AVIXA + Sixteen:Nine Mixer

Render Impact was invited to craft an immersive digital art experience for the Sixteen:Nine / AVIXA mixer at Vu Studios in Orlando during InfoComm 2023. The Vu Studios LED Volume is the largest in the U.S., spanning 155 feet wide by 26 feet high, and includes a ceiling display—totaling over 18,000 pixels wide and 3,000 pixels high. Unlike some of our projects where clients might provide a high-level concept, this was a blank canvas. We had complete creative freedom to design a two-minute piece showcasing our skills, with no oversight or branding guidelines and only eight weeks to produce, test, revise, and render final ProRes files for seamless integration into the Vu Studio System.

Our Vision

Creating content for such an expansive medium without client direction is a rare opportunity. After exploring various ideas during our brainstorming phase, we embraced the art gallery concept, designing an immersive “Windows Into Other Worlds” experience. This featured 13 unique 3D forced perspective designs, giving viewers a glimpse into fantastical environments while showcasing the creative potential of modern digital displays. The experience blended artistic innovation with advanced visual effects technologies, pushing the limits of imagination.

Challenges

Developing 14 cohesive 3D illusions on a 26-foot-high display in under two months was a significant challenge. The massive resolution—over 18,000 pixels wide—required substantial render time. Rigorous testing on the LED Volume was critical to ensure perfect perspective from every angle, demanding multiple iterations as the media evolved.

Solutions

We began by creating a pixel-accurate map that accounted for the screen’s dimensions and curves. We also analyzed environmental factors, like lighting and spatial design, to optimize the visuals. Collaborating with the Vu Studios staff, we scheduled thorough testing and built a buffer for any unforeseen rendering issues. To expedite the workflow, we used Unreal Engine, harnessing its real-time power to produce stunning 3-dimensional scenes at very high resolutions efficiently.

3D Illusions Gallery

Our gallery included a variety of immersive concepts:

• Mountainside Waterfall: A serene, natural landscape designed to avoid vertigo while highlighting the display’s vertical scale.
• Futuristic Spaceship: A cinematic homage to 3D animation techniques, showcasing dynamic motion.
• 3D Card Suits: A minimalist exploration of basic shapes and shadows, creating a mesmerizing anamorphic effect.
• Living Art – The Scream: A reinterpretation of Edvard Munch’s masterpiece, blending 2D animation with 3D deconstruction.
• Living Plant Walls: Hyperrealistic, deep screen rainforest and desert environments with subtle motion for a calming, immersive experience.
• Peeking Giraffe: A playful, interconnected piece where the giraffe interacts with adjacent scenes with a powerful anamorphic moment.
• Alien Landscape: A vivid, abstract, otherworldly environment extending into the gallery space.
• Saltwater Aquarium: A dynamic and realistic virtual aquarium enhanced with branded elements.
• Abstract Orbs: An exploration of soft-body shapes in motion, contrasting with the sharper 3D Card Suits.
• Falling Coin Jackpot: A celebratory cascade of coins with a seamless 3D illusion.
• Golden Hour Lakeside Mountain: A wide, serene landscape with dynamic elements like a sailboat and hot air balloons.
• Logo Animation: A creative transformation of our logo in a 3D airlock environment with an anamorphic moment.
• Sponsor Gallery: Elevated static logos contrasted with the dynamic surrounding pieces.
• Stucco Wall Environment: Neutral gray walls with inset lighting, evoking a traditional gallery feel in a digital medium.

The result was an immersive visual masterpiece that captivated viewers. The seamless transitions and unexpected 3D illusions guided attention across the 155-foot screen, leaving a lasting impression. Attendees described it as a “digital art gallery on steroids”—an accolade we proudly embrace!