Post date: June 19, 2020 5:01:36 PM
In the modern use of green screens, the color is chosen for it’s specific range of hue and saturation. Since it’s quite different from most other colors found in nature, skin, and other materials, it is relatively easy to replace these green pixels with a specified background. This processing usually needs to be done in post, and there is often a green edge around various objects in the scene similar to chromatic aberration.
Projector based backgrounds use an even simpler trick by simply producing a video image behind the main subject in a film. This is often best done when the background doesn’t need to be in focus and can be blurred out. The benefits of using projector over green screen is simplicity, and better color accuracy since the surrounding lighting isn’t tinted green. Although the projection works effect degrades as you change angles.
In the case of the Mandalorian, they surround their soundstage with 360 degrees of curved led panels that form a ring, as well as a ceiling led panel. Pinpoint led lighting can be achieved from all angles, and the scenes lightings comes from all angles. This makes for a very convincing scene that can be dramatically changed based on the “surrounding†light.
Whats special about this wall of LEDs is that the scenes are created an Epic Games’s Unreal Engine 4. With special sensors throughout the soundstage and the camera, the visuals can be displayed from the correct angle within the digital scene. This effectively achieves three dimensional backgrounds that can be changed on the fly. Those filming it can see the effects in real time and make corrections. The director could have an artist make a quick change on lighting or color, or even move or remove an object in the scene. When the camera is rolling, you get a live image of what the real footage looks like which can cut down on certain creative limitations on a set.
This is an industry first, and I expect to see this kind of technology keep improving and produce faster turnaround times for production, and better looking scenes with more realistic lighting for places that traditionally have used green screen.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/Ufp8weYYDE8