Fabrizio Storaro, Dune Visual FX Designer

Frank Herbert's Dune visual effects designer Fabrizio Storaro created the "translites" — gigantic, artistic backdrop-type creations he composed in the computer.

The Roman native and his father, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, spearheaded the translite concept and have brought the art to a number of cinematic projects.

Fabrizio Storaro's major projects include the Argentinean film Tango, directed by Carlos Saura; Goya, also directed by Saura, and which netted Storaro a Spanish Academy Award Nomination for Best Special Effects; and Concorrenza Sleale, an Italian film directed by Ettore Scola.

To create a unique atmosphere for specific sets on Dune, Storaro worked closely with director John Harrison, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro and production designer Miljen "Kreka" Kljakovic. Employing his artistic aptitude, Storaro created the images, which were printed at a specialized company in Italy then hung as backdrops to the sets. Vittorio Storaro's team then lit the translites according to the needs of each scene and desired mood.

The images are enormous, 85 meters by 11 meters, and Dune actors remarked that the translites helped them become immersed in the atmosphere, to further carry them into the story while acting.

Storaro composed translite images from the desert dunes — a version of which is seen on this website — to the Geidi Prime world as seen from inside the Imperial Palace, a visual masterpiece of color, design and style.

Said Storaro of creating the Dune translites: "It was a great experience to combine different images to create a completely new fantasy world."