About Pro Cyc

Understanding the Photography Cyclorama Wall & Its Design

To elaborate further, a cyc is any walled background incorporating one or more curved surfaces that create a background with no perceptible beginning or end. In a cyc studio, all corners are seamless. This is called an “infinity background.” When done properly, it is virtually impossible to discern where the floor ends and the wall begins. We refer to the curved pieces of a cyclorama wall as “coves.” Coves connect the 90-degree intersections of wall and floor, wall and ceiling, and/or one wall to another. A true cyclorama also has a top cove, so you cannot tell where the top of the wall ends and the ceiling begins. To expand the effect, corner coves may also be used to connect more than one wall. In essence, being inside a cyc is very similar to being inside a giant egg.

The Uses of a Cyclorama Photo Studio Across Industries

Modular cyclorama systems are used in various industries, including television, film, broadcast media, photography, and green screen virtual set production, also known as “chroma key.” In still photography, a cyc background can make your background virtually disappear, which opens up a multitude of possibilities for lighting and post-production. It allows whatever product you are shooting to take center stage.

Examples of Photography Cyc Wall Installations Used by Various Brands

Sometimes retailers require a completely white background for product photos. Amazon, in fact, has installed several Pro Cyc modular cyclorama studios at its headquarters in Seattle. Cyc backgrounds give you countless options, whether you’re working in television, film, broadcast media, or other industries. You’ll no longer be limited when you’re shooting a commercial, a news piece, or a video.

In the ’90s, several famous ads for the Gap featured swing dancers against an infinite white background. That was a Pro Cyc system. Apple also has several Pro Cyc cycloramas. You’ve most likely seen their commercials set against an infinite white wall. You’ll also notice many car commercials shot against a seamless cyclorama background.

The Cyclorama Photo Studio in Virtual Productions

In virtual set productions, where chroma key and compositing technology are used to create virtual sets, a high-quality Cyc background is not just beneficial—it is absolutely essential. All the special effects you see in movies and videos require filming against an absolutely seamless chroma key backdrop. They’re painted with a very specific shade of green with professional green screen paint.

“Chroma key” is a method for mixing two images together: a color from one image is removed, revealing another image behind it. That’s how a virtual set is created.  A good photography cyclorama wall can also meet that need and improve digital photography backgrounds. Pro Cyc systems have been used as the green screen backgrounds for many Hollywood movies: “Batman vs. Superman,” “The Hunger Games,” and many more. Sometimes, if a full studio space is not needed, a portable green screen can offer incredible advantages and flexibility to a project.