Introduction to Special Effects Blue Screen Traveling Matte

Introduction to Special Effects Blue Screen (Traveling Matte)

Static Mattes w Double-exposure matte

Double-Exposure Matte Step 1 w The original scene - actors on a plain on a nice day. Not very spooky.

Double-Exposure Matte Step 2 w The sky is matted out with black paper placed over the sky on the camera's lens.

Double-Exposure Matte Step 3 w The film is rewound a dark, cloudy sky is filmed with a matte placed over the previously exposed portion of the film.

Double-Exposure Matte w Step 4 w 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 n optical compositing

Traveling Matte w 1. 2. 3. Film a “cliff hanger” The actor/actress can do it Stunt person Blue screen special effects

Traveling Matte Step 1 w Background plate: film the river gorge on location

Traveling Matte Step 2 w 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 w Combine the background and the actor’s silhouette.

Traveling Matte Step 5 w Rewind the film and re-expose it to lay the actress into the "hole" that the matte created w This is what the matted actor looks like

Traveling Matte w Step 6 w And the final shot looks like this

Traveling Matte In order for it to work: w Actor’s (subject’s) diffusion must match background w No reflection from blue screen w Can’t wear blue Ease of computers/digital