12 Tips to Mastering Virtual Production

1. Don't cast light on the LED wall.

Lighting can make or break the overall visual impact of a shot. When casting light directly on the LED wall, it can cause unwanted light spill. Unwanted light spill can compromise the visual integrity of the virtual environment. It washes out the environment, revealing the tiles and the wall. Your LED wall can function as your fill lighting, with your key lighting focused on your talent. Position your talent far enough away from the wall and focus the lighting on them or the practical set instead. Positioning them too close to the wall, will cause your lighting to wash out the LED.

2. Don't focus on the LED wall.

When working with LED walls, oftentimes you can run into a situation known as Moire. Moire is a visual pattern or interference that occurs when two regular grids or repetitive patterns overlap or are superimposed, creating an unintended and often unwanted optical effect. It manifests as a series of wavy lines or irregular patterns that can distort the clarity and detail of the image.

By focusing on the subjects and elements in front of the LED wall, you ensure that the LED itself stays out of focus, thereby avoiding Moiré patterns. The placement of your talent and other elements depends on the size of the volume. Our Virtual Art Department will collaborate with you during the pre-visualization stage to ensure everything is perfectly positioned in relation to the wall. 

3. Triple-check your color space pipeline.

To maximize your color range, it's crucial to maintain the same color space throughout your entire pipeline. This consistency ensures you’re utilizing the full spectrum of available colors.

Think of this like a box of crayons: if your LED can represent a box of 64 crayons, you don’t want to then limit it to a box of only 32 crayons in your camera. Thoroughly validate your color space pipeline by rigorously confirming consistency across all stages to optimize the utilization of the broadest spectrum of available colors.

4. Triple-check your genlock signals.

By genlocking, you are ensuring all your cameras, recording devices, processors, tracking systems and servers are synchronized. When they are synchronized, it ensures that your video output can switch from source to source without any issues. Triple-check your genlock signals so that you can be confident about the synchronization and seamlessness of your final product.

5. Test your content on an LED volume early to identify issues.

It is essential to test your content on an LED volume as early as possible to detect any possible issues. Early testing mitigates potential challenges, both in terms of visual aesthetics and technical performance. The earlier in the process testing is complete, the more time you allow for adjustments and corrections, guaranteeing a polished final product. 

At Meptik, we seamlessly blend creativity with technical precision, enabling early testing to deliver the best possible product. Our rigorous testing process focuses on several key aspects: scene performance, identifying bugs or visual anomalies, and ensuring everything looks as expected through the camera. We complete thorough previsualization and technical visualization before every shoot to guarantee flawless execution on set.

6. Vet your shot list for optimal virtual production integration.

Not all shots will benefit from a virtual production workflow. The nature of some shots leaves traditional shooting methods to be the most effective. Before you begin production, it’s important to review your shot list to determine which shots will benefit from virtual production and which will not. Reach out to your Virtual Art Department early on to help you select the shots that are best suited for LED Volume production. 

Are you filming in a location that would be too dangerous/expensive to film in (think a blizzard in the Arctic), do you need a very specific lighting set-up for a long time (like an endless golden hour), or are you on a time crunch and need to film in five different places in one day? These are some examples where virtual production might be a better path compared to physical location shoots. Check out this blog for more ideas.

7. Don't overcomplicate your Virtual Art; assess the need for 3D.

Sometimes, a simpler visual approach yields quicker and more cost-effective results. Leveraging different visual techniques allows for creative freedom while maximizing efficiency. Don't overcomplicate your virtual environments – 3D isn't always needed. Sometimes 2D plates, 2.5D, or a blend of 3D and 2D can help you achieve your goals more efficiently and in more cost-effective ways. To learn more about the different types of content, their differences, benefits and stipulations, check out this recent blog post.

8. Pre-viz your virtual assets from the very beginning of pre-production.

Early visualization facilitates better decision-making and alignment with the overall creative vision. By visualizing your content from the very beginning stages of pre-production, you can enhance the decision-making process and ensure alignment with the overall creative vision. This proactive approach allows for a more thorough exploration of ideas, the identification of potential challenges, and the implementation of strategic solutions to elevate the quality and impact of your final product, while getting everyone on the same page. 

At Meptik, our Virtual Art Department collaborates closely with the director and the director of photography of each project to meticulously plan each shot. Through previsualization, we ensure that the shots are tailored to the specific camera being used, guaranteeing they are both achievable and cinematic. This process builds confidence and ensures preparedness for shooting on-set. Make sure to select a Virtual Art Department early on in your production process to ensure seamless execution and exceptional results. 

9. Collaboration and Communication

Virtual production often involves collaboration between various departments, including directors, producers, cinematographers, and visual effects (VFX) artists. Effective communication and collaboration are crucial to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding the creative vision and technical requirements. Foster collaboration between the virtual production team and post-production VFX artists. A seamless transition of data and assets from the virtual production stage to post-production is crucial for maintaining the creative vision and ensuring a cohesive final product.

10. Match the physical with the virtual lighting

Lighting consistency is key in virtual production. Ensure the lighting between live-action elements and virtual environments is aligned by matching key aspects such as the direction of the main light source, the intensity and color of key lights, and the intensity of fill lighting and shadows. This alignment is essential for creating a cohesive and realistic look when bridging realities.

11. Take advantage of light reflections

One of the largest benefits of using LED stages is that light reflections off the LED Volume are a desired side effect of LED virtual production, unlike the dreaded green spill that is part of using a green screen. The light reflections on actors, props, and set pieces aid in creating a cinematic feel and help with consistent lighting across the virtual and physical space. Reflective materials, such as metal, glass, or transparent materials, can be used in wardrobes or as objects throughout the production, without having to worry about keying out the green spill in post. Experiment with different materials and lighting techniques to discover unique and effective reflection techniques that might enhance the overall production quality.

12. Plan out your networks accordingly 

Well-planned networks are the backbone of successful virtual production. By carefully planning your networks, you can optimize data transfer, ensuring seamless communication and efficient operations. This strategic approach not only boosts productivity but also fosters a robust digital environment that can adapt to evolving production needs.