​Playing Flow How-to: Create a 360-degree video
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Aug 9, 2017

​Playing Flow How-to: Create a 360-degree video

360-degree videos, also known as the spherical or immersive video is a truly unique visual experience where a video is recorded at every possible angle, all at the same time. The equipment used to record this experience has advanced significantly over a short period of time, but some noteworthy mentions in this domain include Samsung’s Gear 360, Ricoh Theta and 360Fly. Apart from the recording element, the viewing device for immersing yourself in the experience could range from your smartphone or a head mounted display which is specifically designed to cater to this requirement.

Playing Flow How-to: Create a 360-degree video

360-degree videos, also known as the spherical or immersive video is a truly unique visual experience where a video is recorded at every possible angle, all at the same time. The equipment used to record this experience has advanced significantly over a short period of time, but some noteworthy mentions in this domain include Samsung’s Gear 360, Ricoh Theta and 360Fly. Apart from the recording element, the viewing device for immersing yourself in the experience could range from your smartphone or a head mounted display which is specifically designed to cater to this requirement.

Even if you’re a newbie or an avid multimedia enthusiast, you may have witnessed the sharp increase in the mention of VR in the technology arena, so much so that it has lapped up the attention of several high profile investors who are seeking to benefit from this innovation in the long run. But what does it take (skills and equipment wise) to actually record a 360-degree video that is fed into the VR experience? The task may seem confusing and even daunting at first but don’t worry, Playing Flow’s step by step how-to guide is here to satisfy your curiosity.

What you need:

Well, to start out with this task (and this one is quite obvious) – you need a camera! As VR technology has picked up over the years, several players have entered into the industry trying to outsmart competitors and developing cutting edge equipment which is less complex, user-friendly and provides the best results. However, for users that are just starting out, the best recommendation is to play around with the setup, use your imagination and learn to manoeuvre the equipment to get the best angles.

An important piece of equipment to build your setup is a camera rig. These rigs should be able to hold multiple Go Pros. You can even purchase customized camera rigs that possess this capability. The second piece of equipment is your trusty Go Pro (about 6 to 10 of them). The idea is to set up the device in a way, that it is able to capture all angles while recording a scene simultaneously thereby, living up to the very definition of a 360-degree footage which shows what’s going around in full circle.

The placement of the camera rig itself will depend on your personal requirement and how you wish to shoot the shot, play around with various options until you are satisfied with the setup.

Get Creative with the Placement

You must follow a certain set of considerations before proceeding to shoot this type of video since it is not how regular videos are shot. The placement of your camera rig should be in a way that it captures everything in the field of vision. Let’s say if the video is being shot in a place where direct exposure to light is needed, then make sure that your placement is able to allow the camera to capture these movements.

The key here is to get creative with the placement and try out various angles. You cannot expect to put the camera straight up as is the case with regular videos and let it capture what’s in front of it. The number one rule is that there are no rules, test out what works best as per your requirements, vision and needs.

The same consideration applies for deciding upon the camera location. For instance, an aerial shot might require you to hang the equipment from the ceiling while you can choose to mount it somewhere at a higher angle when trying to capture someone who is tall.

You can check out the end product by recording small snippets and tweaking placement as you go along, the best placement for each video varies depending upon your recording location. Therefore, it is recommended to check out video snippets for mistakes which can be rectified later rather than recording long videos.

Things to Watch Out for!

During the testing phases of filming the video, you should find out about the ‘bugs’ that may distort the final output, for instance, in a moving shot which is being filmed in a car, through a drone or while walking, do check out for items that can appear in the shot and hide them. There is a higher chance of experiencing such issues when making a 360-degree video because each and every angle is covered.

The second element to watch out for is movement itself, remember you are trying to create an experience for the viewer where they will be able to immerse themselves in the video. Using too much movement or motion techniques can be dizzying, therefore, try to strike a balance with reference to this concept.

You can always try to eliminate unwanted things from the broader video in post-production, but it is better to find a way to reduce their visibility when you’re recording the actual video. An experienced videographer will always try to apply this rule in the recording stages so that the effort that is put in during editing and post production is reduced and more time can be spent on actually enhancing the aesthetic of the video.

Whether you’re a beginner, a layman or an experienced videographer who wants to improve the visual experience for audiences, learning the simple techniques to master the art of producing 360 degrees can come a long way in trying to learn new tricks of the trade and better your own expertise in the field. Rather than purchasing expensive equipment when you are in the learning phases, it is always better to use existing equipment and build a setup to get a feel of how this works. Once you can get the hang of it, creating immersive videos will unleash a new potential of creativity within you. There is so much to explore and so many techniques to try out!

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