Material Emancipation Grill

The Material Emancipation Grill as it appears in Portal 2.

The Aperture Science Material Emancipation Grill (also known as Emancipation Grills or fizzlers), are shimmering, semi-transparent particle fields that appear in the Aperture Science testing facilities. Emancipation Grills disintegrate any object and blocks any portal that passes through, while allowing the player and the Handheld Portal Device to pass without issue.

Function

The primary function of the Emancipation Grid is to vaporize any unauthorized equipment that passes through it while allowing test subjects and the ASHPD to pass through. When something is vaporized, the object turns black, hovers in mid-air, and disintegrates, emitting small flames and sparks. In Portal 2, this is accompanied with a loud sound when the object comes in contact with the Grid. The Emancipation Grid will glow brightly in Portal 2 as objects approach it to warn the player that it will vaporize the object once they come into contact. Portals also cannot pass through the Grid.

The Emancipation Grid also causes the Handheld Portal Device to shake, signalling that it has "rebooted", and that any portals that have been placed have now been removed. This functions to give the player a clean slate upon starting a new test. It also prevents players from navigating the Aperture Science testing facilities quickly by using portals.

Appearance

Portal

In Portal, the Emancipation Grids appear as incandescent particle fields in many different locations.

Portal 2

In Portal 2, Emancipation Grids appear more solid in nature compared to Portal. They are light blue in coloring and have a shimmering water-like appearance. In the developer commentary, it was noted that they look this way to appear more "safe" to players, while still showing that there is a barrier to inanimate objects.

Gallery

• 

  Emancipation Grill in Portal

• 

  A larger Emancipation Grill, used in a test chamber in Portal 2

• 

  A vaporized Discouragement Redirection Cube in Portal 2

Trivia

• The Borealis was designed to contain Emancipation Grids, as seen in this blueprint.