Has there ever been any explanation as to why the navigational deflector on the enterprise kept changing color from white to blue throughout the course of the movie? Was this intentional or a production problem?
In TMP...why does the deflector keep changing color?
- Thread starter Gotham Central
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Blue is the powered up state of the deflector. I assume they went to yellow inside V'ger since it was either unneeded or they were locked in a tractor beam and it was shut down along with all other main propulsion systems.
As a powered component, I would imagine the different colors reflect different power levels.
I cannot recall the times of each color, but I believe there was yellow and blue and amber colors. Yes?
I guess colors would be seen for basic power ON status while docked, then another color when running at low impulse speed. Another color for warp, maybe another for high warp speed.
I cannot recall the times of each color, but I believe there was yellow and blue and amber colors. Yes?
I guess colors would be seen for basic power ON status while docked, then another color when running at low impulse speed. Another color for warp, maybe another for high warp speed.
Blue appears to be for most impulse speeds since it is visible when passing Jupiter.
Andy Probert told me that the idea was that the deflector went blue when the ship was prepared to go into or in warp, which explains why it is dull amber in Earth orbit and after V'ger seizes the ship in its tractor beam. I would assume it's lit blue at Jupiter because that's where Kirk says they are "One point eight hours from launch" and "risk using warp drive", so they're revved up.
...Of course, one would think the deflector would be sorely needed at high relativistic speeds, too.
Since all later deflectors glow a constant blue at all flight modes, we might just as well decide that the unit in TMP took a long time to warm up after ignition - either because that was the nature of the hardware, because the hardware was brand new and untested and the engineers were being careful with it, or because the hardware was faulty.
Timo Saloniemi
Since all later deflectors glow a constant blue at all flight modes, we might just as well decide that the unit in TMP took a long time to warm up after ignition - either because that was the nature of the hardware, because the hardware was brand new and untested and the engineers were being careful with it, or because the hardware was faulty.
Timo Saloniemi
I actually like the different colors for different operating states, and I think it shows the care and attention to detail that the effects team paid to their work on TMP.
My understanding was as has been stated here; namely, that the amber color was for when the deflector was not in use, such as when docked or using maneuvering thrusters and perhaps at impulse and the blue color was for any time the deflector was needed, such as when traveling at warp.
Of course, all of this comes from off-screen sources such as tech manuals and statements by the designers. None of it was ever stated on screen as part of the almighty canon.
My understanding was as has been stated here; namely, that the amber color was for when the deflector was not in use, such as when docked or using maneuvering thrusters and perhaps at impulse and the blue color was for any time the deflector was needed, such as when traveling at warp.
Of course, all of this comes from off-screen sources such as tech manuals and statements by the designers. None of it was ever stated on screen as part of the almighty canon.
Illia was messing around with the RGB sliders on her navigation console.
