Introduction to Special Effects

Blue Screen (Traveling Matte)

Static Mattes

Mattes Double-exposure matte

Double-Exposure Matte

Step 1 The original

scene - actors on a plain on a nice day.Not very spooky.

Double-Exposure Matte

Step 2 The sky is matted

out with black paper placed over the sky on the camera's lens.

Double-Exposure Matte

Step 3 The film is rewound

and a dark, cloudy sky is filmedwith a matte placed over the previously exposed portion of the film.

Double-Exposure Matte

Step 4 When the film is

developed, the two shots appear as one.Very spooky!

Variations on the Double-Exposure Matte

1. Computer generated

2. Separate shots optical compositing

Traveling Matte

Film a “cliff hanger”

1. The actor/actress can do it

2. Stunt person

3. Blue screen special effects

Traveling Matte

Step 1 Background plate:

film the river gorge on location

Traveling Matte

Step 2 Film of the actor

dangling from a rope in the studio, shot in front of a blue screen

Traveling Matte

Step 3: Filter to create silhouettes

A matte of the actor’s silhouette.

The reverse matte of the actor’s silhouette.

Traveling Matte

Step 4 Combine the

background and the actor’s silhouette.

Traveling Matte

Step 5 Rewind the film and

re-expose it to lay the actress into the "hole" that the matte created

This is what the matted actor looks like

Traveling Matte

Step 6 And the final shot

looks like this

Traveling Matte

In order for it to work: Actor’s (subject’s) diffusion must match

background No reflection from blue screen Can’t wear blue

Ease of computers/digital