University of the Arts London first worldwide to invest in new Sony Crystal LED VERONA displays

University of the Arts London (UAL) has signed the first deal to install Sony’s new Crystal LED, VERONA Displays, to create a state-of-the-art, research-grade Virtual Production Stage for frontier exploration of ambitious creative possibilities.

In June 2023, University of the Arts London (UAL) announced the development of a specialist Virtual Production (VP) research volume - via its Fashion Textiles and Technology Institute (FTTI) - to create capacity for innovative, trans-disciplinary practice-led research in VP/XR textiles and dress. To support this new facility, UAL went looking to outfit a space with a robust yet cutting-edge, future proof display solution. Research and university requirements pointed them towards display solutions that would provide value over an extend lifespan while delivering the highest possible colour accuracy and detail.

UAL worked with Lux Machina, specialists in display technology, to test all major brands and were impressed with the unmatched brightness of Sony’s Crystal LED technology and the Deep Black Anti-Reflective Surface Technology from VERONA. This new technology delivers both deep black image expression and low-reflection performance that greatly reduces the contrast loss caused by light from adjacent LED panels and studio lighting equipment. The University will also benefit from Sony’s Virtual Production Tool Set, a software-based solution that allows users to design the picture they need for virtual production and serve their creative projects. Researchers will be able to pre-visualise scenes and creative concepts using Virtual VENICE for Unreal Engine to develop, pre-visualise and configure the Crystal LED displays for rapid deployment of VP projects.