Special Effects

Keynote is one of the many applications you can download from the iTunes app store. Learn about Keynote special effects on the iPad with help from an expert who has earned Apple Product Certification…

Special effects, such as lightning and green screen backgrounds, are added to "stop motion" videos during post-production editing. You can add certain effects, such as color correction or…

Fractals come from the world of mathematics and geometry; they are useful for understanding natural branching shapes such as trees, the human circulatory system, lightning and rivers. Self-similarity…

VirtualDub is a software utility for capturing and processing video. In addition to creating video files, you can use it to compress and edit video and apply special effects. Effects filters for…

Premiere Pro, Adobe's professional video editing program, had a hand in creating the box office hit movie "Avatar." Using Premiere's library of editing tools, special effects and…

Special effects scars can help make your movie production or Halloween costume come to life. While many people may think you need professional equipment and a team of makeup artists, you can actually…

Meez is a website that allows users to sign up and create an avatar that can interact in the virtual Meez world. Users can dress up their avatars, customize their appearance and give them names. Users…

Assessment should be an ongoing process when working with students in the special education system. Children should be consistently monitored to ensure that educational goals and learning objectives…

Though store-bought cards are certainly convenient, the personal touch of a handmade greeting card is unbeatable, no matter what the occasion or sentiment. The next time you choose to create a card…

The free graphics design program GIMP has a wide variety of special effects and filters you can use to edit a digital image, which is why GIMP is such a commonly-used piece of software. Despite all…

Lightning is a dramatic natural phenomenon that makes a good addition to any intense night scene in your indie film, whether it be horror, noir, or a passionate nocturnal romance. Shooting during an…

"Platform Racing 2" is an old styled platform game that puts players in various obstacle courses where they race to reach the finish. One of the features in the game is that players can create their…

New filmmakers may find it hard to create some special effects due to a lack of know-how or budget. The gunshot special effect is a very common effect used in movies. With many ways to make the effect…

In the field of music production, an audio effect is a hardware box or software plug-in that alters a sound in a specific way. A reverb effect, for example, makes a sound echo, while a compression…

Figurative language is a category of several different types of poetic devices. It is any group of words or phrases -- even the entire poem -- that is not meant to be read or interpreted literally.…

Special effects in live-action movies are either done on-camera or during the movie's post-production. Popular special effects seen in movies include fire, explosions, rain, snow and smoke. A number…

Drawing cuts and bruises isn't difficult to do, but making them look realistic can be challenging. By using a combination of texturing and coloring techniques, you can create cuts and bruises in your…

The special effects industry comprises many trades, including animators and cinematographers. The nature of the work demands that special effects technicians constantly learn and adopt new techniques,…

Going back to the precamera 1700s, when magicians used optical illusions to astound crowds, special effects have always captivated audiences. From the earliest days of film, directors have used…

There have been ten movie versions of "Lassie" beginning with the original film made in California in 1953 with the 11-year old Elizabeth Taylor to the most current film made in Ireland in 2005…

A literary allusion is an implicit or explicit reference to an historical event or another work of literature that competent readers will recognize and understand. It spurs the reader to think of…

Liquid latex is a natural liquid rubber commonly used in a wide variety of stage and fashion effects. This simple product is responsible for a wide range of effects types, depending on how it is…

PanPastel Colors are an innovative form of the traditional pastel fine-art medium. The individual cakes of pastel are pressed into clear-plastic resealable containers. The 0.3 fluid oz. containers are…

Since the beginning of filmmaking, filmmakers have searched for ways to make their characters and stories more believable. One of the keys to making creatures and situations more real is special…

Makeup artists who specialize in special effects makeup for films require special skills to work in the industry. If you are serious about making a career of special effects makeup, numerous schools…

The magic of the movies is made more believable with well-done special effects makeup used to portray a variety of conditions and unusual character types. Some basic types of special effects makeup…

While the art of engraving can be complex and you will need to take the time to learn and continually perfect your techniques, you can condense the supplies necessary for hand engraving down to only…

The opening titles of a film help set the mood and feel of the story. Meanwhile, the closing titles of a film support and even justify the story's resolution. Whether making a live-action film or an…

People are so used to seeing special effects generated by computer in the movies, they forget that in the theater, effects must occur onstage. Many of the old theater techniques still exist and are…

Safety inspections at the workplace or the lack of them can make all the difference between life and death, health and sickness. Safety inspections help identify and reduce hazards that contribute to…

Liquid ink roller pens can make writing and drawing smoother. In most countries, the ink used in pens is regulated so that it is non-toxic. This includes liquid ink roller pens.

There are so many club DJs in the world right now that it's becoming more important for a DJ to find a way to stand out. Virtual DJ has been assisting DJs in their quest to push their musical…

Not anyone can win an Oscar, but these days almost anyone can make a movie. All you need is a digital camcorder, camera or cellular phone with video capabilities and a computer with editing software,…

Special video effects can add excitement to a home movie or student film project. Placing animated fireworks on a wedding video during a kiss, or a snowfall on a sunny day, can make a scene seem…

DJ lights can create a variety of special effects, but most of these effects will create a better impact if particulates are available in the air to reflect the beams of light and make them visible in…

A scrim is a piece of material very similar to gauze. It is lightweight and has low opacity, making it the ideal material for lighting effects. The scrim effect is caused by using the material to…

As a form of entertainment, ice skating shows are a source of fun for the whole family. The combination of enchanting skating routines, glittering costumes and dramatic special effects often appeals…

A theatrical performance can rely on the strength of its actors, but adding some flash and pizazz to a play can enhance an audience's experience. When the Wicked Witch of the West enters a scene, you…

Rapid technological advances make the special effects you can achieve with stage lighting virtually unlimited. Many effects center on natural phenomena and enhance almost any play by creating storms,…

Special effects makeup isn't just for the movies. Items from your kitchen, bathroom and garage serve as essentials of a perfectly haunting look. The basics of special effects makeup is to take a naked…

You don't have to work on a multimillion-dollar Broadway show to create cool and clever special effects for the stage. Across the centuries, from the massive amphitheaters of the ancient Greeks to the…

Most people have dreamed of being rich and famous at some point. Still, only a small percent of people actually have their talents recognized and become stars. The media plays a huge role in talent…

Modern special effects makeup and sculpting can produce results so precise and detailed that audiences remember the creatures they see in movies and plays for years to come. Artists employ several…

Special effects and computer animation go hand in hand, with CGI (computer generated graphics) becoming more common in films and television. The lines between mechanical special effects (those done on…

The widespread availability of digital camcorders and basic video editing software programs, such as Microsoft’s Windows Movie Maker and Apple’s iMovie, make it possible for average people…

Talent searches give everyday people hopes of a better life. Regardless of a person's talent or outstanding quality, there is always a chance he'll have an opportunity to use his skill.

There are two popular applications on the Macintosh that take advantage of the built in iSight Camera: iChat and Photobooth. Mac supplies a whole range of special effects you can use with these…

Special-effect contact lenses, also called novelty and/or Halloween lenses, can be very useful and effective for Halloween, film, television or theatre costuming. They can also be used solely as a…

To create elderly special effects makeup, stretch out the actor's skin, apply a layer of latex, allow it to dry, powder the area and release the skin to achieve natural-looking wrinkles. Age an actor…

Special effects explosions used to be created using gasoline and a match, but a digital explosion is a safer, high-tech way to add a big bang to a film. Superimpose an explosion over film footage with…

Special effects cuts, bruises and blood can be made using mortician's wax, makeup wax or latex, which can then be painted using an alcohol-activated paint. Create professional-looking wounds for a…

While theater writers, directors and performers bring a play to life, technical theater workers make the play's setting believable. They do this by using several common special-effects elements.

iPhoto is a great tool for editing, managing and publishing images. It has very good tools for editing images and cropping them. iPhoto, however, is a lightweight when it comes to special…

Special effects lighting is fun and easy to do, and can be used at events large and small to give the show a little extra excitement. Special effects lights come in many shapes, sizes and special…

The cyclops was a monster from Greek mythology: a giant that possessed just a single eye in the middle of his forehead. Though the cyclopes often helped the gods of Olympus, they lost their temper…

The words "special effects animation" conjure up images of starships blowing away asteroids in some distant galaxy light years away. Although blowing up make-believe spaceships is part of special…

Although CGI special effects have come a long way in recent years, it is still difficult to match the realism of high-quality, professional special-effects makeup. Effects makeup provides a more…

A great way to make a costume look more authentic is by purchasing special effect contact lenses. You can purchase these at many optometrists around Halloween, but you can also buy them online all…

An independent film production takes a lot of work and time, especially if you do not have the resources found within a major studio production. Organization is the key to creating a smooth and…

One of the advantages of GIMP over many other image editors is the large variety of tools and effects filters that are included with the software. GIMP is also free with both Mac and PC versions and…

Theatrical supplies includes tools, lights, gaff tape, pulleys, costumes and blocks and tackle. Find out how stages are rigged for special effects with tips from an experienced stage manager in this…

Special effects makeup artistry is used in theatre, television and movies. It allows an actor to be transformed into a wide variety of creatures. There are several types of special effects makeup…

Whether you're suiting up for a play or Halloween, latex special-effects makeup is a professional way to transform your skin into any consistency. If you would like to create the appearance of bubbly…

Because the early black and white movies didn't show colors, special effects makeup had limitations. Actors had to find their own ways to help the makeup bring their character to life. With time and…

Special effects, without a doubt, make any movie more interesting. The earliest and most well-known special effect is makeup. Makeup artists must go through training to develop the skills needed to…

Special effects makeup is used in films and movies and for theater performances. Actors use makeup to create illusions and enhance features or to completely change the way they look. Age is just one…

Special effects make-up used for theater and film production differs significantly from make-up used more casually to enhance one's appearance. It is often intended to work a dramatic change--altering…

There are many ways that you can learn the secrets of cinema special effects. Start with these simple steps and you will be well on your way to mastering many of the techniques you see in films and…

Learn some great tips on special effects, how they work and how to use them in this free video clip on amplification and amplifiers.

Special effects makeup can be used to create some pretty amazing results. You can use the makeup to create cuts, bruises and blood on anyone, making for realistic accident, fight or murder victims.…

Batteries help guitarists power their effects and special tools. Learn some tips for buying and using batteries from a professional musician in this free video.

Special effects on the movie screen are becoming more awe inspiring every year with technological breakthroughs and artistic know-how. Special effects in the theater can be just as awe inspiring with…

Easy fake bruises and special effects makeup! Learn to create swollen bruise effects in this free video series on making fake bruises and stage makeup effects.

Easy fake bruises and special effects makeup! Learn to blend shadows of fake bruises in this free video series on making fake bruises and stage makeup effects.

Easy fake bruises and special effects makeup! Learn to shade fake bruises with makeup in this free video series on making fake bruises and stage makeup effects.

Easy fake bruises and special effects makeup! Watch how to blend your base colors in this free video series on making fake bruises and stage makeup effects.

Create special effects with the trombone; learn how with tips from our expert trombone player in this free trombone video music lesson on brass instruments.

One of the most recent mediums in art, invented in Japan in post World War I, is oil pastels. Oil pastels are different then other paints. They are more like crayons than the usual paints in that they…

As technology booms, home recording equipment has become less expensive and simple to use, meaning even low-budget garage bands can create a killer studio-quality album. Vocals may be one of the most…

Adding fog to your theatrical presentation makes the difference between an average show and a great show. Use a fog machine to create a specific atmosphere, setting or look for your show.

Using a bubble machine to create various theatrical effects is a great way to add a sense of magic and beauty to any performance. Bubble machines are easy to use, and the different techniques are easy…

Photographs remind us of good times and fun times throughout our life, so much that we want to frame them forever using a picture mat. An important process for framing a photograph on a mat is…

Special effects artists use makeup, trick camera work and computer graphics to create imaginative, realistic scenes and audio for movies and television. It's a important part of every movie. The path…