Why we need an LED tile test

LED Tile Imaging Test and Comparison for Virtual Production?

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Wishing to achieve and create a photorealistic real-time composited scene in a LED VP studio - as viewed through a camera - is dependent on many factors:

• the quality of the images and scene displayed on the LED wall
• set dressing to blend the physical world with the virtual world
• whether pipeline colour calibration has been implemented (accurately)
• the quality of the lighting match between the studio talent/actors and the LED wall scene

Focusing in on the LED wall, even with a high quality photographic scene and the best possible image processor, whether the LED wall scene looks real and photo realistically blends with the set and talent as viewed through a camera, is determined to a much greater extent by the imaging quality of the LED wall tile. Except, as it stands today none of this exists. Instead, many studios are selecting tiles based purely on their own or their peers’ empirical evaluation, on LED manufacturer marketing, or based upon what the film industry and live events industry understands is best.

As quatifiably there is little or no LED tile standard, certification, comparison, or recommendation that informs an LED tile buyer or LED tile user e.g. a Cinematographer, whether a particular LED tile is well suited for VP, or not, which is a huge consideration and a key reason for the testing..?

A LED wall that comprises LED tiles with inferior imaging will impact the various VP actors in different ways:

●? Cinematographers - will struggle to match the lighting of the studio talent with the LED wall scene to achieve a photorealistic blend, and consequently it will take longer to light scenes

●? Producers - will see lower shot throughput, reduced photorealism, and higher than expected post-production costs for correcting shots that require adjusting.

●? LED VP studios - will see lower levels of satisfaction amongst their production company clients, with potentially fewer returning customers and lower occupation rates, perhaps due to unseen extra costs?

Having established the need for superior and accurate imaging LED tiles for VP, we would naturally look towards a standard, a test, or certification to identify these LED tiles. Except, as it stands none of this exists. Instead, many studios are selecting tiles based purely on their own or their peers’ empirical evaluation, on LED manufacturer marketing, or based upon what the film industry and live events industry believes are the best LED tiles. All of these methods are purely subjective, and could easily lead to the wrong LED tile being selected.

Adding to the challenge, the users of LED VP studios - the Producers, Cinematographers, and Directors - with so many other aspects of a production to consider, rely on the LED VP studios to have selected the best LED VP tiles. They expect the LED VP studios to have implemented an accurate pipeline for colour calibration, and to have set up their studio correctly to deliver simplified lighting matches and efficient shot throughput. However, the only way production teams can verify this with a LED VP studio, is to ask them ahead of the shoot, and accept what they say. The true test will come on the first day of shooting, and that’s too late to learn that there’s a problem.

The Solution

What the industry requires is a comprehensive LED tile test and verified certification, conducted by an independent impartial entity that is trusted and endorsed by industry bodies, along with a recommended LED VP specification. In addition, to extract the best from these tested LED VP tiles, we need a colour pipeline calibration service with certification, so that Producers, Cinematographers, and Directors know which LED VP studios are using the best LED VP tiles and which have been colour calibrated correctly.

ColorQ is developing an LED tile test and certification, with recommendations for a LED VP specification, with an accurate and verified colour pipeline calibration test and certification. Taken together, Producers, Cinematographers, and Studio owners will have the basic tools to select and use the right LED tiles for LED VP. First release is expected at IBC 2024 in September.