Reverse bluescreen
Encyclopedia
Reverse bluescreen is a special effect
s technique pioneered by John Dykstra
for shooting the flying sequences in the film Firefox.
The model is painted with a phosphorus paint and photographed with strong lighting against a black background, then rephotographed with ultraviolet
light. This turns the model from a light radiator to a light emitter. When photographed on special film, this creates the necessary male and female matte
s.
The technique is useful for shooting dark, gleaming objects like fighter jets against a bright or white background like a blue sky or snow. It also picks up thin protrusions like tailfins and antenna that would normally disappear in traditional travelling matte.
Special effect
The illusions used in the film, television, theatre, or entertainment industries to simulate the imagined events in a story are traditionally called special effects ....
s technique pioneered by John Dykstra
John Dykstra
John Charles Dykstra, A.S.C. is an Academy Award-winning special effects supervisor and pioneer in the development of the use of computers in filmmaking.-Education and early career:...
for shooting the flying sequences in the film Firefox.
The model is painted with a phosphorus paint and photographed with strong lighting against a black background, then rephotographed with ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
light. This turns the model from a light radiator to a light emitter. When photographed on special film, this creates the necessary male and female matte
Matte
Matte may refer to:In film:* Matte , filmmaking and video production technology* Matte painting, a process of creating sets used in film and video* Matte box, a camera accessory for controlling lens glare...
s.
The technique is useful for shooting dark, gleaming objects like fighter jets against a bright or white background like a blue sky or snow. It also picks up thin protrusions like tailfins and antenna that would normally disappear in traditional travelling matte.