Visual Effects Archives

Winsage

June 17, 2025

5 registry tweaks I made to instantly speed up my Windows PC

Disabling animations and visual effects can improve the responsiveness of Windows 11. To disable visual effects, navigate to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerVisualEffects, create a DWORD value named VisualFXSettings, and set its value to 2. To allocate fewer resources to background apps, go to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionMultimediaSystemProfile, double-click on SystemResponsiveness, and change the Base Decimal value from 20 to 10. To speed up shutdown, navigate to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControl, double-click on WaitToKillServiceTimeout, and set the value from 5,000 milliseconds to 2,000 milliseconds. To reduce startup delays, go to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer, create a new key named Serialize, then create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named StartupDelayInMSec and set its value to 0. To prioritize applications and enhance system responsiveness, navigate to HKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionMultimediaSystemProfile, double-click on SystemResponsiveness, and adjust it from 14 to 10.

AppWizard

June 16, 2025

Lilo & Stitch Box Office Surges Past Minecraft’s Global Earnings

Disney's live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch has surpassed 8 million in global earnings, with 6 million from domestic markets and 2 million internationally. The film's opening weekend generated 6 million, and 57.3% of its total revenue comes from international markets. It has a 76% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, the Minecraft movie leads the box office with 1 million in earnings, appealing to a wide fanbase, especially in Asia and Europe. The competition between the two films is notable, with Lilo & Stitch speculated to potentially reach the billion-dollar milestone. Both Disney and Warner Bros. are considering sequels for their respective films.

Winsage

June 6, 2025

7 accessibility features in Windows 11 that make life easier for everyone

Windows 11 includes a variety of accessibility features designed to enhance usability for all users. Key features include: 1. Customize Mouse Appearance: Users can change the mouse pointer's style, color, and size, and enable a mouse indicator for easier location on the screen. 2. Change Text Cursor Appearance: Users can customize the text cursor's color, thickness, and size to improve visibility. 3. Voice Control: Users can control their PC entirely through voice commands by enabling the Voice Access feature. 4. Voice Typing: Users can convert spoken words into text using the Voice Typing feature, which can be activated with a keyboard shortcut. 5. Always Show Scrollbars: Users can ensure that scrollbars are always visible in applications by enabling the corresponding setting. 6. Control Keyboard Sensitivity: The Filter Keys feature allows users to adjust keyboard sensitivity to manage repeated keystrokes. These features aim to improve navigation and overall user experience on Windows 11.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Digital Domain vs. the Nether Horde: Behind the VFX of Minecraft

VFX Supervisor Piotr Karwas and Animation Supervisor Liz Bernard discussed the visual effects of Minecraft: The Movie, which includes 187 shots completed in 25 weeks. Karwas, with experience from films like World War Z, served as Cinematic Director, merging CG storytelling with Minecraft's aesthetic. Bernard, with a background from The Lion King, was the Previs Supervisor, focusing on visual planning and comedic tone. Digital Domain assisted with the final battle sequence, and Karwas learned about Minecraft lore from his children. The team worked to balance humor and visuals, ensuring consistency across departments. They faced technical challenges in creating custom VFX shots and animating characters like Piglins and Iron Golems, navigating the constraints of their blocky designs. Karwas is also exploring generative AI to enhance creativity in visual effects workflows.

BetaBeacon

May 17, 2025

The 5 Best New Apps for Android and iPhone this Week

- EA SPORTS FC Tactical is a mobile game that offers a turn-based system for making strategic decisions during key moments of a football match. - The game combines realistic player models with stylized animations and a rock-paper-scissors-style attribute system to determine the outcome of encounters. - The game features a unique approach to traditional football elements and offers a cinematic experience with dynamic music and visual effects.

Winsage

May 16, 2025

I made the Windows 11 taskbar truly my own with these customizations

Windows 11 offers taskbar customization options that enhance user experience. TranslucentTB is a free tool that allows users to change the taskbar's color and transparency, adapting its appearance based on different scenarios. ExplorerPatcher enables users to restore the Windows 10 taskbar design, providing individual buttons for features and customizable flyouts. Windhawk is a modding tool that offers unique themes for the taskbar, transforming its appearance into styles reminiscent of other operating systems. Start11 allows users to pin folders to the taskbar for easier access. Windhawk also provides mods to enhance taskbar labels and customize the clock. ObjectDock offers a macOS-style dock as an alternative to the traditional taskbar, featuring animations and visual customization options.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

A Minecraft Movie releases on digital, sets 4K Ultra HD release date

A Minecraft Movie is now available for digital rental or purchase on platforms like Apple TV and Prime Video, with physical copies set to release on June 24th. Pre-orders for a limited edition 4K Ultra HD SteelBook, 4K Blu-ray, and standard Blu-ray formats are open. The film features an ensemble cast including Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, and Jennifer Coolidge. It has become the highest-grossing domestic film of 2025, earning over [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: For those who may have missed the theatrical excitement surrounding A Minecraft Movie, the film is now readily accessible for digital rental or purchase. Fans can find it on popular platforms such as Apple TV and Prime Video, while physical copies will be available starting June 24th. Pre-orders are currently open for a limited edition 4K Ultra HD SteelBook, alongside 4K Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray formats. Film Overview A Minecraft Movie, inspired by the immensely popular video game, takes viewers on a whimsical journey with a band of misfits as they navigate the enchanting yet perilous Overworld. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, featuring the talents of Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, and Jennifer Coolidge. In a review by Senior Entertainment Editor Liz Shannon Miller, the film's visual appeal was highlighted, noting that “the game’s established visual aesthetic translates nicely to the screen, with well-rendered visual effects bringing cubist sheep, warrior pigs, and other wild creations to life.” As of now, A Minecraft Movie has achieved remarkable success at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing domestic film of 2025 with over 0 million in earnings. This impressive figure has been bolstered by the film's lively screenings, characterized by enthusiastic audiences engaging in shouting, popcorn-throwing, and singing. Additionally, the film has made its mark on the music charts, with the catchy tune “Steve’s Lava Chicken” climbing to the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, this song has set a record for being the shortest track on the chart, clocking in at just 34 seconds." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million. The song “Steve’s Lava Chicken” from the film has reached the Billboard Hot 100, setting a record as the shortest track on the chart at 34 seconds.

Winsage

May 8, 2025

6 changes I make immediately to make the Windows 11 experience less irritating

Upon initiating a fresh installation of Windows 11, essential adjustments can enhance the user experience and productivity. Winhance is a utility that helps implement these changes. Key modifications include: - Notifications: Users can reduce the number of notifications by navigating to Settings -> System -> Notifications and toggling off notifications from specific apps. Scheduling notifications and using the Focus feature can also help minimize distractions. - Disable Microsoft ads: To eliminate subtle promotional content, users should uncheck options in Notifications settings and disable recommendations in Settings -> Personalization -> Start. - Move the Start button: Users can reposition the Start menu to the left corner by adjusting the “Taskbar alignment” in Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar -> Taskbar behaviors. - Adjust visual effects: To improve system responsiveness, users can disable animations and transparency effects by accessing sysdm.cpl and Settings -> Accessibility -> Visual effects. - Change the default browser: After installing a preferred browser, users can set it as the default in Settings -> Apps -> Default app, ensuring it is set for various file types. - Disable News widget: Users can turn off the news widget by going to Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar and toggling off the Widgets option. These adjustments can be completed in about 20 minutes and help create a more productive environment in Windows 11.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

How To Watch A Minecraft Movie At Home

"A Minecraft Movie" is directed by Hess and features Jack Black as Steve, who explains the game's mechanics in a relatable way. The film is characterized as a quirky indie comedy with eccentric characters, avoiding a serious tone. It has gained popularity through audience participation, particularly during the Chicken Jockey scene, although this has raised concerns about potential damage to theater screens. Warner Bros. will release the film digitally on May 13, 2025, and on physical media on June 24, 2025, including formats like 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD, along with three 15-minute documentaries. The film's viewing experience has been compared to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," with spontaneous audience interactions. The cast includes Sebastian Eugene Hansen, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Jennifer Coolidge.

AppWizard

May 5, 2025

See ‘The Minecraft Movie’ Best Characters Through The Eyes Of Wētā FX

A Minecraft Movie, directed by Jared Hess, has achieved significant box office success, earning millions worldwide after its fourth weekend and aiming to exceed 0 million. The film's success is attributed to the enduring popularity of the Minecraft video game, a well-developed script, and a talented cast and crew. Wētā FX provided major visual effects, completing 456 shots that blended Minecraft's block aesthetics with live-action footage. They developed a new technology called 'Blokz' to create Minecraft-style blockified shapes and crafted an expansive Overworld environment with 64 terrains. The character Malgosha, designed to reflect Rachel House's performance, was created through extensive collaboration and iterations, balancing creepiness and humor. The film's visual effects were integrated with live-action production to ensure a seamless experience.