Apple QuickTime VR User Manual

11CHAPTERSetting Up Your SoftwareSystem requirements for using QuickTime VR Authoring StudioThis section describes the hardware and software you need

Fundamentals of the QuickTime VR Authoring Studio interfaceWhen you open one of QuickTime VR Authoring Studio’s five tools, the window for that toolap

copyright settings 21, 31, 47correction settings 20, 31, 69Correlate button 37Crop option 28Ddecompression time 94Default Pan setting 19, 30, 46

determining number of 82, 83digitizing 83getting information about 38missing or destroyed 90modifying 28quality of 20, 49, 94rotating 17, 26, 4

creating with Object Maker 39, 57creating with view states 51, 52description of 7file suffixes for 13supporting 85troubleshooting 88, 90, 91zoom

Project Manager window 74projectsbuilding 76, 77getting started on 9managing with Project Manager 73–77planning 8QQTVR mediaadding previously cre

Show Help Labels option 11SimpleText program 2Sort buttons 26source materialchanging source files 77compression and 94creating 79–85missing or d

User’s ManualQuickTime VRAuthoring Studio

K Apple Computer, Inc.© 1997 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 95014-2084408-996-1010http://www.apple.comUnder

ContentsPrefaceWelcome vii1 Setting Up Your Software 1System requirements for using QuickTime VR Authoring Studio 1Minimum system configura

How to get started on your first QTVR project 9Fundamentals of the QuickTime VR Authoring Studio interface 10Setting QuickTime VR Authoring Stud

Creating scene components 62Creating links 65Defining hot spots and setting destinations 65Adjusting scene settings 68Processing the scene

Setting QuickTime VR Authoring Studio preferencesYou can change QuickTime VR Authoring Studio’s default preferences by choosingPreferences from the Ed

Appendix ACompression 93Choosing a compression method 93Source material 94Image quality 94File size 94Compression and decompression tim

viiPREFACEWelcomeQuickTime VR Authoring Studio is a set of QuickTime virtual reality (QTVR) authoring toolsthat let you create panoramas, objects, and

m Virtual Reality Programming with QuickTime VR 2.0 (Apple Computer, Inc., 1997). Thisbook is for developers who want to to gain greater control over

Apple Computer, Inc.1 Infinite LoopCupertino, California 95014-2084408-996-1010http://www.apple.comU97600-084APrinted in U.S.A.

m Display QuickTime VR Movie After Make Is Complete—If this option is selected, aplayback window appears automatically after an object, panorama, or s

Panoramasm Compression—You can select a default compression method for making panoramas.Details on selecting a compression method appropriate for pano

m Preload—Select to have frames of your object movie loaded before they are played.m Cache hint—Select to have each frame of the object movie kept in

153CHAPTERMaking a Panorama From an Existing Panoramic ImageYou can create a QTVR panorama in one of two ways using QuickTime VR Authoring Studio:m by

Using the Panorama MakerTo make a panorama from a single panoramic image, follow these steps:1 Double-click the QuickTime VR Authoring Studio icon.2

5 Click Add Image.A dialog box appears. Select the image you want to use for your panorama and click Open. You can use any image that is in a format s

9 Click Settings.The Panorama Maker Settings window opens with the Compression tab selected. If there is an X in the checkbox labeled Auto, the Panora

12 Click the Playback tab and adjust the playback settings.The playback settings determine the orientation, viewing size, and field of view of thepano

If you’re playing the QTVR media over the Internet, you also need a World Wide Web browserwith the QuickTime plug-in version 2.0 installed.WindowsThe

13 Click the Imaging tab and adjust the imaging settings.Imaging settings determine the quality and speed of the image during playback. (They donot af

m Copyright—Adding copyright information to your QTVR panorama is optional. When youuse MoviePlayer to view your panorama, you can see the copyright i

Using this window, you can view the panorama and adjust the playback settings. Thesesettings determine how the panorama looks when it is first opened.

234CHAPTERStitching a Panorama From a Series of ImagesThis chapter shows you how to create a panorama from multiple images. The source materialfor a s

4 Click Save.The Panorama Stitcher window appears. 5 Open the Lens pop-up menu and choose the lens you used to photograph your images.If your lens doe

7 Click to select the checkbox labeled Images Wrapped if the images give a 360-degree view ofthe scene.If this option is selected, the Panorama Stitch

10 If your images were not captured on a level plane, enter the appropriate information in theVertical Alignment section.If you are not able to keep t

There are three reasons you may want to save the PICT file:m To save time—If you save the PICT file and you later decide to remake your panorama, theP

18 Select the image options appropriate for the panorama.Image ProcessingThese options determine the types of processing applied to the stitched image

19 Click the Compression tab.If there is an X in the checkbox labeled Auto, the Panorama Stitcher will calculate the optimalnumber of tiles to dice yo

Installing QuickTime VR Authoring StudioBefore you install QuickTime VR Authoring Studio, be sure to have your QuickTime VRAuthoring Studio serial num

m Panorama Viewing Size—Type the width and height, in pixels, of the playback window.m Default Pan—If you want your panorama to open with a pan angle

23 Click the Imaging tab and adjust the Imaging settings.Imaging settings determine the quality and speed of the image during playback. (They donot af

25 Click OK.The Stitch Settings window closes.26 Click Stitch Pano.It takes a few minutes for the Panorama Stitcher to create the panorama. Processing

Using this window, you can view the panorama and adjust the playback settings. Thesesettings determine how the panorama looks when it is first opened.

2 Click New and type a name in the Lens Name box.3 Enter the focal length of the lens.4 If you know the length of the lens used to capture the images,

Estimating a lens1 Click Estimate in the Edit Lenses window.The Lens Estimator window opens. The first two images of your series appear. If you want t

Aligning imagesThe Panorama Stitcher has a Pair Alignment feature that lets you adjust alignment betweenside-by-side images. Use this feature only if

2 Adjust the alignment options or click the checkbox labeled Use Defaults.If you don’t use the default values, you should first drag one image so that

Getting image informationPress and hold the arrow beneath an image, as shown. The filename and location, size, and other information about the image a

395CHAPTERMaking ObjectsThis chapter shows you how to create an object using the Object Maker. The source materialfor an object can be images taken wi

3 Type a name for your Object Maker document.An Object Maker document is a record of your Object Maker session. If you quit QuickTimeVR Authoring Stud

7 Click Add Files.A dialog box opens. Select the images you want to use for your object, then click Done.Shortcut: Instead of clicking Add Files, you

8 Check to be sure the images are oriented properly and in the correct order.Click each image you want to rotate, then click one of the rotation arrow

11 Click Settings.The Object Maker Settings window opens with the Compression tab selected.If you want to change the type, quality, or depth of compre

Horizontal and vertical controlsWhen you view your object in the playback window, you control the horizontal and verticalmotion by using the mouse. By

m Auto-play Speed—Enter the speed at which you want the object movie to playautomatically. If you want the object movie to play faster than the rate y

13 Click the Playback tab and adjust the playback settings.The playback settings determine the orientation, viewing size, and field of view of the obj

14 Click the File tab.m Flattening—If you plan to distribute your object to other users, select the checkboxlabeled Flatten To Data Fork. A flattened

16 Click Make Object.It takes a few minutes for the Object Maker to create the QTVR object. Processing timedepends on the number and resolution of the

Capturing images directlyYou can capture images directly into the Object Maker window if you have a camera that canbe attached to a computer, and your

52CHAPTERIntroduction to QuickTime VR Authoring StudioQuickTime VR Authoring Studio is a set of authoring tools that lets you create QTVRpanoramas, ob

5 Use the controls in the Capture Controls window to adjust the brightness, color, and contrastof the image.6 Check to be sure the object is centered

Creating objects with view statesA view state is a specific set of images that are displayed for an object. A view state can betriggered by a user act

3 Add image files for the second view state.Be sure View State 2 appears in the View State pop-up menu, then add files as you did forView State 1.Note

Animating view framesYou can animate a view in your object by adding multiple images, or frames, that play insequence when that view appears. To see a

4 Choose Close from the File menu to close the view window.5 If you want to animate other views, repeat steps 1 through 4.You don’t need to animate ev

Creating absolute objectsThe view a user sees of an absolute object depends upon where on the object the user clicks.Because of the spatial relationsh

4 Click Add Files.A dialog box opens. Select the images you want to use for your object, then click OK. (Addthe rock climbing files located on the Qui

7 Follow steps 13 though 18 in “Using the Object Maker,” earlier in this chapter.Once the absolute object is made, you should check to be sure you see

Making QTVR ScenesThis chapter shows you how to create a QTVR scene using the Scene Maker. A QTVR scene isa collection of media, or nodes, such as pan

What you can do with QuickTime VR Authoring StudioQuickTime VR Authoring Studio has several features that help you create QTVR media easilyand efficie

60 Chapter 6Opening QuickTime VR Authoring Studio1Double-click the QuickTime VR Authoring Studio icon.2 Choose New from the File menu, then select Sce

A dialog box opens. 2 Select a map file for your scene.If you are using the material provided on the QuickTime VR Authoring Studio CD, select theStore

Specifying output files1If you want the hot spots file to have a different name or location from the one listed next tothe Hot Spots button, click Hot

2 Move the circle to a location on the map and click. An icon representing a panorama node appears and the circle changes back to an arrow. Thenode’s

Adding previously created QTVR mediaYou can add objects and panoramas that you created previously using QuickTime VRAuthoring Studio. You can also add

Creating links1Click the Set Dual Links button.Dual links let the user move back and forth between nodes in a scene. One-way links let theuser move fr

2 Choose a destination to link to by clicking one of the nodes listed in the Hot Spot Editor window. If you are using the sample source material on th

If you are using the sample source material on the QuickTime VR Authoring Studio CD,move the Company Store panorama until you see the front door. Then

Press the mouse button and drag the pointer over the area in the panorama that you want todefine as a hot spot. Then release the mouse button.If you a

2 Enter the width and height in pixels of the scene in the playback window.The playback window is what the user sees when your QTVR scene opens.3 Choo

QTVR media typesThere are three types of QTVR media you can create with QuickTime VR Authoring Studio:panoramas, objects, and scenes.PanoramasA QTVR p

Processing the scene1Define the starting node for the scene.Click the node in the Scene Maker window that represents the object or panorama you wantth

Checking the linksIt is important to check each link in your scene to be sure it leads to the objects or locationsthat you specified in your initial p

2 Create a one-way link from a panorama or object in the scene to the blob or URL node.Two links are shown below, one to a blob and another to a URL.N

737CHAPTERManaging QTVR ProjectsThis chapter shows you how to use the Project Manager to manage large QTVR projects. TheProject Manager lets youm orga

A Project Manager document is a record of your Project Manager session. If you quitQuickTime VR Authoring Studio before you build a QTVR project, you

You can add as many panoramas as you like to the project.A diamond in the Make column indicates that the item needs to be made. Any time youchange one

2 Add files to the tool window and set preferences. Follow the procedure described in one of the previous chapters for adding files and changingsettin

Processing time depends on the number of QTVR media in the project, the number andresolution of the source images, the speed of your computer, the amo

798CHAPTERCreating Source MaterialThis chapter provides basic guidelines and tips for creating high-quality source material usinganalog or digital pho

Creating a QTVR sceneCreating a QTVR scene involves four steps:m planning the projectm creating source materialm using a QuickTime VR Authoring Studio

Equipment guidelinesFor best results, it’s recommended that you use the following equipment to capturephotographic images:m A film camera with manual

Photographic techniquesThis section provides guidelines for exposure, considerations for indoor and outdoor photography, and recommendations for deter

Indoor photographyIt can be difficult to ensure consistent lighting effects for indoor photography, especiallywhen there are windows in the scene. You

The following table lists the number of images you need to get 50 percent overlap with avariety of lenses if you’re shooting a 360-degree panorama in

Capturing images for QTVR objectsYou can capture real-world objects using a video, film, or digital camera. For best results,shoot the object frames i

Supporting the objectPlace the object on a support, as pictured previously. Use as small (but solid) a support aspossible, so that it does not stand o

879CHAPTERTips and TroubleshootingThis chapter describes solutions to problems you may encounter when creating QTVR media. General problemsThese probl

I can’t play a QTVR panorama, object, or scene.Cause 1: The computer on which you are trying to play the media does not have thenecessary components t

Media-specific problemsPanoramasI see something that looks like stair steps at the top and bottom of thepanorama.Cause: The camera was not level when

Some of the techniques and equipment used to photograph or capture images for a QTVRscene are different from the techniques used for standard photogra

One of my source images is missing or has been destroyed.Solution 1: If you captured the source images with at least 50 percent overlap, you canmanual

The object slips under the pointer or I don’t get the illusion of grabbing the object.Cause: The mouse scale factor is wrong.Solution: Open the Object

93AAPPENDIXCompressionCompression reduces the size of your media files and improves the interactive response timeof your QTVR movies. Compression meth

Source materialCompression methods are optimized for specific types of source material. Videocompression is a good choice when the source material is

AnimationAnimation compression is best for animation, computer-generated video, and sequences ofcomputer-screen images. It decompresses files faster t

The following table compares the codecs most often used for QTVR media.Comp. Ideal Source Comp. Decomp. Comp. CommentsMethod Material Speed Speed Rati

97BAPPENDIXEquipment, Software, and ServicesObject and camera rigsThe following companies sell object and camera rigs you can use to photograph images

mTropolism mFactory, Inc.m 415-548-0600m http://www.mfactory.com/mtropolis/SoftwareThese tools are used to process source material:Adobe Photoshopm Re

Index99Aabsolute objects 55–57Add Images button 24Add Map button 60aliases 12aligning images 25, 26, 36, 37, 90alignment options 36, 37Animate V