Moiré in Virtual Production

Moiré is a Cinematography term in filmmaking. In virtual production, the nuances of this term take on special meaning. Here, we break down the definition to give you a starting point.

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Basic Definition:

What is Moiré in virtual production?

Moiré is an undesirable interference pattern that can cause issues in virtual production. It occurs when the sensors of a digital camera and a complex, repetitive pattern do not match up properly. This mismatch creates a "moiré" effect, visible as wavy lines or crosshatching on the image. A typical example of this phenomenon is seen when focusing a camera directly on an LED screen.

In virtual production, moiré can create visual artifacts that take away from the overall look of the project. It can also interfere with post-production editing processes, making it more challenging to achieve the desired results. To prevent moiré, the camera should be set up at an angle to avoid direct reflection off any repetitive patterns in the background. If necessary, small changes to lighting and composition can also help minimize the chances of moiré appearing. 

Despite its drawbacks, moiré does have some practical uses in virtual production. For instance, it can be used for texturing objects or adding special effects to footage. In addition, certain kinds of filters and lenses may be able to create interesting visual effects by intentionally creating a moire pattern.

A famous example of moiré can be found in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). In one iconic scene, the film reveals a mysterious black monolith that appears against a field of stars; the shimmering “fringes” around the edges were actually created using moiré patterns generated by light passing through two sheets of acetate film.