Dealing with the Demands of Virtual Production and How LED Volumes Help

It’s easy to see why the virtual production industry is booming. The use of LED volumes affords crews complete control over lighting and environments, reduced location complexities and the big bonus of being able to shoot ‘magic hour’ all day long. 

As Tim Barter, VFX supervisor on the Academy Award-winning Poor Things, put it, “We were shooting until midnight sometimes, but your body just doesn’t register that because you’re looking at a constant sunset. It’s a huge degree of immersion.”

An immersion made possible by 2,400 of INFiLED LED panels. 

But for all its magic, virtual production comes with its own unique set of pressures.

Studios are expected to deliver high-end results on tight timelines and even tighter budgets. And while tech is progressing at lightning speed, the on-the-ground reality still means juggling hardware needs with financial constraints. As an example, fine pixel pitch offers superior visuals but as quality increases, so does cost. 

Colour shifts, inadequate contrast levels, inflexible design and lack of durability are just some of the issues virtual production studios face every day. 

INFiLED’s DBmk2 Series was made to address these and more. Specifically designed for extended reality (XR), virtual production (VP), film and broadcast, this ultra-black LED display balances high performance needs with the practical realities of virtual video production.

Key Factors When Looking At An LED Volume for Virtual Production Studios

1. Flexibility

One of the biggest requirements of VP studios is the need for flexibility and adaptability on set. Productions often require rapid set turnarounds, unique screen shapes, and configurations that can handle anything from car interiors to sweeping landscapes—all within a tight timeframe.

To meet these demands, the DBmk2 series is highly flexible in both pixel pitch options (offering a pixel pitch range from 1.5 to 2.6mm) and installation possibilities. 

The pixel pitch range is carefully selected to meet the visual standards of virtual production, helping studios balance performance with budget.

The DBmk2 series also supports a variety of screen shapes, including right angles, L-shapes and both concave and convex curves (faceted from -5° to +5°).

For seamless curves, it’s compatible with INFiLED’s Xmk2 panels, enabling smooth angle adjustments from -30° to +30°. Whether for a fixed LED virtual production stage setup or a temporary build, the DBmk2 smoothly adapts.

2. Quality

Virtual production demands uncompromising image quality to preserve realism on screen. 

As Greig Fraser (cinematographer of Dune, The Batman & The Mandalorian) puts it, LED volumes need to be “as good as, if not better than reality.” That means no visible reflections, colour shifts, or contrast issues that could break the illusion.

The DBmk2 is built to meet these exacting standards. With a native contrast ratio of 10,000:1, it uses ultra-black masking materials and exclusive black LEDs to deliver deep, filmic blacks and lifelike picture motion. 

Covering 97% of the DCI-P3 colour space and over 86% of BT.2020, it ensures accurate colour reproduction under all lighting conditions.Fraser also highlights a very specific requirement VP studios have when saying,

To meet this challenge, INFiLED invented a proprietary CBSF (Colour & Brightness Shift Free) technology, purpose-built to maintain consistent colour and brightness across a wide 160-degree viewing angle.

Utilising an M2 chip, the panel is free from moiré and reflective hotspots – issues that have long plagued virtual production teams.

3. Efficiency

With a rising focus on sustainability in the film industry, virtual production has emerged as an exciting solution. A 2022 Sony report found VP shooting can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 52% compared to on-location shooting.

The DBmk2 series consumes approximately 30% less power than traditional products with the same brightness level.

And then, there’s the all-too-common headache of overheating LED panels. To tackle this, the DBmk2 incorporates ColdLED technology, with inverted LED packaging, enhanced luminous efficiency and an energy-efficient IC driver for optimised heat dissipation. It’s especially important for those days when it’s taking much longer than anticipated to get the shot. 

4. Compatibility

LED walls for virtual production are complex systems, often built from multiple LED batches or mixed model series. Inconsistencies in cabinet dimensions, colour performance, or processing can disrupt workflows and visual uniformity, especially in long-running productions where panels may need to be replaced or scaled.

That’s why seamless integration is key. The DBmk2 series offers full compatibility with shared hanging beams and stacking gear for flexible, fast installation.

In particular, the DBmk2 Studio is equipped with the industry-standard Brompton R2+ receiver card, offering powerful processing tailored for VP workflows. 

With INFiLED’s strict batch control and calibration standards, it also supports precise colour matching for up to two years.

5. Durability

The unfortunate reality of busy sets is that accidents happen; whether it’s a wayward C-stand or someone backing into the screen mid-reset. LED panels need to hold their own in the middle of all the action.

The DBmk2 features a retractable bumper and buffer-dumper mechanism that shields the cabinet sides from damage. ArmorLED technology also boosts LED adhesion by up to 10x, offering extra resilience when things get hectic on set.

DBmk2 – Ready for Action

Confident in its capabilities, we decided to push the DBmk2 to its limits with a truly out-of-this-world challenge; recreating Mars.

The “First Step on Mars” sequence, part of the Take Your Time campaign for Schweppes by TBWA\Paris, was brought to life inside the Ten Dots LED volume using DBmk2 panels. Directed by Susanna White (Star Wars: Andor) and shot by Oscar-nominated cinematographer John Mathieson (Gladiator, X-Men: First Class), the project assembled a team of sci-fi giants to sell one very stylish sip.

As Shots Magazine puts it, the campaign “breaks new ground in production,” using a blend of intricate ICVFX and 3D to capture “the mesmerising dance of Schweppes bubbles” – all without really leaving Earth. It’s an excellent example of not just the capabilities of the DBmk2 series, but the possibilities.

If you’d like to find out more about the series or simply need advice about setting up your VP studio, we invite you to contact one of our INFiLED VP/XR experts. 

You can also try our Product Configurator tool to help you design the right display for your studio.

With over 16 years of industry experience, we’ve helped build virtual production studios of all sizes. Our deep understanding of the VP industry allows us to support clients as true partners—focused on solving challenges, not just making sales.