You’re free to design that explosion, spaceship, or monster exactly how you imagine it, no rules attached. But here’s the dirty little secret—your audience knows. They may not be able to articulate it, but when something doesn’t look quite right, they’ll feel it. Your fire might look like neon-orange pudding. Your monster might move like a rubber toy. And your audience? They’ll check out faster than a particle system crashing on a tight deadline.

Ignoring references is particularly tempting in the world of fantasy and sci-fi. After all, who’s going to tell you that your alien city’s architecture doesn’t look believable? But that’s where the wisdom of references truly shines. Even the most fantastical creations need to be grounded in something real. The most iconic spaceships, dragons, and otherworldly landscapes in film history are rooted in physics, biology, or art history. When you skip the research, you’re not being more creative—you’re just guessing. And guesswork rarely leads to greatness.

Take water, for example. It’s a simple enough thing, right? Just a wavy blue surface. But without proper references, you might miss the nuances of how light refracts through ripples or how foam gathers at the crest of a wave. Suddenly, your ocean simulation looks more like a plastic tarp flapping in the breeze. The same goes for fire, which has a wild, chaotic beauty that’s impossible to replicate from memory alone. Without studying how flames behave, you might end up with an inferno that looks more like a lava lamp on steroids.

But here’s the flip side: when you do use references, something magical happens. Your work gains a layer of authenticity that draws people in. They may not consciously notice the details, but their brains will whisper, “This feels right.” That’s because references aren’t just about copying reality—they’re about understanding it. Once you understand the rules, you can bend or break them in ways that feel deliberate and intentional, rather than sloppy or uninformed.

And let’s not forget the collaborative aspect. When you come to your team armed with references, you’re not just saying, “Make this look good.” You’re saying, “Here’s the vibe we’re aiming for, here’s the science behind it, and here’s how we can push it further.” It’s a shared language that keeps everyone on the same page, from the concept artist sketching initial designs to the compositor blending it all together in the final shot.

So, before you dismiss reference-gathering as a waste of time, consider this: every legendary VFX shot you’ve ever admired, from the T-Rex in Jurassic Park to the stormy seas of The Perfect Storm, began with someone studying the real world. Skipping this step might feel like a shortcut, but it’s really just a detour to Mediocreville. And trust me, that’s not a place you want your name associated with.

In the end, skipping references isn’t an act of rebellion; it’s an act of self-sabotage. Do yourself—and your project—a favor: dig into the archives, watch the footage, and take the time to understand what makes reality so convincing. Then, and only then, will your creations truly come to life. Because in VFX, the most fantastical illusions are built on the foundation of the real world.