360-degree video is possible, but it requires a lot of equipment and a lot of money to make. If you’re interested in making or consuming it, here’s everything you need to know.
360-Degree Video Is Not (Exactly) VR
This spherical video format is often conflated with virtual reality, but there’s plenty of debate on whether non-interactive video material such as this is really a form of VR. For practical purposes, you’ll hear this sort of video referred to as “VR video.” This is because VR headsets are the way these videos are meant to be consumed.
Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that allows users to experience a simulated environment, often with the help of special equipment. While 360-degree videos are not interactive or computer-generated, there is some debate as to whether they should be classified as VR. So while the convention might be to refer to this media format as VR video, it’s important to know that a clear distinction exists. ..
Why Choose 360-Degree Video?
There are many different aspect ratios and formats of video that are suitable for different purposes. Some of these formats are wider than others, but all have unique properties that make them perfect for certain types of messages.
360-degree videos are perfect for capturing what it feels like to be in a particular place. Unlike traditional videos, which can only show a viewer what is in front of them, 360-degree videos let viewers choose what they want to focus on. This makes it easier for viewers to get a sense of the environment around them. ..
360-degree video is a great way to create immersive content that can be enjoyed by viewers without the need for precise framing. This format is especially well-suited for training videos, concerts, and theatre performances, as well as action sports videos. ..
That doesn’t mean you can’t use this immersive video to tell a story, but it needs a new visual vocabulary to properly guide the story, something they didn’t teach in film school in the past for obvious reasons. ..
Camera Types
360-degree video is a new and exciting way to experience video. It allows you to look around in all directions at the same time. This is great for videos that need to show everything from a wide angle to a close up. It can also be used for things like virtual reality or gaming. ..
There are now 360-degree and 180-degree cameras that use fish-eye lenses to bend the incoming image onto a standard sensor. Software then undoes the known distortion of the lens to provide a clear image, but one that gives you a surround view of what was filmed. ..
Multi-camera rigs create more visible stitching errors, which can look like cuts in the final image. ..
For the regular person on the street, something like the Insta360 line of smartphone-attached cameras is a good place to start if they want to take pictures and videos that look good and are easy to share. ..
Computer-Generated 360-Degree Video
360-degree video is a type of video that uses cameras to capture a field of view that encompasses all around the subject. This can be used to create videos that show the inside of a building, or show the outside of a building.
Stereoscopic video is a great way to create immersive experiences on hardware platforms that don’t have the ability to run natively on local hardware. By using stereoscopic video, you can create a realistic and engaging experience that is impossible to achieve with traditional video content.
Monoscopic & Stereoscopic Video
Monoscopic 360-degree videos are typically filmed with a single camera angle and lack the stereoscopic features of stereoscopic 3D videos.
3D video is more compelling, but it’s more complex to produce. Basically, you need two 360-degree cameras that are mounted at the right distance from each other. Cameras that can shoot stereoscopic video are quite a bit more expensive, so most of the video you’ll find is the non-3D kind right now. ..
Editing 360-Degree Video
360-degree video is a new type of digital video that uses a different codec than traditional digital video. So, if you’re editing traditional digital video, you can’t use the same software to edit 360-degree videos. However, there are some software programs that can read the 360-degree codec and make them look like normal videos.
Video editing software is designed to warp footage into the correct spherical form, so that everything looks the way it should. Which means it’s best to use an editing suite that knows how to do this. ..
Some editors offer features that are specific to the camera app they are using. Others may not have any features at all. It really depends on what you need and what type of editor you are looking for.
If you’re not already familiar with editing 360-degree video, professional editing packages such as Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro support editing it natively. If you have one of these programs, you can also work with 360-degree videos by using the tools that are built into the software.
Supported Platforms
360-degree video is a new and growing format that allows viewers to experience a scene from all angles. To create a 360-degree video, you need to record footage in multiple directions and then edit it together. There are several ways to upload 360-degree videos to YouTube: as an MP4 file, as a VR file, or as an AR file. YouTube already supports several formats of 360-degree video. You can upload your 360-degree masterpiece as an MP4 file, which is the most common format for online viewing. VR files allow viewers to experience the video in a virtual reality environment, and AR files allow viewers to see the video in 3D. ..
There are several mobile devices that also support 360-degree video, but the user has to download the video to their device and can’t stream it.
To create a VR experience that is compatible with specific headsets, you will need to adhere to the specific technical requirements of those headsets. ..
Watching 360-Degree Video
There are two ways that this sort of video is consumed. Either using a VR headset (hence the conflation with VR) or on a normal screen. Using a headset is the most immersive way to enjoy 360-degree video. It doesn’t even need to be an expensive headset. Google Cardboard can be used with YouTube to get basic immersive 360-degree video. Yes, even in stereoscopic mode!
The other way is to watch the video on a normal screen and use the mouse and phone’s built-in motion sensors.
Our Favorite Examples Of 360-Degree Video
Some excellent examples of video you can try out for yourself right now include: -Videos that are short and easy to watch, such as Vine and YouTube videos -Videos that are creative and innovative, such as the “How to” video series from Google -Videos that are educational, such as a tutorial on how to make a cake or how to cook a meal
This video shows how a live music performance can be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in experiencing it. By filming from low down, the camera can create an immersive experience that allows the viewer to be one of the participants. This makes for a more personal and intimate experience, as the viewer is able to see and feel the energy and excitement of the musicians.
This promotional video for the new Doctor Who series is both a CG video and a narrative video. You don’t even have to be a fan of the show to appreciate how cool this concept is. The video starts with a CG character walking across a screen, followed by an actual live-action character walking across the same screen. Then, the two characters merge into one, and you see the result of their combined action.
Google Cardboard is a cheap and easy way to enjoy virtual reality. ..