Optical Effect

An optical effect is a special effect achieved by optical means, i.e. an optical printer, in contrast to effects created digitally using a computer.

Examples of optical effects are:

• Fade-outs
• Fade-ins
• Lap dissolves
• Slow motion
• Fast motion
• Matte work
• Freeze frames

However, it should be pointed out that, nowadays, many of what were formerly optical effects are now also achieved digitally using computers.