Pattinson's Black Mystery Dots Explained

While we never mind shirtless pictures of Robert Pattinson, a particular set of New Moon shots released last week showed beloved Rpattz bare-chested and covered in black dots.

RadarOnline.com went to movie magic experts for some answers, and worry not fans--it's all for the sake of Edward Cullen.

Animation pro Mar Elephano says the dots are for Moon's CGI team, used as markers in creating the diamond effect that Twilight saga vampires experience when exposed to sunlight.

"These are markers to help the person who is creating the effect put the diamonds on his body later and it will be composited,²  Elephano, production supervisor in the animation department at USC's School of Cinematic Arts, tells us.

"When he moves the diamonds stay with him in 3-D space, farther and closer, the shape of the diamond will change depending on how far or close he is when he moves from the camera.²

While the effect certainly makes audiences swoon, it doesn't come cheap.

"This CGI can cost $5,000 a second!" Elephano reveals. If last week's shots of Kristen Stewart's Bella running into Edward's arms by a fountain in Montepulciano is about eight seconds long--that's $40,000!

Money well spent! And who is the lucky staffer that gets to decorate Rob in his diamond dots?

"There is a special effect crew that is assigned specifically to apply these things. They have adhesives, and they are just reflective material.  They don¹t want it to be the same color as his skin, they are the opposite, white skin and dark dots, Elephano said.

(Photo: INFphoto.com)