When creating machinima, many producers do there best to create scenes that can be easily replicated by ordinary viewers in there own homes on their own systems. They do their best to use only the props and objects that naturally appear in the game. Although this helps keep the series true to the game it was created from and keeps the series looking realistic in terms of the animation and graphics provided by the game.
Using only in game graphics however, is very limiting. Many games do not allow players to add or manipulate props other than weapons and vehicles. Even then, the game has very specific rules about how those props can be manipulated. Some areas do allow objects to be added under any circumstances, and those objects will only appear under certain conditions. If they are moved, they will often disappear after a period of time.
Although producers try to remain true to the in game props, there are times when different objects and settings become necessary to the story. In cases such as these there are several options for producers.
The graves of Tex and Church. An example of photoshopping.
By using photo editing tools, the producers can add in any number of props for any reason. To illustrate such points as the death of characters, or to hang signs in areas that normally do not have them, the producer needs only to go in and during post-production, ‘photoshop’ in grave markers or simulated pieces of paper. With careful editing and choice of prop, the edits can appear almost natural, as though they appear in the game naturally. The graves and wrench that appear in Red Vs. Blue are examples of edited props that, at first glance, look as though they belong in the scene. They are not objects intended to be a part of a visual joke, so it only makes sense that they be designed to blend in. For props such as clothing or signs that are intended to be jokes inside of themselves, there is no attempt to make them appear as though they belong.
In the same thread as added props, there are numerous visual effects that producers add to scenes in order to drive in points are make certain plot points work.
One of the first visual effects that the producers of Red Vs. Blue used was that of the appearance of the infamous Ghost of Church. When the plot of the story called for one of the characters to die and return soon after as a ghost, the producers had to figure out a way for the character to appear different than others, and be immediately identified as a spirit rather than a person. To achieve this, they needed to make the character appear practically transparent.
To create this effect, the producers had to film scenes containing the ghost character twice. The first time contained the fully opaque character performing actions and acting out dialogue. The second shot had to be filmed at the exact same location and at the same angle, only without the character. The scenes were then laid on top of each other during postproduction, diluting the scene under the character appeared practically transparent, and the scenery could be seen through him.
The Ghost of Church.
A second dramatic visual effect the producers used involves a baby alien that appears in the fifth season of the series. Although the character that is used for the alien in available in normal gameplay, the producers needed to shrink down the human sized being to one no taller a few feet. Although the producers have yet to explain how they created the effect, it has been theorized that the character was filmed separately and shrunk down using an editing tool. After the character had been shrunk, the moving image was reinserted into the original film.
Tucker's baby. A normal sized character shrunk down in post production.
