Black Pearl

Overview

Black Pearl is a series of film-specific LED video panels from the manufacturer ROE Visual. The individual panels are assembled into large-format LED walls ("LED Volumes") and serve as moving, filmed background scenery for In-Camera VFX (ICVFX) in virtual production. Unlike traditional lighting fixtures, Black Pearl is not a lighting device in the strict sense, but a display that simultaneously acts as an interactive light source for the scene: The image shown on the wall illuminates actors and sets with thematically appropriate light, reflections, and colors.

The currently widespread generation is the Black Pearl 2 (short designation BP2 or the revised variant BP2 V2). The panels are specifically designed for the requirements of cameras and sets, such as high refresh rates to prevent flicker and camera-friendly color reproduction.

Technical Data

The following values refer to the BP2 V2 model according to the manufacturer's specifications:

In terms of construction, ROE Visual relies on magnetic-assisted mounting with a Smart Lock system, front-side serviceability, and calibration data stored in the modules. The panels can be mounted flat or slightly concavely curved, which facilitates the construction of curved LED walls.

Use on Set

Black Pearl panels form the modular principle of modern LED Volumes: Many modules are combined to create walls and ceilings on which real-time rendered or pre-produced backgrounds are displayed. The high refresh rate and 16-bit grayscale reduce flicker and visible lines (moiré/scanlines) during recording, allowing the wall to be used directly in-camera as a background.

In 2022, the manufacturer reported over 100,000 BP2/BP2 V2 panels delivered. According to industry press, productions realized with them include Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, KIMI, MJ: The Musical, and the concert production ABBA Voyage.