Matte Painting – once upon a time there was the glass plate.

Matte Paintings are painted also with help of the photomontage produced pictures, which works as sceneries in a movie. They are produced by Matte painters at the computer. However this trick is as old, as Film itself.(ca.1911) They were painted on glass plates, earlier also named glasshot. This was how it worked. Two plates of glass are set up parallel to each other at a certain distance. The camera is set up in front of them. On the rear plate, there is a background landscape which is relatively rough, for example a painted Jungle. On the foreground plate, detail-rich elements are painted such as small plants, stones etc. Between the glass plates, one could then encourage a puppet in stop-motion. So, at least, we see a landscape, which does not exist . Until in the fiftees, you would not find Matte painters in the credits of a Film, because it was to shameful for a Production, to show, how they saved money.I create Mattepaintings using Photoshop with a combination of photo elements and skilful painting.