How to create QTVR

[Cooknn]

Eric Rougier of fromparis.com has created an excellent Quicktime movie tutorial for the steps involved with creating a QTVR (excluding the creation of a PTMac template). He uses a Nikon D70 + 10.5mm Fisheye Lens and 360Precision panoramic head (iGary and I both use this head as well). It's great fun to shoot QTVR - even better because you can make pretty good money doing it Even if you're not going to take the plunge for the hardware, I think the tutorial is very interesting to watch!

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Click here for the video in French.
For a full screen version of the QTVR shot in the tutorial click here.

 

[jared_kipe]

Lovely.

 

[m-dogg]

Eric Rougier of fromparis.com has created an excellent Quicktime movie tutorial for the steps involved with creating a QTVR (excluding the creation of a PTMac template). He uses a Nikon D70 + 10.5mm Fisheye Lens and 360Precision panoramic head (iGary and I both use this head as well). It's great fun to shoot QTVR - even better because you can make pretty good money doing it Even if you're not going to take the plunge for the hardware, I think the tutorial is very interesting to watch!

That was cool - Makes me want to go out and buy the equipment I'd need to create those!

 

[crazzyeddie]

Awesome. It took more steps than I thought it would, honestly.

 

[Cooknn]

Awesome. It took more steps than I thought it would, honestly.

There's even more to it than that. He didn't even touch on how to create the template with control points between the images so that it stitches perfectly for every batch (or series) of shots. He spends a lot of time on the Nadir (bottom). I just drop my logo in over the hole and get out of Dodge

 

[njmac]

Thanks for the link. Your QTVR on your website look amazing - How do you light the homes? How did you get your name out there?

 

[Cooknn]

Your QTVR on your website look amazing - How do you light the homes? How did you get your name out there?

Thanks! To get good lighting I open all curtains and turn on all the lights. I shoot at F8 and the lowest ISO - and since I'm using a tripod I just adjust the shutter speed accordingly. I've photographed some very dark rooms. Some that needed as much as 2" to expose, but they look well lit when I'm done with 'em

As far as getting your name out there... I work for a real estate team in the evenings doing ad's and brochures, etc. There are about 150 agents in the building and since I pass most of them in the halls, etc. I already have an "in". If they ever need a virtual tour most of them know who to call Plus, once your work is out on the MLS, agents from all over your area will see your stuff and you'll get calls from them as well.

 

[njmac]

That's a great niche for photographers Are there any downsides to the business?

BTW, Great thread!

 

[ChrisBrightwell]

I've been holding off on a lens and this head ... You people aren't helping.

If I knew, for a fact, that it would pay for itself in short order, I'd jump on it. I just don't know that I can sink that much money into a lens/head and *hope* that it pays for itself.

How much do you normally charge for a QTVR?

 

[Cooknn]

That's a great niche for photographers Are there any downsides to the business?

None, that I am aware of.

How much do you normally charge for a QTVR?

On average I make about $150 per virtual tour. Sometimes more if I can upsell the agent with additional nodes, CD's, etc. You can view my pricelist by clicking the link in my sig'.

 

[njmac]

Any idea on why your QTVR looks so much better than the hgtv dream home QTVR?

 

[Pistol Pete]

grate vid thanks a lot for posting...

 

[Buschmaster]

Wow, very interesting! The site looks fantastic all around as well. Thanks for posting.

 

[Cooknn]

Any idea on why your QTVR looks so much better than the hgtv dream home QTVR?

Because theirs is not QTVR. Java pano's blow. Like everything else Apple does, QuicktimeVR is head and shoulders above the competition. Nothing comes close to the QTVR experience IMHO. My customers have no problem with the requirement for the Quicktime Player - I give them a link to the standalone install to keep it down in size as much as possible. Most of them already have it though

 

[njmac]

ok, I didn't notice it wasn't quicktime - just that it looked terrible!

 

[seenew]

That's awesome, but I don't think I could ever afford to drop £500+ on the tripod head... That's more than $900USD!