Optical printer

How it is used

Used in analog film history and laboratory work; it combines projection with a camera.

Example sentences

1. The optical printer combined the miniature ship with the filmed sea.

   Separate film elements become one composite image.

2. Students watched an optical printer create a dissolve between two scenes.

   The device creates a transition by rephotographing film.

Common collocations

• operate an optical printer
• optical printer effects

Related terms

• editingThe work of choosing, ordering and joining shots so that they tell the story with the right rhythm, emotion and meaning.
• post-productionAll the work done on a film after the shoot ends, including editing, visual effects, color grading, sound design, music and the final mix.

More terms: Editing and Post-Production

• footage
• cut
• visual effects
• color grading
• rough cut
• final cut
• transition
• montage
• jump cut
• dailies
• credits
• pickup shot