cosfx

Cosfx, short for cosmetic effects, is a term used in film, television, and game production to describe digital adjustments that alter an on-screen subject's appearance without changing their geometry or performance. It covers a spectrum of techniques aimed at refining complexion and makeup, balancing color, and improving overall legibility of the shot under varying conditions. The term is informal, and its exact meaning can vary between studios, departments, and projects.

Typical tasks include blemish and wrinkle reduction, pore smoothing, eye bag minimization, lipstick and eyeshadow balancing, eyelash enhancement, teeth whitening, and hair tidiness such as stray strand removal or flyaway fixes. It can also involve digital makeup application to simulate real-world cosmetics and to compensate for lighting or camera limitations. In some projects cosfx may extend to subtle body makeup, tattoo concealment, or scar concealment. The goal is to achieve a look that reads well on camera while preserving realism and performance, often with a light hand so facial expressions remain intact.

Workflow and tools: cosfx work is usually performed within compositing and color-grading software, often as a separate layer or pass that can be adjusted non-destructively and integrated with other visual effects as needed. It frequently relies on reference photography, color management, and shot-by-shot creative direction. Teams may maintain libraries of presets to support consistent looks across shots, while preserving individualized refinement for each actor and frame.

Quality and ethics: because cosfx can alter an actor's appearance, reviews with supervising editors and the production's creative leads are common; some productions establish guidelines to avoid over-editing and to preserve performance authenticity. See also digital makeup, retouching, and color grading.