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Compositing Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: Principles and Techniques of Visual Effects Compositing

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Principles and Techniques of Visual Effects Compositing Study Guide

Foundations of Compositing

The primary objective of compositing is to integrate visual elements from separate sources into single images, thereby creating the illusion that they are part of the same scene.

Answer: True

Explanation: The fundamental purpose of compositing is indeed the seamless integration of disparate visual elements to foster the perception of a unified scene.

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The fundamental procedure underlying all compositing methodologies involves the replacement of portions of one image with material derived from a different source.

Answer: True

Explanation: The core principle of compositing, irrespective of the method employed, is the substitution or integration of visual information from one source into another.

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The four fundamental methods of compositing discussed are digital, physical, projection, and multiple exposure.

Answer: False

Explanation: The text identifies digital compositing, physical compositing, multiple exposure, and background projection as the four basic methods, not projection as a standalone category alongside digital and physical.

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The core mechanism of compositing invariably involves replacing foreground elements with a background.

Answer: False

Explanation: Compositing's core mechanism is the replacement or integration of image parts, not exclusively the replacement of foreground with background. It can involve integrating elements into existing scenes or creating entirely new compositions.

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What is the fundamental definition of compositing in visual effects?

Answer: Combining visual elements from separate sources into single images to create a unified scene.

Explanation: Compositing is defined as the process or technique of integrating visual elements originating from disparate sources into a unified single image. The objective is to generate the verisimilitude that all constituent elements belong to a singular, coherent scene.

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What is the fundamental mechanism at the heart of all compositing methods?

Answer: Replacing selected parts of an image with material from a different source.

Explanation: The core principle across all compositing techniques involves the selective substitution or integration of visual information from one source into another.

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Which of the following is NOT one of the four basic methods of compositing mentioned in the text?

Answer: Optical compositing

Explanation: The text enumerates digital compositing, physical compositing, multiple exposure, and background projection as the primary methods. Optical compositing is a broader category that encompasses some of these but is not listed as a distinct fourth method in this context.

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How does physical compositing fundamentally differ from digital compositing?

Answer: Physical compositing combines elements within a single photographic exposure, while digital compositing manipulates images post-capture.

Explanation: The core distinction lies in the timing and medium: physical compositing integrates elements during capture or optical printing, whereas digital compositing manipulates image data after capture.

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Digital Compositing Techniques

The assertion that compositing is exclusively a digital technique employed in contemporary filmmaking is inaccurate.

Answer: False

Explanation: Compositing encompasses both historical physical techniques and modern digital methods. While digital techniques are now predominant, they are not the sole approach.

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Terms such as chroma key, blue screen, and green screen are associated with the final composited image rather than the live-action shooting process.

Answer: False

Explanation: Chroma key, blue screen, and green screen are terms directly related to the live-action shooting process, specifically the technique of using a monochromatic background to facilitate the separation and replacement of elements during compositing.

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Digital compositing fundamentally relies on the replacement of specific color ranges within an image with corresponding pixels from an alternative source.

Answer: True

Explanation: A core mechanism in digital compositing involves identifying and replacing pixels within a designated color range, thereby integrating elements from different sources.

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Weather presenters frequently utilize complex, real-time generated backgrounds that are subsequently composited into their broadcasts.

Answer: False

Explanation: Weather presenters typically stand before a monochromatic screen (blue or green) which is then replaced by digitally composited graphics, such as weather maps. These backgrounds are not usually 'real-time generated' in the sense of being physically present environments.

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Natron is identified as software utilized for traditional animation, rather than for digital compositing.

Answer: False

Explanation: Natron is explicitly mentioned as software designed for and used in digital compositing, not traditional animation.

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Digital intermediates are defined as raw footage captured on set prior to the commencement of any post-production processes.

Answer: False

Explanation: Digital intermediates are high-quality video conversions of film footage, specifically created to facilitate digital post-production workflows, not raw on-set footage.

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Digital compositing has largely rendered techniques like rear projection obsolete due to its superior flexibility and ease of use.

Answer: True

Explanation: The advancements in digital compositing, offering greater flexibility and fewer technical limitations, have indeed led to the diminished use of older techniques like rear projection.

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Digital matting offers perfect registration but suffers from quality loss with each subsequent copy.

Answer: False

Explanation: Digital matting provides perfect registration and, crucially, allows for unlimited copying without any degradation of image quality, a significant advantage over traditional film methods.

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Digital compositing allows for perfect registration, thereby eliminating issues such as halos commonly found in traditional matting.

Answer: True

Explanation: A key advantage of digital matting is its pixel-level precision, which ensures perfect registration and avoids the edge artifacts like halos that plagued traditional film-based matting.

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Compositing enables subjects filmed in limited studio spaces to be integrated into digitally generated, expansive environments.

Answer: True

Explanation: This capability is a fundamental application of compositing, allowing for the creation of virtually limitless environments regardless of the original shooting location's constraints.

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Blue or green screens are utilized in television studios to facilitate the compositing of graphics behind presenters.

Answer: True

Explanation: The use of blue or green screens is a standard technique in broadcasting for enabling the seamless integration of graphics or virtual backgrounds behind presenters.

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The image associated with 'Advantages of digital mattes' demonstrates the subject being composited onto various new backgrounds.

Answer: True

Explanation: The visual example associated with digital matte advantages typically shows a subject isolated and reimposed onto multiple different backgrounds, illustrating flexibility.

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Which of the following is commonly used as a term for the live-action shooting process intended for compositing?

Answer: Chroma key

Explanation: Chroma key, along with blue screen and green screen, refers to the technique used during live-action shooting to isolate subjects for subsequent digital compositing.

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How is the vast majority of compositing achieved in the modern era?

Answer: Through digital image manipulation using specialized software.

Explanation: Contemporary compositing predominantly relies on digital image manipulation facilitated by specialized software, superseding many older physical and optical techniques.

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In digital compositing, how does software typically replace a background color?

Answer: By identifying and replacing every pixel that matches a designated color range.

Explanation: Digital compositing software identifies pixels within a specified color range (e.g., green screen) and replaces them with elements from another source image.

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What is Natron mentioned as in the context of visual effects?

Answer: An example of software used for digital compositing.

Explanation: Natron is cited as a representative example of software utilized for digital compositing, facilitating the manipulation and integration of digital imagery.

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What are 'digital intermediates' in filmmaking?

Answer: High-quality video conversions of film footage for post-production.

Explanation: Digital intermediates are high-fidelity digital versions of film footage, essential for enabling complex digital post-production processes like compositing.

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Why has digital compositing largely replaced techniques like rear projection?

Answer: Digital methods offer more flexibility and fewer potential artifacts.

Explanation: Digital compositing provides superior flexibility, control, and a reduced susceptibility to artifacts compared to the technical complexities of techniques like rear projection.

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What is a key advantage of digital matting over traditional matting regarding quality?

Answer: Digital images can be copied without loss of quality.

Explanation: A significant benefit of digital matting is the ability to duplicate images indefinitely without any degradation in quality, unlike the generational loss inherent in traditional film duplication.

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What does the source suggest is a primary benefit of digital matting over traditional matting?

Answer: It provides perfect registration and avoids quality degradation.

Explanation: Digital matting offers superior precision in registration and eliminates the quality degradation associated with multiple film generations, which were limitations of traditional matting.

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Historical and Physical Compositing Methods

Georges Méliès is recognized for pioneering digital compositing techniques in the early 20th century.

Answer: False

Explanation: Georges Méliès was a pioneer of pre-digital, in-camera special effects and early compositing techniques, not digital compositing, which emerged much later.

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Physical compositing involves the digital combination of elements after they have been filmed separately.

Answer: False

Explanation: Physical compositing is characterized by the integration of elements within a single photographic exposure, typically in-camera or through optical printing, rather than digital manipulation post-filming.

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Glass paintings and partial models are commonly utilized components in the practice of physical compositing.

Answer: True

Explanation: Glass paintings and scaled partial models are indeed frequently employed elements within physical compositing techniques to augment or extend scenes.

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Partial models in physical compositing are typically positioned close to the camera to achieve a larger apparent size.

Answer: False

Explanation: Partial models are typically placed at a considerable distance from the camera to ensure that both the model and the distant primary set remain in sharp focus simultaneously, not close to the camera to appear larger.

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A glass shot technique involves painting a background onto a glass pane positioned in front of the camera.

Answer: True

Explanation: The glass shot technique fundamentally involves painting a background onto a glass pane and filming live action through a clear section of that pane.

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In-camera multiple exposure necessitates rewinding the film to re-expose different segments of the frame.

Answer: True

Explanation: The creation of in-camera multiple exposures relies on the precise rewinding of film to allow for sequential exposures on different parts of the same frame.

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A double exposure composites multiple images across the entire frame, resulting in semi-transparent overlays.

Answer: True

Explanation: Double exposure involves layering multiple images across the entire frame, leading to a transparent effect where all images are partially visible.

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Background projection involves projecting a background image onto a screen situated behind foreground subjects for simultaneous filming.

Answer: True

Explanation: Background projection is a technique where a background is projected onto a screen behind the primary action, allowing both to be captured simultaneously.

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Rear projection requires the background image to be projected from the front onto a highly reflective screen.

Answer: False

Explanation: Rear projection involves projecting the background image from behind onto a translucent screen. Front projection uses a reflective screen and projects from the front.

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Georges Méliès famously employed seven-fold exposure techniques in his film 'The One-Man Band'.

Answer: True

Explanation: The film 'The One-Man Band' (L'homme-orchestre) is cited as an example where Méliès utilized seven-fold multiple exposure.

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Front projection utilizes a translucent screen to display the background.

Answer: False

Explanation: Front projection employs a highly reflective screen, whereas rear projection uses a translucent screen.

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The image associated with 'Multiple exposure' depicts Buster Keaton appearing as multiple characters simultaneously.

Answer: True

Explanation: The image referenced illustrates Buster Keaton's appearance as multiple characters in the same frame, a common application of multiple exposure.

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The process known as 'process shooting' is an alternative designation for front projection.

Answer: False

Explanation: 'Process shooting' is commonly used as a synonym for rear projection, not front projection.

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The primary challenge associated with multiple exposure compositing is ensuring the action in each exposure precisely matches the others.

Answer: True

Explanation: Achieving seamless integration in multiple exposures requires meticulous synchronization of action across all recorded segments, which is a significant technical hurdle.

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Physical compositing frequently employs partial models to construct realistic ceilings or upper building stories.

Answer: True

Explanation: Partial models serve as effective set extensions in physical compositing, commonly used for elements like ceilings or architectural facades.

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A variant of the glass shot technique involves affixing photo cutouts or paintings directly onto the glass pane.

Answer: True

Explanation: This variation modifies the standard glass shot by attaching discrete elements to the glass, rather than painting the entire background.

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Multiple exposure allows different images to be combined across the entire frame, resulting in transparency.

Answer: False

Explanation: This description accurately defines double exposure. Multiple exposure typically involves combining images on distinct sections of the frame, not necessarily across the entire frame with transparency.

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Background projection is primarily utilized for the addition of foreground elements to a scene.

Answer: False

Explanation: Background projection is specifically designed to provide background imagery, not to add foreground elements.

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Who is mentioned as an early practitioner of pre-digital compositing techniques from the late 19th century?

Answer: Georges Méliès

Explanation: Georges Méliès is recognized as a significant pioneer in early cinematic special effects, including pre-digital compositing methods employed in the late 19th century.

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What are partial models typically used for in physical compositing?

Answer: As scaled-down set extensions, like ceilings or building tops.

Explanation: Partial models are scaled-down replicas used to extend physical sets, commonly for architectural elements such as ceilings or upper building sections.

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What is a 'glass shot' technique in physical compositing?

Answer: Painting a background onto a glass pane and filming live action through a clear section.

Explanation: A glass shot involves painting a background onto a glass pane placed before the camera and filming the live action through a transparent area of that pane.

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Which film is cited as a classic example of a glass shot?

Answer: Gone with the Wind

Explanation: The film *Gone with the Wind* is cited as a classic example, particularly in its depiction of the approach to Ashley Wilkes' plantation.

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How is an in-camera multiple exposure created?

Answer: By exposing different parts of the film frame sequentially after rewinding.

Explanation: In-camera multiple exposure is achieved by rewinding the film and re-exposing specific segments of the frame, thereby combining multiple images within a single exposure.

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What is a key difference between multiple exposure and double exposure as described?

Answer: Double exposure layers images across the entire frame, causing transparency; multiple exposure uses distinct frame sections.

Explanation: Double exposure results in semi-transparent overlays across the entire frame, whereas multiple exposure typically combines distinct elements in separate frame sections.

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What is the primary function of background projection?

Answer: To add moving backgrounds behind foreground action captured simultaneously.

Explanation: Background projection is employed to integrate moving or static background imagery behind foreground action filmed concurrently.

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What does the image associated with 'Multiple exposure' depict?

Answer: Buster Keaton appearing multiple times in the same frame.

Explanation: The image associated with 'Multiple exposure' showcases Buster Keaton appearing as multiple distinct characters within a single frame, a classic application of the technique.

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What is a significant challenge mentioned regarding multiple exposure compositing?

Answer: The need for the action in each exposure to precisely match the others.

Explanation: A critical challenge in multiple exposure is ensuring the precise continuity and synchronization of action across all recorded segments to achieve a seamless composite.

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How are glass shots a variation from the standard glass shot technique?

Answer: They affix elements like photo cutouts or paintings to the glass.

Explanation: A variation of the glass shot technique involves attaching discrete elements, such as photographic cutouts or paintings, to the glass pane, rather than painting the entire background.

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Which technique involves projecting a background image onto a screen from behind the foreground action?

Answer: Rear projection (process shooting)

Explanation: Rear projection, also known as process shooting, utilizes a translucent screen onto which a background image is projected from behind the foreground action.

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According to the text, why might partial models in physical compositing need to be positioned far from the camera?

Answer: To ensure both the model and the main set remain in sharp focus simultaneously.

Explanation: Positioning partial models at a greater distance from the camera is crucial for achieving simultaneous sharp focus on both the model and the distant elements of the primary set.

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Traditional Matting and Its Evolution

Traditional matting combines film elements by printing them sequentially onto duplicate film using masks.

Answer: True

Explanation: Traditional matting is precisely this process: combining film elements through sequential printing onto a duplicate strip, employing masks to control which areas are exposed.

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A traveling matte is a type of mask used in traditional matting that remains stationary throughout the composite.

Answer: False

Explanation: A traveling matte is characterized by its dynamic nature; it moves and changes shape frame-by-frame to precisely track the subject, unlike a stationary matte.

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Traditional matting utilizing uniformly colored backings relies on the color recording as white on film.

Answer: False

Explanation: In traditional matting with monochromatic backings, the backing color is filtered out by the camera, causing it to record as black on the negative, which then develops as a clear area for compositing.

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Film drift and quality degradation are significant drawbacks associated with traditional matting techniques.

Answer: True

Explanation: The sequential printing and handling of multiple film elements in traditional matting introduced issues such as film drift (misalignment) and cumulative quality loss across generations.

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Traditional matting ensures perfect alignment due to its reliance on digital registration.

Answer: False

Explanation: Traditional matting is prone to alignment issues like film drift. Perfect registration is a hallmark of digital matting, not traditional methods.

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What is traditional matting?

Answer: Combining film elements by printing them sequentially onto duplicate film using masks.

Explanation: Traditional matting is a film-based process involving the sequential printing of different elements onto duplicate film stock, controlled by precisely defined masks.

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What specific issue could arise from 'film drift' in traditional matting?

Answer: Slight misalignment of film strips, causing artifacts like halos.

Explanation: Film drift refers to the slight misalignment of film elements during sequential printing, which can result in visual artifacts such as halos around composited objects.

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Compositing Applications and Examples

Virtual sets are exclusively physically constructed environments utilized as backgrounds in filmmaking.

Answer: False

Explanation: Virtual sets are environments generated using computer graphics, replacing physical backgrounds. They are not necessarily physically constructed.

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Set extensions are employed to digitally augment existing physical environments, thereby enhancing their realism or perceived scale.

Answer: True

Explanation: Set extensions are indeed digital additions to practical sets, used to expand the environment's scale or detail for increased realism.

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The film *Gladiator*'s Colosseum set extensions primarily involved compositing the lower sections of the arena.

Answer: False

Explanation: In *Gladiator*, the lower parts of the Colosseum were physically constructed, while the upper galleries and spectators were digitally composited onto the scene above the practical set.

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How are virtual sets created and utilized according to the text?

Answer: Using computer graphics programs to replace the background, potentially changing in real-time.

Explanation: Virtual sets are computer-generated environments that replace physical backgrounds, often capable of dynamic real-time adjustments to maintain perspective.

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The film *Gladiator* is used as an example of which compositing technique?

Answer: Set extensions

Explanation: The construction of the Colosseum in *Gladiator* is presented as a prime example of set extensions, where digital elements augment a physical set.

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Visual Media and Article Structure

The 'hatnote' sections within articles serve to clarify the topic and distinguish it from similar subjects.

Answer: True

Explanation: Hatnotes are indeed employed to disambiguate articles, guiding readers to related but distinct topics and clarifying the scope of the current page.

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The 'See also' section lists related concepts, including Alpha compositing and Matte painting.

Answer: True

Explanation: The 'See also' section is standard for providing links to conceptually related topics, such as Alpha compositing and Matte painting.

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The image caption for the basketball shot describes the addition of six basketballs to illustrate the shot's trajectory.

Answer: True

Explanation: The caption accurately states that six basketballs were composited into the image to visually represent the arc of the shot.

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The image associated with 'Matting' displays a diagram explaining the advantages of digital mattes.

Answer: False

Explanation: The image associated with 'Matting' illustrates the principle of traveling mattes, not the advantages of digital mattes.

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The 'External links' section provides links to related academic papers on compositing.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 'External links' section primarily links to Wiktionary for definitions and sister site connections, not academic papers.

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The 'References' section provides further reading suggestions for advanced compositing techniques.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 'References' section typically cites the sources used for factual information, while a separate 'Further reading' section would provide suggestions for deeper study.

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The first image caption explains how compositing can be utilized to demonstrate changes over time.

Answer: False

Explanation: The first image caption describes a video demonstrating background replacement, not the depiction of changes over time. The third image caption illustrates temporal change.

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The 'Further reading' section lists books and publications for deeper study on digital compositing.

Answer: True

Explanation: The 'Further reading' section is intended to provide resources for readers seeking more comprehensive information on the subject matter.

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The 'sister site box' within the article links to external video tutorials on compositing.

Answer: False

Explanation: The sister site box typically links to related Wikimedia projects, such as Wiktionary, rather than external video tutorials.

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Which image caption describes compositing photos taken over a century apart?

Answer: The third image caption (photos from different centuries).

Explanation: The third image caption specifically details a composite created from photographs of the same location taken over a century apart, illustrating temporal comparison.

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