Industry
Film and Television VFX
Lighting reference that survives the grade and the schedule
Reference capture in this field is judged by one thing: whether the CG element ends up sitting in the plate. Everything below is written around that.
Pain Points
- A CG element lit from a guessed environment never sits in the plate
- Reference shot minutes apart no longer describes the same light
- Reference balls from different suppliers behave differently across a long schedule
What These Crews Need
- A mirror sphere clean enough to rebuild an environment from
- A grey surface at a known 18% reflectivity
- Threads that fit the fittings already on the cart
- Replacement balls that match the ones already in the kit
Typical Scenarios
Where the Ball Actually Comes Out of the Case
- Between takes capture on stage while the camera reloads
- Location survey before a set extension shoot
- Digital double reference on a green screen day
- Reshoot days where the original lighting has to be matched
Recommended Ranges
Sizes That Suit This Work
7 products
25cm VFX Balls
Full size chrome and grey spheres for wide plates and stock delivery
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12.6cm VFX Balls
12.6cm VFX Ball Kit Chrome and Grey Ball
Two-ball HDRI reference kit in a hard case for crews that move every hour
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20cm VFX Balls
20cm Single VFX Ball Half Mirror and Half Grey
A 20cm split sphere on a 1/4 UNC thread with a stretch handle
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25cm VFX Balls
25cm Single VFX Ball Half Mirror and Half Grey
The large split sphere for wide plates, on a 1/4 UNC thread
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12.6cm VFX Balls
12.6cm HDRI VFX Ball Chrome and Grey Ball Kit
The HDRI stills kit for crews that capture chrome and grey in the same frame
View productRelated Guides
Reading for This Field
Guide
What a VFX Chrome Ball Does on Set
A chrome ball records the environment around the subject so CG elements can be lit from the same light as the plate. Here is what it is and how it is used.
Read moreGuide
How to Shoot HDRI Reference on Set
A step by step capture routine for chrome and grey reference balls, including bracketing, ball placement, colour chart use and what to log for post production.
Read moreFAQ
Film and Television VFX FAQ
Which ball size suits film and television vfx
Most crews in this field work with the 12.6cm VFX Balls range. The choice comes from how far the camera sits from the reference.
Can you supply more than one unit at once
Yes. Tell us how many units you are equipping and we will quote matched balls so references stay consistent between them.
What is the delivery time
Stock 10 inch balls ship in 7 to 8 days. Everything else dispatches as soon as it is ready, within 15 days in the worst case.
Do you supply a colour chart
A colour check chart is included with the 12.6cm two ball kits. Ask us if you want charts quoted with other products.
Reference Balls for Film and Television VFX
Describe the unit and the lens range and we will tell you which size and finish fits, before you order.