Trumbull is generally credited with having pioneered the use of the cloud tank for Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, which was some years after the end of TOS. The technique was actually invented in 1947, but I can't think of anything in TOS that looks plausibly like it. Of course, the technique was used in The Wrath Of Khan, but that's not TOS.
Not sure what he's referring to. I think I read somewhere that the Murasaki 312 effect was done in a tank.
According to the book Star Trek: The Original Series 365 (p. 236), the ameoba was created was by Frank Van der Veer, and created was made by placing colored liquid (most likely mineral oil) between two closely spaced sheets of glass, and by moving the glass to make the liquid undulate. As to the original Murasaki 312, it looks to be a smoke element.
You're right. Now that I think about it, whatever it was that I read said it was a smoke effect. My old brain...
Though it won't tell you anything minus knowing what's in the footage, here are the names of the tabs currently open in my Final Cut timeline. Act 4.01 Spin out Act 4.02 Distraction Act 4.03 Two for the price of one Act 4.04 Terminal action Act 4.05 Steady as she goes Act 4.06 Rocking and rolling Act 4.09 Tag
FYI, startrekhistory.com has more than a few examples of what are allegedly cloud tank effects shots (or at least something very close to a cloud tank).
Open the link and click the PREV arrow four times to see the example. When I think "cloud tank" I think of the effect as per CE3K (Close Encounters 3rd Kind for you young ones) that is intended to create what actually looks like clouds, and which uses salt and fresh water to create a "floor" for the cloud effect, but using inks and dyes, etc., in a water tank probably still qualifies. That said, I'm struggling to think of another example on Star Trek aside from Murasaki 312. Here's a great description of the CE3K cloud tank technique (link). EDIT: As Dennis mentioned, the first documented use of a cloud tank technique in a motion picture was in 1947 for "The Beginning or the End", a fictionalized account of the creation of the atom bomb. You can see the resulting mushroom cloud effects at 4:34 in the trailer here (link)(sorry there's an ad to sit through).
As an aside, I recommend cycling through the whole loop at startrekhistory.com. The Tholian head movie was particularly interesting for me personally.
It's always been my understanding that the Wicked Witch's "SURRENDER DOROTHY" sky writing seen in "The Wizard Of Oz" was done in a tank....
http://www.oocities.org/rubyslipper5/special.html Also, a little bit of home town color: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_Dorothy
Yep...thought so...Thanks! It's nice to get confirmation on what I have rattling around in my dusty brain....
Well, that's the edit, which will be subject to changes. Then comes finishing all the VFX, sound, and scoring. I should add that each one of these can represent from one to three minutes of action.
It always looked to me like a combination of water tank F/X and some sped-up and color filtered footage of a cloudy sunset.
Clearly, that's the most plausible explanation. Anyhoo... Thanks Maurice for your updates and I'm looking forward to the final product.
Moving along... ...here's a "behind the scenes" shot from the B-camera, catching the A-camera being propelled down the corridor set. Since it as shot on an actual studio stage, TTI features a number of high-angle shots, as there was room to get the camera well above the tops of the sets.