What Is A Cucoloris?

A cucoloris, or cookie, is a tool used to break up man-made light sources and make them look more natural. It is also used to cut or shape light in order to cast specific shadows. This is extremely useful in creating the illusion that a scene shot in a sound stage was filmed in a completely different location just by casting the right shadows.

There are generally three types of cookies:

1. The most common type of cookie is made from plywood and has abstract shapes cut out of it for light to pass through.
2. Another type of cookie is called a “celo” cookie, and it is made from a screen material similar to the screen used in a storm window or back door with random shapes cut out of it as well. Celo cookies are used to create more subtle shadow patterns.
3. A third type of cookie is known as brancholorises or dingles, and they are tree limbs or other objects that can be placed between the light source and the subject to cast more natural shadows.

Learn more about the different types of cookies and how they can drastically change a scene:

“Types of cookies | Video production | lynda.com” by LinkedIn Learning

For more tips on how to make your own cookies, check out the following video tutorial:

“TUTORIAL: DIY Cookies / Cucoloris” by DroiMedia

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