Volume in Virtual Production

Volume is a Volume Operations 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 Volume in virtual production?

A volume is a physical space in which performance capture can be recorded, as well as a nearly enclosed LED stage with a volume of light emitted or projected content displayed across a surface. 

The most basic version of a volume is something you might have seen in your own home: a green screen. While a green screen may suffice for simple projects, more complex productions require a much larger and better-equipped volume. Such volumes should contain adjustable lighting rigs for capturing different scene elements, rigging to suspend performers and objects from above, video walls for backdrops and displays, tracking systems that precisely map out actors' movements during filming, and surround sound recording capabilities. 

Famous volumes used in Hollywood films include the long-running Volume at Sony Pictures Imageworks, Industrial Light & Magic’s The Platform at their Van Nuys studio, and Magnopus’s 8Kx8K Volume at their Los Angeles studio. There are also other types of volumes used in various forms of media, such as stagecrafts - sets constructed on stages to provide a backdrop for actors or musicians performing live. These sets often contain intricate details like buildings, furniture, props, and even fake snowflakes! 

One of the largest and most famous volumes is located in London at the Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden facility. This massive 32m x 24m space was designed by Lucasfilm and ILMxLAB specifically for high-quality virtual production projects such as Star Wars: Rogue One. It features automated camera rigs and robotic armatures for automating shots and tracking performances, as well as multiplex 4K projectors for displaying backgrounds, 3D elements, and virtual environments all around the space.