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Absolut Panushka, Jan-Apr 1997.
Optical Printer
The optical printer is one of the oldest tools used to create special effects in film. It is a specialty camera that re-photographs and composites film images. Making Superman fly on film, for instance, was done by compositing an image of Superman dangling from ropes in a studio with the tops of skyscrapers shot on location. The optical printer is also used to create whole-scale changes to already shot film (converting a regular speed film to slow motion for example).
Basically the printer consists of a camera pointing directly at a projector, lens to lens. One runs an existing film through the projector and re-photographs it with the camera, making any desired manipulations as it is photographed. The camera and projector are precisely controlled so that one can re-size images, take out or add frames or composite many images from different films onto one master filmstrip.
Animators use this tool to create unique effects with their animations, to merge live-action images with hand-rendered ones and to exert another level of controll over the films they create. With the availability and power of computers today, not as many people use the optical printer anymore. Most of what the printer does can be achieved with a computer. However, there are still some animators who find new and interesting uses for this piece of equipment, rescuing it from obscurity.
Moritz, William. "History of Experimental Animation." Website. Absolut Panushka, curated by Christine Panushka. (Jan-Apr 1997).
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