optical printer

American  

noun

1. a film printer used in making optical effects, consisting basically of a camera that photographs the image with special lenses to enlarge, reduce, distort, etc., and a projector that transfers the image to the print stock, as distinguished from a contact printer.

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Etymology

Origin of optical printer

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

The figure is photographed against a blue background and then combined in an optical printer with the scene into which it will be placed.

From Time Magazine Archive