The imaginary or real sets created for movies and video games are matte painting. These are either traditional or digital paintings. This kind of paintings provide access where cameras can’t reach. It helps building fictional universes. If you know the techniques of matte, you can help creating extensive backgrounds and remove necessity of physical buildings or props.

Back in the 1800s, matte painting meant integration of black painted glass screens which were used into background elements after the movie was filmed. Then it saw a revolution with time and painters performed it before it went digital. The artists painted on glass screens, using reference sketches and acrylic or pastel paint. Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Titanic used matte painting created manually by famous artists.

Matte painting and digital world

Now it has evolved to become digital, with an array of commonly used software around. The software provides a variety of options to use 2D and 3D painting techniques. Digitization has made this painting style much more realistic. Digital matte painters are called DMP artists. They enjoy demand and popularity among wider audience today, as DMP is used for various purposes.

It’s an electric mix of digital art with 3D effects, photo blending and deformation.

You can easily bring 3D effects with digital matte painting technology. You can animate 2.5D shots with camera mapping or 3D cameras easily now. Moreover, the software allows you to create complex universes like planets and cities easily and in a more sophisticated way. But don’t nurture the misconception that 3D creation in software doesn’t require high skills. You have to be well aware of lighting, background and texturization.

Common Matte Painting

• Set extension is one of the most common types of matte painting. It involves adding trees or building on the image background, or paint lake in a foreground.
• DMP artists often get assignments of creating the sky on the background or modifying it, for fantasy or sci-fi movies.
• But, digital matte painting has its use beyond the world of films. Print and video commercials these days make use of this type of painting widely. Video games also have a considerable amount of demand for this painting. The distant elements, building and mountains of First Person Shooting games are DMP creations.
• Besides, you can create illustrations and concept art with the use of this handy technique as well. If you have enough imagination power and adequate skills, your paintings will match those of a pro artist with time and effort.

Rules to do matte painting

To create a digital image isn’t enough, you must make it realistic and authentic. When you are blending different pictures, you have to take care of the perspective. It’s important that the windows of a city house or the colors of a mountain’s elements align well. You need to observe more, and think before adding details.

The ratio of light and shadow is another significant thing. The nearest elements seem darker, and the light of the background increases with distance. Take atmospheric perspective into consideration. Think how haze or fog effect can look credible, observe how a sense of depth is obtained.

You need to have an extensive image bank and you can seek help from internet to have a good stock. Another great idea is to use your own photos.

Final Words

Matte painting has grown further lively and interesting with time and patience. You have to understand everything related to it very precisely. Try reproduction of reality with the help of references, rather than relying on imaginations solely.