Optical effects is a sub-category of special effects for film in which film images are manipulated through optical processes using film, light, shadow, lenses and/or chemical processes. Examples are film titles, fades, dissolves, wipes, blow ups, bluescreen, composites, and double exposures. The effects are usually done in post-production with an optical printer, although some, such as fades and double exposures, can be done as in-camera effects but with much less precision.
The term optical effects has largely been replaced by visual effects as most of the effects are now done digitally on computer with editing software or computer generated imagery instead of directly on the film.

Atmospheric Optics - Provides a detailed look at a wide variety of optical effects in the atmosphere.
Meta Description: [ Atmospheric optics - Rainbows, halos, glories and many other visual spectacles produced by light playing on water drops, dust and ice crystals in the atmosphere with explanations, images and downloadable freeware to simulate them. ]
Red Sunset, Green Flash - Tells why sunsets look red, and why you can sometimes see a green flash just before the sun sets.
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