The VAD bridges concepts and previs via real-time animation by developing real-time assets from initial look development to production-ready models and environments, In so doing it assures consistency and high quality across all real-time models. The VAD acts as a liaison between creatives and artists to assure all stakeholder feedback gets fully incorporated into the assets and delivers camera-ready assets for production as opposed to handing off to set building or VFX departments.

A virtual camera is a camera system that exists within a 3D software program that displays a view of a 3D virtual world, behaving in the same way a camera would in the real-world. A virtual camera’s motion can be driven by an animator, motion capture data or external controller such as an ipad. The camera's optical settings such as focal length, aperture and focus distance can all be controlled by the user and determine how a virtual object or environment will appear on screen.

Virtual Scouting in Framestore's proprietary platform fARsight allows filmmakers to navigate and interact in virtual environments, helping them make better creative decisions. Directors and DOPs can easily find locations, compose shots, set up scene blocking and get accurate representations of filming locations in a virtual world which is constrained by the laws of physics.

There are numerous ways to move around a virtual location when scouting using fARsight. These include Flying, where you fly in the direction of the controller, teleporting which allows you to quickly move position or 'teleport' to wherever the controller is pointing, whether on the ground, on an object or in the air. Navigation provides various controls for moving around the scene, similar to using a gaming controller.
Filmmakers can use the Viewfinder to view the scene through the lens of a camera, providing the option to change film back, lens and focal point. You can take a snapshot of the camera view which captures the scene at a given time, recording all the key information.

fARsight is built on top of Unreal Engine which makes the process of scouting interactive, meaning you can move objects around in virtual space in real time. You can draw in the scene or leave markers to highlight areas or objects of particular interest. Bookmarks can also be used to flag interesting locations within a scene. Each time you create a bookmark, it's added to a list, meaning you can select any bookmark on the list and teleport to that spot.

You can also Measure the distance between two points within the scene. As you move the controller, the distance measurement updates in real time. Virtual Scouting allows all of the key members of a production to explore a scene together. When multiple users are in a session, their names will appear on screen. You can teleport to another user's location by selecting that user. Not all users have to be in virtual reality to participate. Sessions often work best when one of the artists is working from the desktop, performing complex actions that are hard to do in VR but straightforward when sitting in front of a computer.

A virtual set walk is a VR or virtual camera experience that looks at a real or fictional environment visible in a specific sequence or shot. A digital 3D environment may consist of a real life built set or shooting location, a set with CG extensions or a full CG environment, it can be as contained or expansive as required. The environment can be viewed and explored to assess set design considerations or practical construction needs. Virtual cameras can be used to determine camera framing and lens choices. It is also an invaluable tool to assess spatial considerations for large or oversized CG characters and creatures, with models of these positioned within the 3D built set.

Motion capture is a process of recording the movement data of objects or people so that it may drive other computerised forms, blending real life movement with digital characters or objects. Animation data is mapped to a 3D model so that the model performs the same actions as the actor. Camera movements can also be motion captured, enabling a virtual camera to mirror a real world camera while an actor is performing. The motion capture system can simultaneously capture the camera and props as well as an actor's performance.

OS-VP-Performance Capture is when motion capture includes facial expression and finger movements, it is often referred to as performance capture. It is considered to be more complex than body motion capture due to the need to detect and track subtle expressions from small movements of the eyes and lips and minute finger movements.

OS - VP - Photogrammetry is the process of extracting 3D information from a combination of overlapping aerial or close range photographs of objects, structures or landscapes. The converted data is used to create 2d or 3d digital models that may take the form of geometry meshes or point clouds. The models are fully textured based on the photographs used for creation.