www.lesliefisher.com Quicktime VR Overview

What is Quicktime VR?

Quicktime VR is part of Apple's Quicktime Family. Quicktime VR allows the end user to view pictures in a 360 degree rotation. This is perfect if you would like to show your students a remote location, a new building, a landmark, or a wonderful view.

What do I need to view Quicktime VR?

The more current web browsers have the Quicktime VR plugin already loaded. Chances are if your are running Communicator 4 or higher or Explorer 3 or higher you have the plugin loaded. Its simple to find out if you have the plug-in. Look at the image below. If it is a spinning bike shop, then you have the plugin! It may take a minute for the movie to load. If it does, viola! You have the plug in. If it doesn't load, then you will need to load. The latest version of quicktime is 5.0 and you can find it here. (http://www.apple.com/quicktime)

Just so you know:

Once you load Quicktime (which includes the VR module) onto your machine, an application that is Quicktime capable is now Quicktime VR capable. So, imagine creating a VR or referencing an existing VR right in your document. You can do that with any application that is Quicktime ready.

Ok, so now I know what Quicktime VR is, how can I make a Quicktime VR file?

Ok, first, lets take the whole mystery out of it. Quicktime VR is simply a series of photographs that were taken in a circle. Each photo overlaps the photo next to it. You would take anywhere from 12-20 pictures in a circle with a percentage of overlap. You use special VR software to stitch these photos together. The series of photographs stitched together are made into a VR is called a Panorama which is also known as a node.

You can also make an object a VR file. Simply place an object on a rotating lazy susan type device and move the object however many times you software says. So, if you were using a Sony Mavica and the software said 12 pictures makes a complete vr circle, then you would turn the object every 360/12 degrees.

You can take a look at a quicktime VR object file when you take a look at the VW site. They have a 360 object view of their new Jetta. You can see this object VR at http://www3.vw.com/cars/gti/qtvr.htm

And when you are all done, you can combine everything and make a VR multinode scene. Panoramas can be attached to other panoramas and objects can also be attached to panoramas. Imagine standing at the front door of a classroom. You can create a node that shows the area around the door. Maybe it is playground or something. You can then create what is known as a hotspot. The hotspot could be the door. When someone moves the mouse over the door, the cursor will change into a click hand. Click on the door and you are taken into a panorama of the classroom. In the classroom you see a diorama. You can make the diorama a hoptspot and link that to a VR object of the diorama.

Here are all of the tools you will need to create Quicktime VR:

Digital Camera or Digital Camcorder or 35 mm camera and create a Photo CD: You need to get the pictures somehow! I highly recommend the Sony Cybershot. Whatever camera you end up using, use one which has decent battery life (keep away from cameras that actually use batteries) and also make sure you have enough space to hold at least 20 pictures.

Tripod: It is important to get a tripod that has levels on it. You want to make sure the pictures you take are on even level with each other. A leveled tripod is the best way to ensure that.
The level is the small green dot you see in the middle of this tripod picture.

Tripod Head: This is a device that you hook your camera up to and the head swivels whatever degrees you set it to. I use the KIWI (http://www.kaidan.com/pages/kiwi+.html) from Kaidan (http://www.kaidan.com). This is an optional item if you think you have a knack at guessing degrees but it is well worth the $100 they ask for it.

Pixi: This is only needed if you are going to be doing object VR as well. As you can see from the pic, the Pixi is a notched turntable. You place your object in the middle of the Pixi (make sure it is in the center!) and move the pixi (by clicking the handle and moving it to another notch) each time you move the Pixi, snap a picture!

Feeling Thrifty? Head to Target (or your other favorite mega store and purchase a Lazy Susan. Granted, it does not have notches, but you can figure out how to enjoy the $95.00 you just saved.

Tape: Any type of tape that is different than the color of the floor you are working on is best. Mark each leg of the tripod. I usually place 4 strips of tape around the bottom of each tripod leg. You may be wondering why. Simple. What if someone bumps into your tripod and moves it. This can easily happen. Having the location of the tripod marked will allow you to reset easily and not worry about a non leveled picture or having to retake pictures.

Quicktime VR software: There are tons of different VR software. Some cameras even include their own VR type software. My Favorite is VR Toolbox. They make a stand alone package for Scenes, Panorama and Objects. They also make a software title called the Worx which is all of these packages put together. Each module costs around $75.00 and the Worx costs $225.00

Using VR software (example using VR Toolbox)

The first thing we will learn to make is a Panorama which is a 360 degree panorama around a room an area.

When you are done here, click the Acquire Tab.

When you are done here, click the Stitch Tab.

When you are done here, click the Blend Tab.

When you are done here, click the Compress Tab.

When you are done here, click the Playback Tab.

Now, lets make an object, this is the first screen you will see when you click on Make Object.

When you are done here, click the Acquire Tab.

When you are done here, click the Compress Tab.

When you are done here, click the Playback Tab.

Now, lets make a scene. No, I don't mean go to a bar and cause trouble, I mean a VR scene!

I am going to assume you know how to compress and playback already from making Panoramas and Objects, so, I will describe the rest within the picture below.