Performance in Virtual Production

Performance is a Real-Time Engine 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 Performance in virtual production?

Performance refers to the quality and render rate of onscreen content, measured in frames per second or milliseconds, also referred to as ‘perf’. In order for the visual appearance of a scene to be optimal with an LED volume, perf must meet or exceed the camera's frame rate. 

Achieving good performance in virtual production requires expertise from both creative professionals (e.g. directors, cinematographers) and technical personnel (e.g. software engineers, video editors). Creative professionals are responsible for ensuring that the scene looks visually appealing and conveys the desired emotion; technical personnel ensure that the set-up used will deliver high-quality visuals without causing any lag. This includes using appropriate software to generate lighting effects and motion graphics, such as Unreal Engine 4, Unity 3D, Blender, Maxon Cinema4D etc. 

The benefits of good performance in virtual production include smoother animations, higher image clarity, better color accuracy, more immersive environments, and faster rendering times. Furthermore, efficient perf allows creatives to achieve complex tasks easily while minimizing costs associated with time wastage due to unexpected lags or low-resolution images.