These tips were compiled by Professor Ken Harper.

Capture/Stitching for Freedom360 and Kolor Pano Apps

Capture Tips

• Use the same exact settings on each GoPro
• Number each camera
• Problem areas, movement, vibration and color changes
• Batteries go fast, 30–60 minutes of shooting, remote too!
• Objects closer to the camera become more distorted
• Try to keep your best content outside of the overlapping areas
• All the videos you want to stitch together have to be in the same folder
• Account for import time, up to three hours for 30 minutes of footage

Links

Master VR Lists

• bit.ly/vr-360-master-list
• vrstorytelling.org

Overviews

• http://bit.ly/design-for-vr

Tutorials

• bit.ly/360-video-basics-kolor
• bit.ly/360-video-workflow-kolor

Software/Hardware

• freedom360.us
• kolor.com
• 360heros.com

Inspiration

• theenemyishere.org

Steps

• Capture

• Editing using Autopano Autopano Pro / Giga 4

• Export

Basic GoPro Hero 4 Camera Set-Up

Camera Set-Up (side button)

1. 1440 – 60FPS
2. Wide mode on
3. White balance to Auto
4. Protune on
5. Color Tuning to "GoPro color" or “Flat” for tweaking in post needs
6. Sharpness value to Low/Medium
7. ISO 6400 as a limit
8. Disable the low-light mode
9. Set individual cameras EV settings as needed (i.e. 1 camera facing sun)

• Shooting Workflow

1. Pair cameras with remote
2. Power ON the cameras with the wifi remote
3. Press Record on wifi remote
4. Check each camera for red recording lights and identical settings
5. Twist tripod stem quickly to motion sync the cameras

• Preparation of the video files

1. If you have multiple sequences, make one folder by sequence
   1. sequence_01 > CAM_1.mp4, CAM_2.mp4 , CAM_3.mp4…
   2. sequence_02 > CAM_1.mp4, CAM_2.mp4 , CAM_3.mp4…
2. Download template and place appropriate .pano in sequence folder
   (http://www.kolor.com/wiki-en/action/view/Autopano_Video_-_Template_Stitching)

• Import and synchronize

1. Drag and drop videos in folder into APV interface
2. In timeline click on point closest to motion or audio synchronization prompt in your video
3. Click on synchronization button
4. Set Search Range to look for sync prompt (i.e. 30 secs before/after current time)
5. Select method to sync, auto or motion (Used a clap? Choose audio)
6. Click OK

• Editing – Stitch Videos Using Section/Range Stitching Method

1. Drag blue in and out flags to make selection
2. Select “Stitch As Current Selection”
3. Click Click "Stitch as Pano" and select the right template (appropriate .pano file)
4. Save Project
5. Hide source videos by dragging source video window

• Editing – Automatic Stabilization and Horizon Adjustment

1. Click “Motion” on the Horizon Stitching tab (0–80% for vibration only, 80–100%, all motion)
2. Place cursor somewhere on your output segment (red), click “Edit”, this will open APG
3. Use Move Tool to adjust/straighten/flip the horizon
4. Save and return to APV

• Editing – Manually Adjust Horizon Over Time

1. Create multiple states on the timeline with transitions between states as necessary
   1. Use Cutter Tool to cut selection into 2 states (13:20 in workflow video)
   2. Drag boundaries or transitions (green) to match whole
   3. Click on one of the little black arrows to edit segment in APG
   4. Adjust horizon as before using the Move tool
   5. Save, return to AVP
   6. Select the second segment, adjust in APG, save and return to AVP again
   7. Go to the middle of your video, using the Cut Tool
   8. Repeat as need
2. Calculate RMS (optional, helps in assessing stitching quality)
   1. In AVP click RMS in the Stitching tab

• Editing – Manually Adjust Individual Camera Exposure and Color

1. Click Edit in AVP and go to APG
2. Adjust Blend settings
   1. Select Multiband Tool (green outlined gear)
      1. Adjust blend setting 1–10
   2. Select Cutting style
      1. Iso, good for static shots, allows to mask pole/tripod
      2. No cutting, produces ghosts in overlapping mode but smoother transitions
   3. Weighting > Diamond Mode
3. Go to Color Correction Tab
   1. Click Auto
   2. Adjust Gamma and Vignetting
   3. Save and return to APV
   4. As in the horizon correction section, create as many states as needed

• Exporting – 360 Video Render

1. In APV, take note of segment selection in red
2. Click Render
3. Render Box
   1. Native size listed by default, always 2:1 ratio for full sphere
   2. Blending Presets already set in APG
   3. Output Types
      1. Choose MP4 and choose preset
         (uncompressed will produce video sized to dimensions at the top of window)
   4. Encoding Rules
      1. Select Preset 4k Full HD (size will be shown at bottom of window)
      2. Standard, As Original
      3. FPS as Preset
      4. Aspect Ratio, Keep In Pixel Size
      5. Select Audio Source
      6. Click OK