xRez Studio has developed unique techniques to integrate 3d animation and gigapixel images, which can form a cost-effective basis for visual effects work. This approach can offer an alternative to the expense of conventional location-based second unit shooting by only requiring minimal crew and infrastructure, as well as allowing the possibility to travel and place cameras in otherwise inaccessible locations. Importing the gigapixel image into a 3D animation package, the image can be combined with associated terrain models , scan data, or derived photogrammetric modeling, providing a well developed starting point from which to create digital backgrounds and effects work. Once the image contains underlying 3D geometry, a full range of 3D manipulations can be performed, from re-lighting the scene, to alteration of weather, to re-creating history.

Using the panoramic image as the basis of virtual cinematography offers tremendous opportunites for augmenting matte painting work or construction of 3D digital backgrounds. Cinematically, the image can allow nodal pans and deep zooms with little restriction of focal length due to the gigapixel resolution. Standard dollies and crane movement of the camera can occur with a degree of parallax in some cases. Integrated with 3D geometry, gigapixel backgrounds can provide the foundation for a variety of animation stagings, from vehicles to battles to herds, all properly integrating with the real-world terrain and imagery of the scene, while extending the concept of the digital backlot

Other creative possibilites involve mapping a time-lapse sequence to aligned DEM geometry, allowing otherwise impossible camera moves into the scene. Some further information on these techniques can be found here:

Oslo Dagbladet interview here. Resolution comparision image here. Demo images here and here.

In addition to 3D background work, xRez Studio can provide a range of visual effects services, including:

Visual Development, Effects Supervision, Rendering Technical Direction, and Final Compositing.