Matte Paintin'

Matte painting is where a artist will paint a 2 dimensional picture, and the picture will be filmed behind several 3 dimensional elements to give it depth. Its a alternative to the green screen although this method does not need extra editing after filming the raw footage because the background is filmed and not put in at the editing stages.

In 1905 Norman Dawn developed the technique so he could combine a photograph and painting to improve the environment taken by the camera. Films in the 1900's have been using Matte painting before green screening there was no Chroma keying software about, so being able to film a scene or shot with the background already painted in was the main option for many film producers.

Star Wars was notorious for using Matte painting especially as their sets where space stations with different futuristic vehicles, planets, futuristic cities such as Coruscant and big space which wouldn't be available by using sets. Lucasfilms really managed to make the matte painting in the star wars saga work, it was very well done as adding a good bit of depth to the painting it really made each location really look like a futuristic star ship should(if they should make star ships in the future)