10 Best Uses Of Special Effects In Star Trek

9. Welcome Home, Enterprise

Almost everything about Spacedock was time-consuming and exhaustive but effects supervisor Kenneth Ralston was very satisfied (with one notable exception) with the outcome in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock.

The interior of Spacedock was constructed with about twenty feet in diameter. Those giant space doors, in reality, built in miniature, were fully functioning. To achieve the effect of lights shining through thousands of windows, the entire filming model was constructed from perspex, then small sections were scratched clear. Neon, blue lights were shone from inside.

The lounge that features on both the Enterprise's return and departure was a full set built in front of the then-largest bluescreen in the world. Half of the window frames were constructed, while the rest were filled in via a matte painting. 

Overall, Spacedock remains one of the most visually striking models, and overall effects, in the franchise. Ralston was frustrated when, while attending a screening, he noticed there was a 'pea-soup green' hue on some of the interiors - despite several arguments with the art department on the colour he wanted the shots to contain. He calmed down when he saw that his colleagues were more than happy with the overall result.