System and method for producing virtual light source movement in motion pictures and other media

摘要

A system and method is disclosed by which the movement of virtual continuous light sources illuminating various objects or persons in a scene, can be simulated over arbitrary paths throughout the captured scene. The simulated movement of each virtual continuous light source through a captured scene can be created using a stationary array of discrete light sources, and for which no physical movement of the array or the discrete light sources is required. The actuation of each of the discrete light sources can be performed sequentially according to a pre-specified sequence by a controller. Control signals for actuating the discrete light sources are synchronized with frames captured by a camera, such that the camera never sees the transitions from illuminating one discrete light source of the array to illuminating another. Thus, with respect to the images of the scene captured by the camera, it appears that a single and continuous light source is moving along a path that is dictated by the configured arrangement of the array, as well as the sequence of illumination for the discrete light sources of the array from frame to frame.

主权项

1. A system for simulating movement of a virtual continuous light source along a path during a captured scene, the system comprising:
at least one camera for capturing a sequence of frames of the scene at a predetermined frame rate; at least one array of n discrete light sources configured to define the path, each of the n discrete light sources of the at least one array being oriented to illuminate at least a portion of the scene when actuated; and a controller having an output interface, the output interface providing at least one of a plurality of control signals to each of the n discrete light sources, the control signals configured to actuate each of the n discrete light sources, wherein the controller generates the control signals to actuate the discrete light sources in accordance with a pre-specified sequence, the control signals being generated synchronously with a synch signal, the synch signal generated at the onset of each captured frame and coupled as an input to the controller.