1998: IBC Awards - Virtual Studio (jointly with BBC Resources)

Virtual studio. anmiated gif (130 kb) avi file (2.08 Mb)

The BBC has a strong track record as a pioneer in virtual production. This year's award for production innovation recognises two particular developments: Free-d and Truematte.

Free-d is a way of measuring the position and orientation of a camera in a large studio without interfering with normal operations. This is a necessity in ensuring that there is alignment between the real and virtual worlds. Free-d's particular strengths are the fact that it can be used for hand-held cameras and that it does not need special grids or markers in the bluescreen area. This means there are no restrictions on shot-framing.

Truematte is a new reflective background cloth for chromakey which eliminates the problems of colour spill and the need for uniform bright lighting. The only lighting required is a ring of small lights around the camera consuming 6 W rather than the usual tens of kilowatts.

Both technologies are at work in the BBC's new virtual studio at BBC Television Centre in London which is used for a wide range of programmes including light entertainment, children's programmes, current affairs, documentary and drama.

The judges applauded what they called the "best and most intelligent hand-held virtual camera system available at the moment".

Further information on Virtual Production is available on our Project pages