blue screen

noun

Updated on: 5 Apr 2018

Definition of blue screen

: a photographic technique in which a subject is filmed in front of a blue background so as to allow matte compositing of the film with other footage; also : the blue background

Recent Examples of blue screen from the Web

Microsoft has suspended delivering the latest Windows update to certain systems with AMD processors after reports that the update was causing the machines to crash with a blue screen of death when booting.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "Bad docs and blue screens make Microsoft suspend Spectre patch for AMD machines," 9 Jan. 2018
With miniatures, blue screens and an artist's eye, Richard Edlund helped create a universe that has captivated audiences for decades.

— ben brazil, latimes.com, "Special-effects trailblazer who oversaw original 'Star Wars' trilogy brings his expertise to Chapman University," 15 Mar. 2018
The Choose Your School app opens to a blue screen with a start button and a smiley face with thought bubbles on the top.

— silvia foster-frau, San Antonio Express-News, "Apps created by area students get congressional praise," 12 Jan. 2018
Eventually, the blue screen behind her will be replaced with billowy clouds against an impossible sky.

— TIME.com, "A Wrinkle in Time," 19 Dec. 2017
Around the world, 18 effects houses had started creating the hundreds of shots that would fill in all those blue screens.

— dan kois, New York Times, "The Superweirdo Behind ‘Thor: Ragnarok’," 19 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blue screen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.