Remember to use the scanning area! The total
scanning area is visible on most television sets, but there
is a 10-percent loss on others. Therefore, keep all
pertinent information within the essential or “safe” area.
This is especially critical when you use words.
TYPES OF VISUALS
The types and uses of visuals are limited only by
your imagination. Visuals come in various forms, each
having a name that makes it easily identifiable to
production and artwork staff members.
The following is a list of the major types of tele-
vision visuals:
studio card
Plain title card
Combination title card
Super/key card
Chroma key card
Maps and charts
Character generator
Computer graphics
Studio Card
The studio card may be a mounted photograph or an
illustration. It sits on an easel and maybe a plain card
(words only) or an illustration or picture with words.
Combining words and illustrations requires the
coordination of two video sources, such as a character
generator and art.
Plain Title Card
The plain title card has printed lettering (without
any pictorial background), such as the title of the show,
the name of the performers and producer, and so forth.
Rich, deep color backgrounds with light lettering make
reading easy.
Combination Title Card
The combination title card has lettering against
may be either artwork or photography. The lettering may
be either on the card itself or on an overlay.
Super/Key Card
During the showing of a super/key card, the card
lettering is superimposed electronically over another
background (or over another picture) from either
another camera or from a film chain camera. This
technique is an accepted form for placing the name of
the subject on the air while the subject is talking. Use
only simple, bold letters and try to restrict the amount
of information on the super/key card. Normally you
should avoid white lettering on a black background,
because the contrast between the two is too great.
Nonetheless, in this case, the lettering must be white and
the background black.
Use caution when you plan the super/key card. You
must consider how two camera shots will look as one
picture. In addition, you should place lettering in the
lower third of the card and center the card on the picture.
This is done so you will not obstruct the background or
the main action.
Chroma Key Card
The chroma key card is similar to the super card,
except the background for the lettering is usually blue
instead of black and the letters are i-reprinted on the
card The background of the card may be any color.
However, most television producers use a chroma-blue
background color, because it makes skin tones appear
natural and suppresses picture distortion.
Through electronic means, the chroma-blue
background becomes transparent during the matting
process, only showing the typically white or yellow
letters. The camera picture from the second camera
shows through without interfering with the foreground
image. The chroma key matting process appears to the
viewer as a rear screen projection, such as when the
picture is keyed (shown) behind an announcer or is a
boxed support graphic inserted alongside the announcer.
The video source may be a VCR or a live television
camera shooting a studio card.
Maps and Charts
Maps and charts are also important visual aids for
pictorial information for the background. The picture
television programs, especially newscasts.
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