Compare Software
| Standard | International | Pro | Pro HR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | PC/Mac | Mac | Mac | Mac |
| Capture Resolution(s) | 320 x 240 | 320 x 240 | 320 x240 640 x 480 |
320 x 240 thru 1024 x 768 |
| Frames | 8, 16 or 24 | 8, 16 or 24 | 1-99 | 1-99 |
| JPEG Quality | 30, 50 or 70 | 30, 50 or 70 | 1-100 | 1-100 |
| Capture Time | 15 s (4rpm) | 13-17 s (3.5-4.6rpm) | 1-99 s | 1-99 s |
| Compatible Cameras | Mac - All PC - FireWire Camcorder only |
All | All | All |
| Image Export | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Adjust Camera Settings | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Logo | No | No | Optional | Yes |
| Price | $249.99 | $299.99 | $999.99 | $2999.95 |
Capture Resolution
The size, in pixels, of the image you record will determine how large your completed SpinImage will appear on the computer screen. 320x240 is standard for Web cams, while 640x480 is often referred to as "Full VGA Screen resolution." Higher resolutions will give you a larger picture, and the file size will be correspondingly larger. For example, and image at 640x480 resolution is roughly four times the file size of an image at 320x240.
Frames
The number of frames in your VR image will determine the smoothness of your rotation: the more frames, the less "jumpy" the rotation will be. To see examples of this effect, please visit the SpinImage Comparisons page.
JPEG Quality
When you save your VR image in SpinImage format, the SpinImageDV Software will save a series of JPEG image files, displayed by HTML and JavaScript. The clarity of these images can be adjusted with the software. Images saved at a high JPEG Quality will be clear and have few "artifacts" (areas of distorted color, or blocky edges). Images saved at a lower JPEG Quality will be less clear, but have a smaller file size. The savings in file size will vary from image to image, because it depends on the color information in the image being compressed. See the SpinImage Comparisons page for the differences.
Capture Time
The capture time is important for two things.
First, when creating a rotating image using a turntable, the time that video is recorded must be precisely equal to the time it takes for one complete rotation. Any other time will lead to a "jump" in the rotation. The TT-20 and Kaidan PiXi™-M are designed to rotate at exactly 4 rpm, leading to a capture time of 15 seconds. Other turntables may rotate at other speeds, and so a different capture time is needed. Additionally, the voltage in other countries often varies from the standard, and so a bit of tolerance is usually needed internationally.
Second, you may want to record an action that is not a rotating object. For example, see our Bucket Truck Demo. In this case, you should set your capture time equal to the time it takes for the action to be completed. If this is not exactly 15 seconds, you should likely choose the SpinImageDV Pro software.
Cameras
If you have difficulty bringing video directly in to the SpinImageDV software, there is an easy workaround. If you have any way of bringing video in to your computer (including a recorded file from a digital still camera with "movie mode"), then you can take your recorded movie file and import it into the SpinImageDV software.
The Macintosh version of the SpinImageDV software uses QuickTime to "talk" to your video source. As a result, any video device recognized by QuickTime can be used with this software. This includes almost every device that can be recognized by any application on the Macintosh, including digital camcorders and Web cams. Therefore, you should not have any problems using "live" video with SpinImageDV for the Macintosh.
The PC version currently can only see "live" video from digital camcorders via FireWire (also known as "iLink"). An upgrade is currently in progress to allow a wider range of video devices to work with SpinImageDV. In the meantime, if you do not have a digital camcorder, you will need to import the movie file as described above. Please contact us with any questions you may have.
Image Export
Some users of the SpinImageDV software find it useful to export individual frames in a format other than JPEG. These may be used as still images for a purpose other than an interactive VR, or for use in an image editing application before being included in a SpinImage.
The file type options include several potentially lossless formats, in order to preserve as much information as possible. These include: bitmap (BMP), Photoshop, PICT, and TIFF. Please see the Pro user manual for a complete list of file types.
Adjust Camera Settings
Depending on the type of camera that you use, you may be able to adjust some of the camera settings from within the software. These include hue, saturation, brightness, exposure, and white balance. Please see the Pro user manual for sample screenshots of this capability. Again, the available settings will depend on the type of camera you use.
Custom Logo
Some customers want to have a logo automatically appear below each VR Image they create, but would prefer to use their own logo linked to their own Web site, rather than using the SpinImageDV logo. We offer a custom version of the software for users of SpinImageDV Pro and Pro HR. We include one free customization with SpinImageDV Pro HR. Contact us for details and pricing.