What is an infinity wall?
As a film production company, we frequently get asked about the production aspects of filming and photography. One of those questions is 'What is an infinity wall and how is it used?'. Below is an explanation of what an infinity wall is, what else it can be called and who uses it.
What is an infinity wall?
An infinity wall is a curved surface that seamlessly blends the floor and wall together. Anything you put in front of it, whether an object or a person, will appear to float. Infinity walls are usually white and provide a clutter-free, plain background for filming and photography. Infinity walls are one of the many tools a production company can use to create amazing visuals.
What is an infinity cove or curve?
An infinity cove or infinity curve is no different from an infinity wall. There are many terms for an infinity wall, and a cove or curve are two of them. The curve or cove relates to the smooth curves of the wall which allow light to bounce off it. This creates the illusion that is required. They use the same principles and construction to create a plain background for your shoots. If you are looking to rent an infinity wall, you may find that some studios call it a cove or a curve, so you can look for these terms too.
Is a green screen the same as an infinity wall?
A green screen is slightly different from an infinity wall but nowadays mainly only in colour. While an infinity wall specifically is about the shape of the set, a green screen can be a straight background, small lightbox or infinity cove. If painted green, an infinity wall can also be used as a green screen. The principal is the same, however. You are creating a plain background that is favourable for filming and photography. Green screens are usually used for filming action and special effects. They are green simply because people are not green (well not normally anyway). In order for certain effects to work, the background must use a colour that isn't used elsewhere in the shot.
What can you use an infinity wall for?
An infinity wall can be used to create anything your imagination can come up with. There are several areas of the arts that are best suited to use this amazing tool.
Photographers
An infinity wall is primarily used by photographers. It provides an unadorned background, allowing the photo subject to pop off the screen. A large infinity curve allows a photographer to easily shoot the subject from head-to-toe. This avoids background objects, requires no photo cropping and means there is less editing in post-production. While white backdrops and smaller lighting boxes can be suitable for small objects, an infinity cove allows a photographer to shoot larger objects and more people. Using an infinity wall with good lighting will give photos a professional edge. This kind of photography is perfect for all businesses as it can provide great shots for products, people and anything you need to shoot to make your subject clear to your audience.
Special Effects Designers
An infinity wall can be utilised by special effects designers. They usually will require it to be painted green but some will work with white background, blue background or any colour they need. An infinity cove is a cost-effective way to create pre-production scenes. Instead of shooting on set, actors can visit a studio and get many different takes done for several "locations". Special effects can be expensive, so renting a quality infinity wall can cut costs.
Filming
You don't need to be using special effects to take advantage of the infinity cove style. Many filmmakers will use an infinity cove for scenes that require great lighting and have a more person-focused scene. Talking heads, interviews or abstract pieces can all be filmed in an infinity wall setting. The white background, or any colour for that matter, can hone the focus in on the subject.
Rent an infinity wall
No matter the production in mind, many filmmakers and photographers will find benefit in renting an infinity wall. If you would like to utilise our stage sized infinity wall get in touch with Isaac today. We can provide full use of our infinity wall with additional facilities for cast and crew. Plus with complete control over lighting and sound, you'll be able to get the perfect shot in no time.