‘Cyc’ is an abbreviated term for “cyclorama,” also referred to as a cyclorama wall or cyc wall. It’s essentially a curved wall used as a photo or video background to suggest unlimited space.
To elaborate further, a cyc is any type of walled background incorporating one or more curved surfaces that are used to 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 are used to 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 also 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.