Meridian, a new light-field 6DoF capture system created by Radiant Images and featuring the ultra-compact Sony RX0, will be on display in the Sony booth S212 at Cine Gear Expo on June 1-2.
The versatile, portable Meridian is at the forefront of the next cycle of immersive capture technology, taking viewers beyond VR by enabling more freedom of movement within the story.
Radiant Images created the Meridian from a collaboration with Sony, which had approached the company earlier this year seeking new innovations utilizing its new Sony RX0. Given the small form factor, large sensor size and other key functions and features of the RX0, Radiant technicians focused on developing cinematic-quality, multi-camera capture solutions.
Visitors to the Sony booth (S212), located in Stage 18, will get an up-close look at Meridian and be able to view sample content on screen and in the headset.
Radiant’s other new creation is the Radius, an ultralight bullet-time camera array featuring 70 Sony RX0s. That multi-cam system will be highlighted in a Cine Gear Premier Series Seminar about underwater filming with Sony’s VENICE and RX0 cameras. The seminar, co-presented by Radiant co-founder Michael Mansouri, is set for Saturday (June 2) from 2:45-3:45 p.m. in the Sherry Lansing Theater.
The Cine Gear Expo, set for June 1-2 at The Studios at Paramount in Hollywood, is the premier annual event for professionals engaged in the technology, entertainment and media industry, attracting the most dedicated specialists from every major department of the entertainment production and post production world, including virtual and augmented reality and beyond.
Radiant Images is an award-winning solution provider in 2D, 360 and everything related to immersive technology from the leading companies in the industry. The new Meridian light-field system improves the quality and deepens the possibilities of light-field capture by providing the opportunity for the audience to have much larger volume of movement.
The Meridian captures live-action, 6DoF footage that enables a viewer to experience a truly lifelike immersive experience – moving forward-back, side-to-side, up-down or twisting one’s head – while still maintaining the look and feel of high-quality cinematography.
Radiant’s Meridian consists of 24 perfectly synchronized, equidistant Sony RX0 cameras mounted inside each modular panel. The panels of cameras capture the light from all the various angles and vantage points that pass through the area, or frame. Acting as ‘windows’ into the virtual world, the panels can be stacked and arranged to accommodate shots of any size, from small tabletops to large landscape environments, to create the desired immersive environment.
Until now, the screen acted as the ‘fourth wall’ separating the audience from the action in front of their eyes. With the Meridian, filmmakers can remove the fourth wall and bring an audience into a VR environment without compromising image quality.
Radiant is partnered in the development of the Meridian with leading light-field technology company Visby and its co-founder Ryan Damm, who are powering the cloud software and creating the algorithms that enable 6DoF viewing.
“We built our reputation on removing technical barriers for creative minds,” said Michael Mansouri, Radiant co-founder. “We’ve now reached a point in the development of virtual reality that we’re focused on helping content creators take the next step into what you might call ‘bigger than life’ reality, integrating mixed realities with cinematic cameras and volumetric capture and other 360 solutions to expand their imaginations even further. It’s an exciting time and we’re always excited to share our new discoveries, creations and techniques.”
The Radius was recently utilized to perform one of the only underwater bullet-time sequences ever. That unique shoot is the subject of the seminar, presented by Sam Nicholson, ASC, of StarGate Studios and Radiant’s Mansouri, an ASC associate member.
They will discuss the challenges experienced, including genlocking and operating the VENICE and RX0 cinema cameras underwater. The presentation will cover post production workflow and the pipeline through high dynamic range finishing, and also include footage from the production.
The Radius is highly configurable and scalable, featuring a simplified design that is easy and fast to set up. The bullet-time array enables “virtual dolly” movements from one perspective to another and can create an effect of stopped time. It will soon be available for a variety of compatible camera models.
Based in Los Angeles, Radiant Images collaborates with creatives in Production & Post, Co-Production and through its rental house. Its VR division is recognized as an industry leader in testing and developing immersive technology, helping filmmakers and camera operators capture 360-degree content in compelling ways.
Radiant utilizes an in-house engineering team and rapid prototype capabilities, specializing in designing and building true end-to-end solutions and finding solutions that remove technical barriers for creative minds in 2D, 3D and 360/VR/AR.
About Radiant Images
Radiant Images is an award-winning digital cinema innovator and rental house providing creative solutions in 2D, 3D and everything related to immersive technology, leading-edge cameras and equipment, and unrivaled client support, to the motion picture industry worldwide.
Radiant has a dedicated VR wing inside its facility at 2702 Media Center Drive in northeast Los Angeles. For more information about Radiant Images, visit online at www.radiantimages.com. Find Radiant Images on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
