Color Systems
There are two basic systems for organizing and mixing color additive and sub-tractive. Although these two systems share terms and certain characteristics, each must be considered separately. The additive system of color involves the mixing of colored light. Colored light is mixed by taking a light of one color and a light of another color and beaming them onto a common surface. Where the two colors of light overlap or mix, a third color is produced. The additive system is used most often in...
Control of Movement in Production
The importance of continuum of movement in a shot or series of shots can be planned in a storyboard. The arrows in each storyboard picture indicate the movement of an object in the frame. In Storyboard 1, notice the curved curvilinear tracks and the affinity of continuum of movement. The viewer's point-of-attention will be left off in one shot and then picked up in the next shot in the same quadrant. Combining all the pictures into a single frame reveals the linear motif created by the tracks...
Controlling Line and Shape during Production
Here is a practical situation. Tomorrow you're going to direct a scene, and you've decided to emphasize lines and shapes. How can you control them on the set 1. Squint. Most lines in the modern world are vertical and horizontal because they're created by architecture. Doors, windows, and walls tend to be vertical and horizontal. The same thing often is true with furniture. What is the linear motif of the shot Use a contrast viewing glass or learn to squint properly so recognizing the lines in...
Continuum of Movement
The Principle of Contrast amp Affinity can be used with continuum of movement, allowing control of the visual intensity generated by the audience's eye movement as they watch the screen. Like any visual component, affinity of continuum decreases the visual intensity, and contrast of continuum increases visual intensity. Continuum of movement occurs within the shot and from shot to shot. Using contrast of continuum of movement requires knowing what area of the screen the audience is watching, or...
Induced Movement
Induced movement occurs when a moving object transfers its movement to a nearby stationary object. The stationary object then appears to move and the moving object appears stationary. The black circle is moving to the right, but, under certain conditions, the green circle will appear to move left. Usually the movement will transfer to the smaller and brighter object. Moving clouds over a stationary moon is a good example of induced movement. If the cloud speed is correct, the moon will appear...
The Basic Components of Color
Talking about color is difficult because words can never accurately describe a color. Commercial paint stores use names like King's Ransom, Liberty, or Sorrento to describe colors in their catalogue. Interior designers use words like mushroom or peach, which may generally describe a color, but still aren't very specific. Sometimes colors are given names like sea-calm or romance, which tell more about the emotion the color hopes to evoke rather than a description of the color itself. Ultimately,...
The Subtractive System Color Wheel
The subtractive color wheel looks similar to the additive wheel but the primary colors are different, as shown here. The primary colors on the subtractive color wheel are magenta, yellow, and cyan. Combining two primary colors produces the other colors needed to complete the color wheel. YELLOW CYAN GREEN CYAN MAGENTA BLUE Mixing magenta, yellow, and cyan pigments together equally produces black. Colors opposite one another on the subtractive color wheel are called complementary colors. On the...
Coincidence and Noncoincidence
Coincidence and noncoincidence of tone refers to the relationship between the tonal organization of the shot and the subject of the shot. Coincidence of tone occurs when the tonal range reveals the subject. Noncoincidence of tone occurs when the tonal range obscures the subject. The subject can be a face, an entire person, a group of people, or any object that is the subject of the shot. To determine if a shot is coincidence or noncoincidence, the picture maker must identify the subject. In...
Contrast and Affinity
Contrast and affinity of tone is easy to understand, because the gray scale organizes tone so perfectly. Remember that contrast and affinity can occur within the shot, from shot to shot, and from sequence to sequence. Maximum contrast of tone is black and white. Maximum affinity is any two grays next to one another on the gray scale. Tonal control must be overt if it's going to be useful. A shot designed for maximum contrast of tone must eliminate the intermediate shades of gray. This picture...
Rhythm of Stationary Objects
Visual rhythm is created by placing stationary objects in the frame. This is called composition. Simply stated, composition is the arrangement of objects within the frame. Shot 1 is an empty frame. It is the visual equivalent of white noise. This shot has no visual rhythm because there isn't any alternation, repetition, or tempo. An object a dot has been added, and now the empty frame has a visual rhythm. Shots 1A and 1B both have rhythm, but Shot 1B appears more intense than Shot 1A. The...
Color Schemes
A color scheme is a color plan. Since color has so many variables, it's impossible to review all the possible color schemes, but the color wheel is a good place to begin, because it already has organized the hues into a simple circle. Following are some possible color schemes using hue. A monochromatic color scheme involves finding a single hue for an entire production. Warren Beatty's Reds and Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather use only the hue of red. Almost all the color in these films is...
Photochemical Timing
The lab can also time, or color correct the film. The term timing refers to early 1900s lab technicians who, using clocks, would control the black and white film's image by the length of time it was left in the chemical solutions. Modern photochemical timing uses computer-controlled additive color printing machines to color correct films. Color timing is used to correct or smooth out the continuity of brightness and hue from shot to shot. Timing can also add overall hue changes, making scenes...
The Additive System Color Wheel
A color wheel organizes colors and shows their relationship to each other. The additive system color wheel is shown here. The primary colors in the additive system are red, green, and blue. Combining two primary colors produces the other colors needed to complete the color wheel. Remember, the additive system is the mixing of light. Magenta is similar to purple, but more reddish. Cyan is like turquoise, but more greenish. When the additive primaries are mixed together equally, they produce...