In the days preceding the age of CGI special effects, filmmakers had to rely on crafty set pieces, matte shots, and often miniatures if they wanted to create some on-screen dazzle. With the introduction of computer animation combined with today’s powerful rendering engines, there aren’t many effects that can’t be done anymore.
However, as capable as CGI effects are, the industry has reached the point where computer-generated effects aren’t always the most cost-effective. Miniatures are still used today (for example, the Razercrest ship in The Mandalorian) in place of, or combined with, CGI.
