Brainstorm Expands Capabilities: Native Integration with Canon’s Virtual Production System Achieved

Canon and Brainstorm Revolutionize Virtual Production with New Metadata Integration

September 2, 2025

A groundbreaking collaboration between Brainstorm, spearheaded by Infinityset, and Canon is poised to substantially accelerate virtual production workflows. The new integration centers around native compatibility with Canon’s CV Metadata protocol, offering real-time lens and camera shooting information, and promising exceptional data accuracy.

Enhanced Calibration for Seamless Virtual Sets

The partnership ensures a fluid user experiance, according to industry sources, by directly linking Canon cameras and lenses to Brainstorm’s virtual production pipeline.Canon’s CV Metadata technology is fully compatible with the OpenCV software library and further enhanced with proprietary extensions, boosting both performance and versatility. Canon’s commitment extends to collaborative growth in standards like the SMPTE RIS OSVP, guaranteeing interoperability with the latest virtual production protocols.

This development addresses a critical pain point for virtual content creators: the time-consuming process of calibrating cameras and lenses within virtual production environments. By automating this process, creatives can dedicate more time to crucial aspects like shot composition, camera blocking, and overall scene design, leading to faster turnaround times and more refined results.

How the Integration Works

The system utilizes a JSON-formatted CV protocol to transmit data from the camera and lens to Infinityset, enabling precise rendering of the virtual scene based on actual camera parameters. This is notably valuable when working with zoom and fixed lenses, as the reliable linking of camera and lens data – including distortion maps – simplifies the integration of live or recorded footage with virtual backgrounds and objects. Even when camera settings are adjusted mid-scene, the system maintains coherence and precision throughout the combined image.

“This native integration aims to facilitate the work of our clients and save time and resources during the preparation of the scenes,” said David Moldes, brainstorm product director. “Virtual production requires a perfect coincidence between the real scene and what the camera captures, so being able to provide the most precise and reliable data of the camera and the objective to Infinityset allows a faster configuration and a more reliable virtual content creation.”

Feature	Benefit
Native CV Metadata Support	Real-time,accurate camera and lens data.
OpenCV Compatibility	Enhanced flexibility and performance.
Automated Calibration	Reduced setup time and increased efficiency.
JSON Protocol	Streamlined data transfer and rendering.

Did You Know? The virtual production market is projected to reach $5.47 billion by 2028, representing a significant growth prospect for companies like Brainstorm and Canon. Source: Grand View Research

Pro Tip: Regular updates to camera and lens firmware can ensure optimal compatibility and performance with virtual production systems.

The Rise of Virtual Production

virtual production is rapidly transforming the filmmaking and broadcast industries, offering a cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional methods. The ability to create immersive environments in real-time, coupled with the power of game engines like Unreal Engine and Unity, is driving this revolution. Key benefits include reduced location shooting costs, increased creative control, and faster post-production workflows. As technology advances, virtual production is becoming increasingly accessible to a wider range of content creators.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is CV Metadata? It’s canon’s technology that transmits camera and lens data in real-time, enhancing virtual production workflows.
• How does this integration benefit virtual production? It automates camera and lens calibration,saving time and improving accuracy.
• What software is compatible with this integration? Brainstorm’s Infinityset and Canon cameras compatible with the CV protocol.
• Is this integration compatible with all lenses? It’s compatible with zoom and fixed lenses.
• What is the SMPTE RIS OSVP? It’s a standard for virtual production interoperability that Canon actively contributes to.
• How will this affect virtual set build times? It is expected to significantly reduce setup and calibration times.
• What are the system requirements for using the integration? Requirements will vary depending on the specific hardware and software configurations.

What are your thoughts on the growing role of virtual production in filmmaking? share your opinion in the comments below!

How does the native integration between Brainstorm and Canon address the challenges of achieving photorealistic virtual environments?

Revolutionizing Virtual Production Workflows

Brainstorm, a leading provider of real-time 3D graphics and virtual production solutions, has announced a notable leap forward with native integration into Canon’s professional camera and display ecosystems. This collaboration streamlines workflows for virtual production, broadcast, and extended reality (XR) applications, offering users unprecedented control and efficiency. The integration focuses on seamless camera tracking, lens data integration, and color space synchronization, critical elements for photorealistic virtual environments. This advancement directly addresses the growing demand for high-quality, real-time visual effects in film, television, and live events.

Key Features of the Integration

The new integration delivers a suite of powerful features designed to simplify and enhance virtual production pipelines:

Direct Camera Tracking: Canon’s PTZ cameras and cinema cameras now directly feed tracking data into Brainstorm’s Suite, eliminating the need for external tracking systems in many scenarios. This reduces setup time and potential error sources.

Lens Data Integration: Accurate lens distortion and chromatic aberration data from Canon lenses are automatically imported into Brainstorm, ensuring precise image alignment and minimizing compositing artifacts.

color Space Synchronization: The integration ensures consistent color reproduction across the entire virtual production pipeline, from camera capture to final render. This is achieved through seamless synchronization of color spaces between Canon devices and Brainstorm’s rendering engine.

Genlock & Timecode Support: Robust genlock and timecode support guarantees frame-accurate synchronization between live action and virtual elements, essential for complex productions.

Enhanced Real-Time Rendering: Optimized communication between Canon hardware and Brainstorm’s real-time rendering engine allows for higher fidelity visuals and smoother performance.

Benefits for Virtual Production Professionals

This native integration offers ample benefits for professionals working in virtual production:

Reduced Setup Time: Eliminating the need for third-party tracking solutions significantly reduces setup time and complexity.

Improved Accuracy: Direct data feeds from Canon cameras and lenses ensure greater accuracy in tracking and compositing.

Enhanced Visual quality: Precise color synchronization and lens data integration contribute to more photorealistic and immersive virtual environments.

Streamlined Workflows: A unified workflow simplifies collaboration between camera operators,virtual production artists,and directors.

Cost Savings: Reducing reliance on external hardware and software can lead to significant cost savings.

Scalability: the integration supports a wide range of Canon cameras and Brainstorm configurations, making it suitable for projects of all sizes.

Supported Canon Hardware

The initial integration supports a broad range of Canon professional equipment,including:

Cinema Cameras: Canon EOS C700,C500 Mark II,C300 Mark III,and C300 Mark II.

PTZ Cameras: Canon CR-N500, CR-N300, and CR-X500.

Displays: Select Canon professional displays with SDI connectivity.

Future Expansion: Brainstorm and Canon are committed to expanding compatibility to include additional Canon hardware in future releases.

Practical Tips for Implementation

To maximize the benefits of this integration, consider these practical tips:

1. Firmware Updates: Ensure all Canon cameras and Brainstorm software are running the latest firmware versions for optimal compatibility.
2. Network configuration: A stable and high-bandwidth network connection is crucial for reliable data transfer between Canon devices and Brainstorm.Utilize gigabit Ethernet whenever possible.
3. Calibration: Perform thorough camera calibration within Brainstorm to ensure accurate tracking and lens distortion correction.
4. Color Management: Establish a consistent color management workflow throughout the entire production pipeline, utilizing color charts and profiling tools.
5. Testing: Conduct extensive testing before live production to identify and resolve any potential issues.

Real-World Applications & Case Studies

While specific, publicly available case studies are currently limited due to the recent release, early adopters are utilizing the integration in several key areas:

Broadcast virtual Sets: News studios and talk shows are leveraging the integration to create dynamic and immersive virtual sets with real-time camera tracking.

Film & Television Previsualization: Directors and cinematographers are using the integration to previsualize complex scenes and camera movements in a virtual habitat.

XR Stage Productions: The integration is enabling more seamless and interactive XR stage productions, allowing performers to interact with virtual elements in real-time.

Corporate Events & Presentations: Companies are utilizing the integration to create engaging and visually stunning virtual presentations and product demonstrations.

Brainstorm Suite: Core Components for Virtual Production

Understanding the core components of Brainstorm Suite is essential for leveraging the full potential of the Canon integration:

Brainstorm Engine: The real-time 3D rendering engine that powers the virtual environment.

Brainstorm Composer: The node-based compositing tool for creating and manipulating virtual scenes.

Brainstorm Tracker: The camera tracking module, now enhanced by direct Canon camera integration.

Brainstorm Presenter: The presentation and playback tool for delivering virtual production content.

Brainstorm eMotionPro: