Decoding The Making Of A VR Video

For long we have been discussing the cool stuff being made in the VR industry day after another, whether it be the immersive virtual reality videos or the break through VR devices. Now, taking the story little back to basics we would like to simplify the industry for you and decode the making of a VR video. Well, it is definitely not rocket science but needs quite a bit of technique and practice. So without much delay let’s talk about how to make a 360 degree virtual reality video. 

Camera 

It all begins with finding the right camera equipment for creating virtual reality. The video camera one chooses; must be able to capture spherical or panoramic view, under any possible conditions. For example, the most commonly used video camera equipment to capture 360-degree videos is the GoPro series. But don’t be surprised to know that just 1 GoPro camera won’t suffice the need. GoPro Hero 4 cameras have specifically designed camera rigs which can hold 6-10 cameras to capture a spherical shape while also overlapping some portions to eliminate gaps in the footage. 

Camera Location 

The most important thing to keep in mind while shooting with a 360 degree video camera is that, it captures everything. Yes, that would include you, me and everyone else who is present at the location. Which is why, it is very important that while capturing a video for virtual reality environment, one must give utmost importance to the location of camera. Either you can choose to be a part of the scene or hide. Apart from this, also make sure to keep consistent lighting to avoid any kind inconsistencies and jerks. 

Stitching your Video Footage 

Video capturing is just half work done in the process of creating your virtual reality video. All of the footage you shot have to be downloaded and synchronized together before it can be viewed in a VR headset. The process is called stitching. The most popular 360-video stitching platforms are Kolor Autopano and VideoStitch. It lets you automatically sync your footage in a 360-degree video. 

Virtual Reality Technology 

The whole process is incomplete until and unless you view your product via a VR headset. You can do this by purchasing a VR headset that incorporates a virtual reality technology like Oculus technology. Oculus makes your viewing experience most immersive and realistic but there are many other HMD (Head Mounted Display) available in the market to suit your budget; which includes pocket-friendly Google Cardboard which provides stereoscopic view, while there are high-end HMD like Oculus and Vive which provide monoscopic view.

So, prepare your gears and Get Set Go!

Happy VR videoing!