On-Set Checklists

Preflight (before rolling)

Two-pass plan locked: same body/lens/focal/focus/framing/move for Hero (creative light, normal shutter) and Tech/Track pass (flat diffuse light, high shutter, deep DOF). Disable in-camera processing: IBIS/IS off, digital stabilization off, in-cam sharpening/NR/vignette off, lens breathing comp off. Timecode/Slating: clear slate notes for each pass; optional clap for sync. Lens grid availability: checkerboard/grid and flat wall/stand to shoot per lens/focal. Data wrangling plan: media naming, folder structure, checksum/backup.

Camera body & recording

Camera make/model & S/N

Sensor mode / filmback

Recording format

Project settings

White balance & tint

ISO / EI

Picture profile/LUT: on/off; name/version if used. Metadata export: sidecar/stream metadata recorded (lens data, focus, T-stop, gyro if present).

Lens & optical stack

Lens make/series/model & S/N

Focal length (exact)

Aperture / T-stop

Spherical vs. anamorphic: note squeeze factor if anamorphic.

Filter stack

Backfocus/collimation status noted if adjusted on set. Lens distortion charts: grid at actual focal; fill frame; parallel to sensor.

Focus & depth of field

Focus distance(s)

DoF intent: shallow vs deep; bokeh shape/character if relevant. Match between passes: same focus distance on Tech unless intentionally different (document).

Motion-control / camera move

Rig/system name & software

Move export: request/export move data (FBX/CSV/XML) with frame-accurate timing.

Path description

Duration & easing

Travel measurements

Camera height

Head/mount

Scene measurements (scale)

Tabletop plane

Distances

CG placement reference

Other anchors: measure visible corners/edges usable as constraints. Level/angles: note if rails/table not level (Δ height over run).

Tracking markers (Tech pass)

Marker plan: high-contrast small dots; varied depths (table + objects + back wall). Coverage: near/mid/far; center + edges; remain visible through move. Lighting: flat, even; avoid spec hits; high shutter (≤90°) to minimize blur. De-spoil: remove markers for Hero pass (or place only where invisible). Witness cam (optional): wide locked-off of move for sanity checks.

Lighting & look references

HDRI (Hero lighting): 32-bit bracketed 360° from CG placement point at table height (EXR). Chrome & gray balls: record at CG spot under Hero lighting (and Tech if useful). Color chart: Macbeth + 18% gray in Hero lighting at subject position (stills + brief video). Practical light map: positions, heights, types, modifiers, intensities, CCT/gel notes, dimmer %; photos. Ambient notes: daylight spill/windows, time of day, any flicker sources (LEDs, screens).

Reference stills & textures

Camera setup photos: rig relative to table at start/end; close-ups of lens rings (focus/T-stop). Flat-lit texture stills: high-res photos of tabletop & nearby surfaces (Tech light). Optional scan: quick LiDAR/photogrammetry of table area with scale references.

Slating, notes & continuity

Slate includes: Shot/Take, PASS (Hero/Tech), lens/focal, T-stop, FPS, shutter, ISO, WB, filters. Camera report: per-take entries for everything above; note any deviations between passes. Continuity photos: frame grabs or stills of exact framing at start/mid/end for both passes.

Deliverables to post

Plates: Hero and Tech pass originals (no transcode), with logs of FPS/shutter per pass. Mo-co data: exported move + documentation of axis units and frame rate. Lens package: grid images per focal, lens IDs; any manufacturer distortion data. HDRI EXR(s), chrome/gray ball clips, color-chart stills. Measurement doc: distances, heights, table dims, CG spot coordinates. Reference photos: rig/setup/texture stills; witness cam if recorded. Summary sheet (PDF/TXT): roll-up for PFTrack & UE 5.4 (filmback, focal, FPS/shutter, move scale, focus distances, distortion workflow: undistort → track → redistort CG).

Pass-specific settings (fill in)

Hero pass

Shutter angle/speed

FPS

T-stop

ISO / EI

White balance (K)

Filters

Tech/Track pass

High shutter angle/speed

FPS

T-stop (deep DoF)

ISO / EI

White balance (K)

Filters

Markers placed & visible throughout move.