SCENE 01 / THERMAL IMAGING
Thermal Imaging
Heat visualization for your Portuguese production.
Here is how this works in practice. Thermal imaging cameras detect infrared radiation to visualize heat signatures invisible to standard cameras. In Portugal this technology supports wildlife filmmaking from Iberian wolves and the rare Iberian lynx in Peneda-Geres National Park to Atlantic dolphins, sperm whales near the Azores, and millions of migratory birds in coastal estuaries—while delivering value across Porto's industrial sector, Setubal cement plants, the Sines deepwater port, and the cork oak forests of the Alentejo.
Here is the short of it. We source pro FLIR thermal systems and infrared cinematographers across Portugal and Europe, working with the Portugal Film Commission, Tage Studios in Palmela, and MovieBox Studios in the Algarve. Our team sets up gear customs, secures ANAC and AAN aerial permits, and arranges access to Sintra heritage sites and the Madeira and Azores archipelagos, making sure your thermal footage qualifies for the Portuguese tax rebates of up to 30%.
Capabilities
Thermal Services
Professional thermal imaging for documentary, scientific, and creative applications.
01
Thermal Cameras
- FLIR professional
- High-resolution sensors
- Real-time display
- Recording capability
- Multiple palettes
Heat Visualization
02
Production
- Narrative integration
- Documentary filming
- Scientific capture
- Wildlife tracking
- Technical imaging
Diverse Applications
03
Analysis
- Temperature data
- Heat patterns
- Thermal anomalies
- Comparative imaging
- Data export
Scientific Data
04
Creative
- Color palettes
- Aesthetic looks
- Compositing
- Special effects
- Post-processing
Visual Style
See the Heat
Capabilities
Our Process
Requirements Review
Knowing what you need to visualize and the thermal traits of your subjects.
Equipment Selection
Choosing the right thermal camera system based on resolution, sensitivity, and aesthetic needs.
Production
Capturing thermal footage with proper setup for accurate and visually compelling results.
Post-Production
Processing thermal data and integrating footage with your production.
On Location
Thermal imaging and infrared camera services across Portugal — FLIR T1040, T865, A6750, X8500sc, and Workswell WIRIS Pro plus Pulsar Helion 2 XP50 Pro for Iberian-wolf-and-lynx documentary captures, Madeira whale-watching thermal-confirmation, Algarve nocturnal-fauna work, and industrial-and-architectural heat-visualization for documentary narrative.
Here is how this works in practice. Our thermal-imaging packages route FLIR T1040 (the high-resolution 1024-by-768-pixel handheld with 4.1-megapixel visible-light overlay), FLIR T865 (research-grade radiometric), FLIR A6750sc (high-speed cooled MWIR mid-wave 3-5-micron with thirty-thousand-frame-per-second windowed acquisition for ballistic and combustion work), FLIR X8500sc (the long-wave LWIR research flagship at 1280-by-1024 with 105-millikelvin NETD sensitivity), Workswell WIRIS Pro (UAS-mounted dual-thermal-and-visible payload for ANAC-licensed drone integration), and Pulsar Helion 2 XP50 Pro (scope-style 640-by-480 LWIR with 2.5-times-to-twenty-times digital zoom). Coordinated visible-light captures route Sony Alpha A7S III, Canon EOS R5 C, and Sony Venice 2 with picture-in-picture thermal-and-visible composites. Cinema-style integration via Lumix S5 II X with LUMIX BS1H broadcast bodies and SDI-out runs for hybrid documentary deployments.
Here is the short of it. Wildlife documentary applications route Iberian wolf corridors at Peneda-Gerês National Park (the only Portuguese national park) and Vale do Côa UNESCO 1998 paleolithic-rock-art valley, Iberian lynx reintroduction sites at Centro Nacional de Reprodução do Lince Ibérico Silves Algarve and Vale do Guadiana Natural Park, Madeira whale-watching thermal-confirmation work (sperm whales, bottlenose dolphins, short-finned pilot whales — thermal detects cetacean blow at distance for confirmation), Azores Espaço Talassa Lajes do Pico whale-research joint work, Mediterranean monk seal at Berlengas archipelago (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 2011), and migratory-bird flyway surveys at Tejo Estuary and Sapal de Castro Marim.
Here is how the picture comes together. Architectural-heat documentary applications cover Lisbon, Porto, and Faro post-2017-wildfire-season climate-narrative work (the 2017 Pedrogão Grande wildfires devastated central Portugal. Sixty-six fatalities. ICNF and ANEPC fire-prevention thermal-survey work documents prevention infrastructure). ICNF covered-species permits, DGPC heritage-site sign-off, ANAC drone permits for Workswell WIRIS UAS work, ICA cash-rebates qualifying spend, IVA twenty-three percent, ATA carnet, and Segurança Social compliance routes through our production-services partners.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What can thermal cameras visualize?
Thermal cameras detect heat radiation, visualizing temperature differences. They can show body heat, engine heat, electrical hotspots, heat loss from buildings, and even recent contact traces on surfaces.
What resolution is available?
Pro thermal cameras range from 320x240 to 640x480 and higher. While lower than visible light cameras, modern thermal sensors give detailed visuals suitable for HD and 4K production.
What are the color palette options?
Thermal cameras give many palettes—white-hot, black-hot, ironbow (rainbow), and many others. Each gives different aesthetic looks and can be selected based on creative needs.
Can thermal be used for wildlife?
Here is the breakdown. Yes, thermal imaging is great for Portuguese wildlife—detecting Iberian wolves in remote Peneda-Geres forests at night, locating the critically endangered Iberian lynx in covered reserves, tracking Atlantic dolphins along the coast, and revealing migratory bird populations in the Tagus and Sado estuaries.
Is thermal footage useful for documentaries?
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Thermal adds a unique perspective to documentaries shot in Portugal—visualizing energy loss in historic Sintra palaces and Porto's Ribeira district, capturing volcanic activity in the Azores, revealing operations at Sines refineries and renewable wind farms, or logging cork harvesting in Alentejo forests.
Can thermal footage be composited?
Yes, thermal footage can be composited with visible light footage or used as creative elements. Post-prod can boost thermal visuals for specific visual effects or scientific presentations.
Related Services
Productions in Portugal that need this often pair it with Night Vision Filming, Helicopter Filming, and Car Filming for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Lighting & Grip and Steadicam & Gimbal Operators.
On Set
Need Thermal Imaging?
Tell us about your thermal visualization needs and we'll reveal the invisible.