What are special effects?

Special effects (SFX) are used in many forms of entertainment such as movies and TV shows to create a more realistic and convincing atmosphere. They are used to portray something that is not possible in today's world - such as the reality of non-existent creatures, or space travel in distant galaxies. They are also used as a matter of convenience when the cost of portraying an image may be too expensive, or too inconvenient - such as creating a five-minute scene on the top of Mt. Everest. Special effects may also be used in order to enhance or augment the quality of an image to create a more realistic experience for the viewer. There are many forms of special effects that have developed over the years. Special effects include the flying image of Peter Pan hanging from a wire in a live-play, gruesome costumes of monsters, and even characters in movies that are completely computer generated. Some basic forms of special effects include:

On-Stage Techniques These are techniques that take place on the stage are taken for granted today. Examples include an object on the stage of a live-play functioning when it should not be - such as the sound of a hair dryer or toilet flushing. Another example of this are background paintings, which give the impression that an actor is somewhere he is not; again, this is more common on live stage plays.

	Filming Techniques Some of these techniques include matte paintings which create a foreground painted on a piece of glass that the camera films through. Also, miniature effects are created by using a small scale model that the viewer is unaware of.

Outward Appearance The most basic of outward appearances is the costume - this is a basic of anything in the entertainment industry. More advanced versions of this include modern prosthetic makeup. Prosthetic makeup is used by creating a mold of a body part (usually the face) and molding it into whatever the artist chooses. This can create amazing appearances of wounds, or non-human features.

	Blue Screen The blue screen is a technique that is used by having the actor stand in front of a solid colored blue screen, which is later replaced by the preferred scene. This is often used when the actual background cannot be achieved (due to expensive costs, non-existent realms, etc). With the advent of the digital age, this process has been greatly improved.

Wire Removal Wire removal is often used to create the sensation of a flying actor. The actor is placed in front of a blue screen, and later the wire is digitally erased frame by frame before finally adding in the preferred background. In this way, the viewer will not see the wire holding the actor.

	Computer Graphics Now the most prominent of special effects, computer generated images (CGI) are created on a computer through models, hand-drawings, or a filmed scene with live actors. With CGI, artists are able to create a variety of images, experiment with ease, and create movements and interactions that require much less effort and time.