Petro Vlahos
Encyclopedia
Petro Vlahos is a Hollywood special effects pioneer who developed the color-difference bluescreen process for the Motion Picture Research Council and, with his son Paul Vlahos, founded the Ultimatte Corporation in Chatsworth
, California
, in 1976.
His goal was to invent a better traveling matte system for motion pictures and he won an Oscar
in 1964 for Blue Screen Compositing Technology. The first Ultimatte units were analog "black boxes" which evolved into the advanced, real-time digital hardware and the computer software
products produced by the company today. In 1978, Petro won an Emmy award
for Ultimatte Compositing Technology, followed by the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
in 1994. In 1995, Ultimatte’s first software product was also awarded an Oscar.
Petro’s original concepts and innovations have been enhanced and expanded over the years and today Ultimatte users are able to create composites which feature fine details such as hair, smoke, mist, motion blur and shadows. This realism allows for the creation of scenes that would otherwise be too dangerous, impossible and impractical.
Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California
Chatsworth is a district of Los Angeles, California, United States; in the northwestern San Fernando Valley. The district is bordered by the Santa Susana Mountains and unincorporated Los Angeles County lands to the north, Porter Ranch to the northeast, Northridge to the east, West Hills, Canoga...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, in 1976.
His goal was to invent a better traveling matte system for motion pictures and he won an Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
in 1964 for Blue Screen Compositing Technology. The first Ultimatte units were analog "black boxes" which evolved into the advanced, real-time digital hardware and the computer software
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
products produced by the company today. In 1978, Petro won an Emmy award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for Ultimatte Compositing Technology, followed by the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
in 1994. In 1995, Ultimatte’s first software product was also awarded an Oscar.
Petro’s original concepts and innovations have been enhanced and expanded over the years and today Ultimatte users are able to create composites which feature fine details such as hair, smoke, mist, motion blur and shadows. This realism allows for the creation of scenes that would otherwise be too dangerous, impossible and impractical.