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 filmed with 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