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

Abstract

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.