The History and Science of the Slit Scan Effect used in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey

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Explore the mysterious and forgotten technique of Slit Scan for special effects and how Douglas Trumbull applied the photographic technique to Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Then we’ll do our best to recreate the effect using LEGO.
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[@GentlemanAmerican]

It amazes me how visually impressive 2001 still is more than 50 years later. Just like Blade Runner, It has hardly aged at all. Both films had Douglas Trumbull as the visual effects supervisor.

[@shannondeckard8587]

Both movies are my all time favourites as well, and I concur, they are both timeless. But the industrial designer Sid Mead was also a huge influence in the design of the vehicles and sets of Blade Runner.

[@jkdbuck7670]

Yes. The special effects for these two movies are unmatched even to this day.

[@ZeranZeran]

I'm in my late 20s and just watched 2001 for the first time last year.. it completely changed the way I look at movies, and life. There is a lesson in every single one of his films.

[@Lieveke]

I mean Douglass Trumbull is superior when it comes to visual effects so hardly surprising, the dude invented the showscan for god's sake, he's a fricking genius!

[@ZeranZeran]

@@Lieveke Well said. I have some old photos saved of him using his "Showscan" and on the surface of the projector you can actually see the patterns that appear in the space / black hole transition scene from 2001. He had them on things that looked like translucent scantrons, with incredibly detailed patterns on them he's sliding up/down. Seriously one of the coolest things I've ever learned about film making.

[@Witheredgoogie]

These days you see a movie and say "yawn ! oh that effect was just CGI" , but when you watch an old movie you often think "wow! how on earth did they do that" Thanks for all the trouble and effort you have taken to explain and recreate this particular effort.

[@shaft9000]

I had a similar feeling the other day while watching Wizard of Oz for the 1st time in 40+ yrs. Specifically, the first color scene wherein tWWotTheWest teleports into Munchkin-land in the huge red sulphur column. It's not easy (without googling, of course) to determine how the witch got into that shot.

[@Bruh-zx2mc]

How to say you've never done CGI yourself without saying you've never done CGI yourself

[@fezerton]

@@Bruh-zx2mc CGI looks terrible 75% of the time

[@Bruh-zx2mc]

@@fezerton You think CGI looks terrible because the only CGI you notice is the poorly done CGI.

[@effyiew7318]

@@Bruh-zx2mc Bro, CGI looks like sh!t. Admit. Don't be salty because you probably work in modern CGI and it hurts you that people 30 years ago were way more creative than you'll ever be.

[@Fun4None250]

RIP Douglas Trumbull, your filmmaking techniques were an inspiration to so many, and your impact will last for generations. The practical effects used in 2001 paved the way for so much to come. No matter what, you and your work will never be forgotten.

[@finnflash23]

RIP Douglas Trumbull! I watched this movie for the first time today... I was instantly amazed by the visual effects, especially this section... Started to find more information about the making of the special effects... heard they were made by a very talented guy called Douglas Trumbull. And then I learned he had just died yesterday. I started to wonder what gave me the thought to watch this movie just right now then? Was it Mr. Trumbull, sending me subconscious messages from another universe he has reached after passing away... Really strange feeling at the moment! :D

[@part4963]

Wow what a coincidence

[@hogey74]

Whoa. Stuff like that has happened to me and it made me feel connected to the universe. I hope you do too!

[@MaxSpd1998]

Dave you aren't fooling anyone, we all know you are Al the Toy Collector from Toy Story 2!

[@liquidjungle123]

Hahahahha

[@canturgan]

Marvin Monroe from the Simpsons.

[@accordingtohonda4308]

NEEERRRDDD!!!!!!!

[@mr.response5959]

more like Al Borlin from "Home Improvement"

[@FilmmakerIQ]

I don't think so Tim

[@jwes057]

I can never get over how amazing the ending of 2001 looks. That journey through the star gate is unreal. Gorgeousness and gorgeosity made into a film sequence

[@thetooginator153]

Oh my God! You should get an award for recreating Dave’s reaction to the trip inside the monolith. I was seriously cracking up, and TOTALLY lost it with the shot of your glasses falling off!

[@adamwalkervfx]

Can't watch the slit scan footage without imagining Tom Baker's wide-eyed face appearing in front of them.

[@aqua8584]

Somebody's been watching a bit too much Classic Who.

[@Anonymous_timelord]

im2lazy2makename definitely not me *laughs histericly* oh I'm addicted to the classic series......

[@zaphodsminecraftcontraptio7715]

@Edward Stow This!

[@zaphodsminecraftcontraptio7715]

@@aqua8584 Heh, you can't watch too much Who!

[@icemachine79]

The first slit-scan opening credits sequence was Jon Pertwee's final season in 1974. I actually prefer it to the Tom Baker version.

[@MarsAlexandre]

And 9 years later ... This is still one of the most inspiring and motivating videos on youtube!

[@eddievhfan1984]

This film is one of my hands-down favorites across cinema (and not just for the SFX), and I love this explanatory film. Another scary thing to consider is that IIRC, all of the SFX in 2001 were all pretty much multiple exposures onto first-generation film, because Kubrick wanted to ensure the crispest possible appearance (no mismatched film grain, mismatched exposures, etc.), so while you could rehearse the compositions offline with copies, you had to get that exposure right on the master the first time, if you didn't want to completely ruin the shot.

[@Calvertfilm]

Nicely explained. I was a Special Effects cameraman in the 80s and specialised in Slit Scan and Streak Scan. I worked for a company called Filmfex in London. Here is one of their 80s showreels below. Amazing to think how painstaking this was compared to how it can be achieved now. Our computers used paper print-outs with the co-ordinates of 9 computer controlled axis. A cassette tape was used to load up the Pacesetter program each day. We shot on 35mm film as it gave more perspective compared to 16mm. Brings back memories this does. This is mostly Streak Scan here, the prettier version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGmYaICnobpgock

[@FilmmakerIQ]

Very Very cool - Thanks for sharing that!!

[@junglesbongles8592]

but without all that effort back then no nice easy computer effects today. technology is atored effort.

[@junglesbongles8592]

+Jungles Bongles . atored = stored

[@TryptychUK]

Were you the guys that did the "Superman" titles?

[@andrewjarson2855]

been really scouring everywhere trying to find a book that truly details the mechanics of everything, the rostrum camera, the differences between each technique and the animators who used them...If you could point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it. Slit scan is an incredible and rewarding techinique even in the basic experiments I've done.

[@mandolinic]

Your re-creation of the star gate is simply stunning!

[@JohnTeeOFFICIAL]

That glitch effect at the end of your sequence scared me half to death

[@TheStockwell]

I'm glad someone else caught that. An HD version of "Universe" is available on the Film Board's website. Among other things Kubrick lifted from the film: the film's narrator, Douglas Rain, who was the voice of the HAL 9000 computer.

[@markmorgenstern]

ah ok i wasn't the first to catch this

[@borusa32]

That was really great-I loved your Keir Dullea shaking to bits impression

[@ExplainingComputers]

Fantastic video. I knew about the slit scan technique, but not about its origins. And your Legos recreation was amazing. :)

[@migol1984]

i kinda agree with you towards the end that today we have better more efficient and easier to use technology but there's just something about the look of the old technology that no cgi can ever come close to recreating.

[@haf816r]

migol1984 without a doubt!

[@pifci]

migol1984 Yep, it's called nostalgia. Our descendants will think the same thing.

[@jamesanderson348]

Fascinating!!!! 2001 has been my favorite movie from the moment I first saw it on a wide screen in 1977. I was blown away with every frame and especially the stargate sequence. Mindblowing does not come close to describing what I was witnessing. I too felt I was traveling to a space in time beyond the present. I get awestruck every time I see this. Bravo for posting this.

[@UniverseOfAtoms]

AMAZING! Thanks for venturing into the history of filmmaking and pulling out some of the incredible stories of how they were made.

[@sirenachantal471]

Wow, amazing! Thanks for sharing and basically, doing it yourself! I was a 3D animator for computer & video games in the mid 1990s and animated quite a few wormholes. Even at that time, it was render the scene - save the file, import to use a filter, export and load into the animation program. One frame at a time. I've often wondered from time to time how Kubrick did this so expertly.

[@DirtySteezy]

I took mushrooms and watched this yesterday. Blew my mind open.

[@Johnconno]

You're the first person to do that Mr Mallet. Or is it Hammerhead?

[@Kazuo1G]

This is awesome! I FINALLY have an idea of how these Slit Scan film effects were created. I understood that you needed a camera, a moving rig, and the slit to make the exposure. But how each moved in relation to the other was not exactly understood. It's basically what happens when you try taking a picture at night with a flash, except controlled, and zooming into the picture. Also, thanks to you and this, I have a theory of how they produced the psychedelic "tunnel" effect intro in the shape of Jon Pertwee during his tenure on Doctor Who. :D

[@Jamminn555]

What a fantastic video - from the beautiful and clear review of the history, right through to the making of a real-life slit scan effect. Thanks for all of that! And keep up the great work.

[@phoenixshade3]

Another important use of slit-scan photography was the Viking Mars landers. Each had two cameras capable of taking 300° panoramas using a slit-scan technique. In fact, during testing of that imaging system, a panorama of the team was taken, in which several members appear multiple times (one of them is there SEVEN) by moving ahead of the slit's slow progression after it scanned past their previous position.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

The way I thought of that system is more like a scanner/copy machine. Instead of scanning a piece of paper it was scanning the terrain that rushed by underneath

[@phoenixshade3]

@@FilmmakerIQ No no no, I am not talking about an orbiter. The LANDERS had them. Big cylindrical things that rotate, with an obvious vertical slit in them. Lemme find a pic... KZbin is hot censorific garbage now that has outlived its usefulness, and even self-crippled. I put up a link to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, but that is too much like uncensored facts for KZbin's liking. So you have to google it. Try "viking mars panoramic camera" as an image search.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

Found it! Pretty cool! Slitscan used a lot by NASA and not just for that stargate!

[@The22on]

You did an excellent job! Your Lego animation helps me to understand how the effect worked on 2001. People like you are desperately needed in the entertainment business to do the heavy lifting of turning imagination into reality. Keep up your creative work and thanks for this video.

[@Schuschinus]

I want to thank you for the excellent education you provide. This was the first comprehensive in depth explanation of the slit scan effect, I found. This channel is one of my favourite source for the history of film making.

[@peterelbro3839]

A brilliant tutorial on slit scan! 10/10 for ingenuity and perseverance on producing a LEGO slit scan sequence.

[@JeremyRatzlaff]

This is SO good.. especially your mock recreation of the classic scene! Thank you so much for making videos that are simultaneously educational and entertaining all without insulting anyone's intelligence!

[@dmxdxl]

well explained sir thank you....I had a hard time wrapping my mind around how they did it and how slit scan worked...appreciated....

[@MrBelmont79]

Thanks FILMAKER IQ. Since I started watching your videos, films have become way more interesting to enjoy, appreciate and understand.

[@beefknuckles]

Really interesting explanation of the technique. I really love your Lego setup haha... the recreation was hilarious

[@PercivalBlakeney]

I have the greatest enthusiasm for these videos and I can't allow anything to jeopardise them. (Sorry John, couldn't resist it.) ;p

[@InCameraFX]

12 hours for 16 seconds? Man, in my realm (stop motion) you'd be racing like a rabbit...

[@dalethelander3781]

Brian Johnson, who was on Trumbull's 2001 photographic effects crew, built a slit-scan device for use in the second season of the tv series Space:1999.

[@danield679]

I so thoroughly enjoy these videos. This gentleman has such a unique gift with explaining the art and science of filmmaking. I really appreciate his efforts. It is easy to see his passion for both teaching and making movies. Two big thumbs up! 👍🏼 👍🏼

[@timweatherill3738]

Very interesting and helpful description! For 50 years I have sort of nodded and smiled when slit scan was used to describe the creation of a lot of the stargate sequence. I frankly knew nothing about this technique that was useful, technically. Thanks to you, now I do. Oh, and BTW, I first saw 2001: A Space Odyssey during its' initial run, aged 8 in 1968. We went to it on one of my friend's birthdays as the 'big event'. Some of us got sleepy ~ it was such a quiet, slow-paced movie. I was riveted. It blew my mind. I'm so pleased the film is getting renewed accolades. It is a masterwork. Thanks for your help clarifying some of the mystery.

[@dq405]

Thank you for this! For years now, I've looked for a clear explanation of how the process worked, but there were always details that remained vague for me. Your video has clarified a lot.

[@vrillco]

15 minutes ago, I was wondering what the heck slit-scan photography was, as a non-photographer. You did a damn good job, makes perfect sense to me now :) Thank you!

[@djarnoldo516]

Excellent video, John. Reproducing the old film effects manually really helps you appreciate what geniuses they were back in the day.

[@KevinFromNYC]

Terrific explainer, particular for having taken the time to not only replicate the effect, but to recreate the scene. Applause and two thumbs up!

[@DartSlinger]

This is one of the best channels I am subscribed to on KZbin! FilmmakerIQ is like the Vsauce specifically for filmmakers. Keep up the fantastic work, John.

[@jimwells3279]

Thanks, John. Great video. As a student of 2001 when I was a young child, great to see someone appreciate one of the effects in that landmark film. It is a bit shocking though to hear you feel the need to explain that digital effects didn't always exist. They still feel pretty recent to me.

[@scottytrotter]

Excellent. Nice to finally understand how this was done. And I particularly liked your completed "star gate" sequence. Very funny!

[@justinkinter8651]

This is so dope man. I recently got into analog video synthesis and discovering little tricks and stuff they used back in the day to produce video effects is always super rad. I wish I came up in the days of analog video. Anyway, you got yourself a subscriber here and I look forward to watching all of your past, present, and future content. Keep up the awesome work, it is def appreciated ;)

[@hibob418]

I am basking in the sheer awesomeness of this project. Kudos, wonderful content - forward into the past!

[@TheEamonLong]

You totally got me with the BSOD. i was like, "OH C'MON" then realized it was still in the video. Well played!

[@davidrwowbotham2633]

Very well done. I was a Navy photographer in the 70,s. Always wanted to link up some stepper motors and a DSLR.

[@paulfini402]

Fantastic video, sir! I've never understood the Slit-scan technique so thanks for the well done explanation. I too have been humbled working 12 hours on 6 seconds of animation!

[@ciprianwinerElectronicManiac]

I was wondering how where they able to do such amazing special effects. Thanks for taking the time to explain us. Keep up the good work :)

[@musicmakelightning]

Just discovered this. A fabulous homage and great work. Thanks so much for this effort!

[@anastasiadymova2210]

It's like having a cool teacher with those amazing lectures on cinematography that l never really had lol.... now I do. Thank you! You're a great narrator

[@saigokun]

This was a very informative and educational film. I especially liked the slit scan scene you created yourself.

[@Dirk80241]

Great video explaining slit scan as Stanley Kubrick used it! Thanks. I enjoyed the creative part starting at 12:55. Lots of fun!

[@maxout7306]

I thought this was an excellent recreation of Trumbull's split screen. Liked.

[@HobbsBhipp]

Thank you very much for your research and timely effort. Those filmmakers back then really put a lot of effort and time into creating those fantastic images.

[@sparkybluefox]

Bravo Mr. Hess ! What fun watching! I loved 2001 as an 11 year old boy and still do! SBF

[@CelurianSciFi]

It looks so much better than just using After Effects. You can tell that it is a combination of digital and practical effects. Kudos.

[@eriktempelman2097]

what a nice vid! thanks for the explanation and historic background. and your recreation is great too... a real labour of love!

[@barple367]

I absolutely love the new and accessible possibilities with modern CGI, but there will always be a marvel and novelty factor with at-the-time cutting edge effects of pre-CGI films. The amount of work you put in to get such an amazing result afterwards really shows how much effort it really took to get effects like these in older films. Even today, stuff like this is still hard to pull off without the use of a computer but it looks so good in the end result if done carefully.

[@PushyPixels]

Okay, I've already subscribed after just a few minutes. This is spectacular content. Very thorough and interesting and well presented. I only hope some day I can produce videos of this caliber.

[@MaoRuiqi]

OMG, amazing grace! Always knew you were talented, but this presentation simply is mind blowing. Aside from your tour de force work, your heartfelt sharing at the end suggests you are a man of great knowledge and wisdom, but above all, deeply passionate about movie making. Well done, sir!

[@tmrezzek5728]

Excellent! And a great bit of trivia about 'Vertigo'!

[@vangelis3b]

John you are simply fantastic! Vangelis here, from Greece.

[@fewerbeansplease]

I wish my brain worked even an iota closer to this guy's. Congratulations for your technical prowess and your sense of humour!!

[@brianwarner308]

I like the short you created to show us the results of the experiment, that was cool

[@unvielleur]

Great re-creation and Bowman imitation!

[@Zorn76]

Wonderful tutorial illustrating the orgins of one of the most visually spectacular films ever made.

[@punchfisttop]

Best special effect ever! And awesome coverage of how it was done bro!!!

[@Filmdude2001]

For years I've been trying to understand just exactly how the slit scan process was used in 2001. Now it all makes sense. Consider me subscribed!

[@ThunderZandor]

Thanks for explaining the mystery & history of the slit scan process.

[@MrGotmymojoworkin]

What a great project. Your own slitscan stargate is very beautiful. All that painstaking work delivered a result that possesses clean quality and potency. Congratulations.

[@benjaminwigley4132]

RIP you visual genius... i hope you saw something this magical as your journey began...

[@Gambit771]

This is what I've been looking for. An explanation and demonstration of how special\visual effects were done before computers. It's a shame there isn't more on the topic.

[@Lighthouse_Leadership]

This is fantastic! I’ve been curious for years on this technique!

[@herseem]

Kudos to you for going to such trouble to recreate a special effect the old way, explaining it and demonstrating it

[@mvan8307]

Dude that turned out sick for being a shade tree lego rig. That star gate sequence has always been a big favorite for me in 2001 space Odyssey, way to go on your production

[@nuvostef]

This is great! 2001 is one of my favorite flicks. You did a good job in this homage. 🤙🏼

[@brentarnold777]

Loved the video. I appreciate it. Being untrained or educated in the film making process, I had to look up this technique to know that there is a compositing step too.

[@novadeviator]

amazing docu. great information and storytelling. explained well how the slitscanning worked for the film. and very funny and well made final travel through it! educational and entertaining! thanks!

[@mishinka]

Amazing overview, technical acumen and insight. THANK YOU!

[@pcostel1]

Great video! This thoroughly answered all the questions I had about this amazing sequence.

[@andrewau1993]

you are real lover of film-making. You are a worthy talent of film-making industry.

[@dakotz1912]

Very cool, the amount of work you put in this deserves way more views

[@33lex55]

lol, Kubrick put the Sci back into the Fi.... After all these years, it's still a very impressive movie.

[@Korgi_Polymer]

This video gave me a huge smile, Subscribed!

[@maxheadrom3088]

I'd love to see an episode about Barry Lyndon's cameras. Awesome video, great work!

[@thebionicledude]

This stuff is just awesome the actual definition of it good job man you never seize too amaze me

[@Dartr]

Your are great guy! First one who REALLY explain me this technic, thank you very much!

[@XanceMRevola]

It's amazing that the scaling down of the model changed the look of the sequence as much as it did. It felt so much more crowded.

[@hacked2bits]

nice work! interesting to me as I love film and have learnt a bit about steppers and timing belts having made my own 3d printer so may have a go at reproducing your work, thankyou for sharing your hard work! Kubrik rocks!

[@mathewgilroy8362]

Thank you for educating us. I love the mechanical creative genius that was of pre cgi cinema. Cheers!

[@excitedme530]

wow, this video is awesome. such an underrated channel

[@joek2073]

Great video! I've been curious about this for SO LONG!! Turns out it's just as complicated as I had imagined, hahaha ✌️😁

[@paulklee5790]

This is brilliant... the knowledge lives on... thank you so much..!

[@geraldhannibal7654]

So interesting. I spent some times as a camera assistant at Cygnet Films, Bushey , Hertfordshire where Wally Veevers did all the special travelling matte effects for 2001. This used huge glass panels synchronized for double exposure shots dropping cutouts into blanks on background shots. Unfortunately he never received the credit due to him.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

That is amazing!

[@emendymedia]

Phenomenal, well done for your efforts, loved it!

[@ypaulbrown]

this was fantastic, as a slide show animator of the 80's and early 90's, I really appreciate this as I spent many years exposing 35mm film with a 800 pound camera setup.....cheeers, Paul

[@kentvandervelden]

Amazing explanation and demonstration! Fantastic dedication!

[@Dolores5000]

So daam brilliant!! So fully as you travelled thru your stargate! Fantastic:)

[@louispepin3659]

The scene that depict time warp best is when your glasses are askew.