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1We may proudly proclaim that we are impartial to the use of special effects in a movie, and value more that the movie have a brain (and presumably also a heart, lungs, stomach, and other major organs, but let's not go there or the metaphor might spleen away). But we all know the truth: special effects can make or [[SpecialEffectsFailure break]] a movie faster than a SerialKiller can cut the PluckyComicRelief in two with a machete in a shower of HighPressureBlood.
2
3So, here are some of the ways movies fool us (or don't) with the {{Spectacle}} of fiction.
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5Special effects can be classed into subgroups depending on how they were achieved:
6[[index]]
7* InCameraEffects - achieved by manipulating the camera or its parts
8* PracticalEffects - achieved by the manipulation of the set itself, or by use of {{Prop}}s on the set
9** MiniatureEffects - a particular kind of practical effect, often credited separately, using miniature models.
10* ComputerGeneratedImages or CGI - utilizing graphics generated and manipulated by computer
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12----
13!!Special Effect Tropes
14* TheCoconutEffect
15* DigitalHeadSwap
16* DramaticSpotlight
17* EvolutionaryRetCon
18* FantasticFireworks
19* FatSuit
20* GratuitousSpecialEffects
21* HighPressureBlood
22* LudicrousGibs
23* NaturalSpotlight
24* ObscuredSpecialEffects
25* ObviousStuntDouble
26* OffTheShelfFX
27* OminousVisualGlitch
28* PeopleInRubberSuits
29* RubberForeheadAliens
30* SoundDefect
31* SpecialEffectBranding
32* SpecialEffectsEvolution
33* SpecialEffectFailure
34* StarringSpecialEffects
35* StyrofoamRocks
36* WhenPropsAttack
37[[/index]]
38
39'''Related Tropes'''
40* {{Stripperific}}
41* VideoInsideFilmOutside
42* FanService (Often said to be the "cheapest special effect.")
43* TakeOurWordForIt and CoconutSuperpowers (Often even cheaper!)
44%%* CameraTricks
45----
46!!Gathered here are some cool and corny special effects, for your reading pleasure.
47
48[[AC:Blood]]
49* In old black and white films, ''chocolate syrup'' was used to simulate blood. Its dark color and viscosity made for pretty convincing texture.
50** For color films, Karo-brand sugar syrup plus red food coloring became the standard, and is still used today.
51** Cheaper productions can use a combination of chocolate and strawberry syrups as a quick shortcut.
52*** [=WikiHow=] has [[http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fake-Blood a whole article]] on alternative ways to make fake blood.
53
54[[AC:Camera Effects]]
55* With older, non-digital cameras, using a black screen or cover so that only part of the film is exposed (and thus the rest can have something else filmed onto it).
56* A dark cover could be used to simulate night-time while shooting in daytime. Unfortunately it does nothing to eliminate shadows caused by sunlight, leading to the slightly hilarious effect of having obvious sun-shadow at night.
57* A filmmaker could create a "ghost" by exposing the film to the same scene twice, once with and once without the actor.
58* The [[{{Rotoscoping}} Rotoscope]] is a device which projects film images downward onto a table, where the image can be traced by hand. Although the Rotoscope machine has been superceded by Photoshop-type software, the techniques remain largely the same.
59** By tracing the outline of an object in the frame, a custom-shaped traveling matte can be created. This is how the (models of) Imperial Walkers in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' were able to walk behind (real) trees.
60** A less common usage is to actually trace the ''entire'' film image, creating a completely hand-drawn frame. Ralph Bakshi's adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TheLordOfTheRings'' used this technique, and it was also used for spaceship shots in the 70s/80s ''WesternAnimation/{{Flash Gordon|1979}}'' cartoon.
61** ChromaKey (more commonly known as ''green/blue screen'') is an evolution of the same concept. Only by using a vibrant and bright color the computer can automatically know where to rotoscope for you.
62
63[[AC:Environmental Effects]]
64* Backlighting is used for rain scenes, as rain doesn't show on camera otherwise.

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