Camera, light and sound

Calculator · free, no sign-up

Work out a shoot's storage from the camera's bitrate, with the megabit to gigabyte conversion, a three-camera example and the mistakes that run cards out.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

How to work out depth of field from focal length, f-number and distance, using the hyperfocal formula, with a worked example and the mistakes that cause soft shots.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

Work out the field of view and the width of frame for any lens and sensor, with the formula, a worked example and the sensor sizes to check first.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

Set a 180 degree shutter at any frame rate, and pick shutter speeds that stay flicker-free under UK 50Hz mains lighting, with a worked example for 25p and 24p.

4 min read

Four free tools for checking, converting and quality-checking video files, what each does, where it fits on a shoot and the mistakes to avoid.

5 min read

How to pick a lens, camera distance and lens height on a 5.3m by 7.1m infinity cove, with the frame-width sums and a worked two-shot example.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

A camera report template for logging every card, clip and take on a film or video shoot, with the fields, the order to fill them in and common errors.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

An offload log template for recording each camera card copied on set, the verified copies made, where they went and the checks that show they match.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

A data wrangling checklist for film and video shoots, covering offload, checksum verification, the 3-2-1 backup rule and the mistakes that lose footage.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

How sensor size and crop factor change a lens's field of view, with a table of common crop values, the arithmetic and the checks to make before the shoot.

Interactive · free, no sign-up

How to draw a lighting plot for a studio shoot, with a planner for fixtures, grid positions and channels, a worked example and the mistakes that cost time.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

How light falls off with distance, how lux and T-stop differ, and how to use a calculator to set your lights before a shoot, with a worked example.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

Work out a film supply load from the watts, with ratings for 13 A, 16 A and 32 A connectors, a worked example and the limits a competent person must check.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

A sun path planner shows where the sun sits on a UK location and date, so you can plan camera direction and timing before you book the site.

Explainer film

Key, fill and back light explained in plain terms, with placement, fill ratios, four-point variations and the mistakes that make people look flat or pasted on.

5 min read

How DMX512 universes and addresses work, how to avoid clashes, and how the White Space's 42 dimmer channels and two universes fit into the picture.

4 min read

How to light a car on an infinity cove: paint is a mirror, so you light what it reflects. Big soft sources, controlled gradients, the black-box night look, and how the 8-bar grid and 42 dimmer channels at Granary Digital do it.

5 min read

How a working studio lights a 5.3m x 7.1m infinity cove to clean white and to full black: sixteen 500W floods on the sweep, 1.2kW fresnels for people, six Arri L3-Cs for colour, 42 dimmer channels.

3 min read

Mike Stevens of MS Electrical on what the law says about PAT testing, how often to test, and why kit that travels to shoots and events needs more care.

6 min read

What BS 7909 is, when it applies to a film or photo shoot, what a small crew should do about temporary power, and what the Bectu course covers.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

Colour temperatures for tungsten, daylight, HMI and fluorescent, with LEE CTB and CTO correction filters, and the mistakes that give a green or orange picture.

Explainer film

Where to clip a lavalier mic on a presenter or actor, how to hide the cable and stop clothing noise, with steps and the mistakes to avoid.

3 min read

What timecode is, how linear timecode (LTC) is carried on audio, which frame rates to use in the UK, and how to check a recorder with a 25 fps test file.

6 min read

How to record usable dialogue on a small shoot: boom position, lavalier placement, levels, monitoring and the room tone your editor will ask for.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

A sound report sheet for location and studio shoots, with the fields to fill in, a worked example line and the mistakes that cost the editor time.

3 min read

How we built a rain rig on the cove in August 2025, a timber-framed tank lined in black, and why every rain job at the barn is quoted as its own build.

3 min read

The size limits, floor and fixing rules, and water and haze questions to settle before you build a set on the cove, with the order to work through them.

5 min read

What flags, frames, C-stands, bounce and apple boxes are for on a film or photo shoot, how they fit together and how to use them safely in a studio.

3 min read

What a sandbag does on a grip stand, where the safe working load applies, the checks to make before rigging and the HSE duties for work at height.

4 min read

How a barn workshop turned the flats, plinths, lecterns and stage pieces every set needs into a made-to-order range, and when to commission a build.

5 min read

An infinity cove explained with the measurements of a real one: a 5.3m x 7.1m two-wall cove near Chichester, its 70cm sweep, 4.5m walls, repainting, and what it costs to hire.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

A prop and set dressing list for film and video shoots: what to record for each item, how to fill the sheet in, and the mistakes that cost time on the day.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

A pixel pitch and viewing distance calculator for LED wall shoots, with the formula, worked figures and the camera limits that the eye figure does not cover.

5 min read

Infinity cove, green screen or a paper backdrop? The practical difference in cost, lighting, width and post, and which your shoot needs. From a working studio near Chichester.

3 min read

What causes moiré, flicker and rolling bars when filming an LED wall, how refresh rate and shutter angle affect them, and the checks before the shoot.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

A checklist for tracking markers and clean plates in visual effects, with the camera and lens records that stop a composite falling apart.

Interactive · free, no sign-up

Answer five questions about your shoot to see whether you need a make-up artist, a short touch-up session or only a basic kit for the presenter.

2 min read

What to avoid wearing in front of a green screen, why spill and shine cause problems, and how to test a costume before the shoot.

2 min read

How green spill and a white infinity cove change make-up on camera, with steps for a matte look that holds on the monitor and the common mistakes.

2 min read

Which clothing patterns cause moire and flicker on camera, which colours clash with a backdrop and why white can be a problem. A costume guide.

6 min read

What HD and 4K cameras show on skin, how HD make-up differs, how to control shine and edges, and how light and lens choices help the make-up artist.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

A costume continuity sheet for film and video shoots, with the columns to fill in, a worked example, the steps on set and the mistakes that show on screen.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

A make-up continuity sheet for film and video: the columns for base, eyes, lips and hair, a worked example, steps on set and mistakes to avoid.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

A small make-up kit for presenters, with a five-minute routine for shine, under-eye and lips, and the mistakes that show up on camera.

Filed under Film and stream events

Lighting designer Mike Stevens on the five things to send before anything else, the decisions to make early, and why a filmed show needs lighting for camera.

Filed under Rules, rights and safety

General safety guidance for a rain rig on a set: keeping power away from water, planning drainage and footing, and looking after the people in the rain.

Filed under Commission a video

The numbers a car photographer needs before booking a drive-in studio: 2.4m wide, 4.5m high doors, a 5.3m x 7.1m cove, ground-level access, which cars fit clean on white, and what a Defender needs.

Filed under Edit, deliver and publish

The loudness, true peak and file checks to run on a dialogue mix before delivery, with the EBU R 128 targets, a checklist and the mistakes that get edits sent back.