Post-Production
IMAGE
step 1: choose the best images
Choose the best photo is the tangled part. What standards or conditions should consider are the overall exposure, composition, and content.
Exposure is really important for the viewer to see the real scene, how can the image be attractive and affect their sense of presence. It is hard to control sunlight, surrounding things, and outdoor people. Lucky, most shooting days are sunny, I prefer to use a faster shutter speed. However, the light contrast is severe. Ground areas are dim with lots of shadows, and it is hard to see what is happening in our sight. On the other hand, when I slow down the shutter speed, the blue sky becomes over-exposure in some areas. It can't remedy post-production. Thus, I must trade-off on the different shutter speeds and balance the light contrast. Composition and content are also important roles to express what I am focusing on. Most of the time, I will take shot on people who pass-by, presenting the most truthful decisive moment.
step 2: edit images (Adobe Lightroom on the Mac)
The editing aims to present the most real scenes for viewers. I don't feel willing to create a colorful image, but I try to show what I am observing at that moment.
I have done, adjust the exposure, reduce the highlight on the light source, reduce noise, increase saturation, and enhance more detail. I would copy the preset and paste it on the next image in the same place. Of course, I will basic on different sites and exposure to conduct the final adjustment. When I export the images, I also create a name according to the location. For example, in Man Fung, I chose two images. One of them is called Man Fung_left side, another Man Fung_right side. Therefore, you can see I am using location and position to assign images and audio as a pair conveniently. It is also easy to manage.
step 3: step 2: edit images (Adobe Lightroom on mobile)
After editing images on a computer, I will edit photos on a mobile phone again. I don't satisfied with the version edited on the computer, so I edit images on phone again. On the mobile version, I will tend to adjust the color preset to enhance the atmosphere.
step 4: edit images on Adobe Photoshop
Apart from editing images, I would use the blur tool to blur people's faces, number plates, and brand names to protect their privacy. Except for Man Fung, Chu Kei, Grandma's tofu pudding, and Sing Heung Yuen, the above names wouldn't be hidden. It is the final version after blurring images and gets ready for a virtual tour.
step 5: preview edited images on basic app RICOH THETA
Before creating the virtual tour, I insert the image on the basic app RICOH THETA, a computer application for preview spherical images.
AUDIO
step 1: preset settings before shooting
Before receiving the equipment, I read the instruction to ensure that I am familiar with the tool.
Recording formats
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Ambisonics B (the data is distributed to four channels (W/X/Y/Z))
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Mic position: Auto
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48k/24bit
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Ambisonic Monitor: Stereo (The input sound is converted to ordinary stereo for monitoring.)
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Input levels: Mic Gain 80
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Low-frequency cutoff filter: 50Hz
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Sound Marker: turn on
What is Ambisonics B?
Ambisonic is a sound processing format that records a complete 360-degree panoramic view. Ambisonic’s microphone has at least 4 capsules. Usually, we will use WXYZ to represent 4 channels. The sound of the surrounding scene must be decoded before it can be used, so, I use B-format which is decoded format.
01
Why use 48k/24bit?
48 kHz is the standard for audio for today’s digital video delivery. The higher kHz does not have better quality. For example, 96 kHz is not very common for final delivery. On the other hand, 24-bit audio file is easy to download. When I process amounts of audio files, the file size is not much large and fast to download.
02
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What's a function of a Low-pass filter?
Apart from using a windshield to block the wind noise, the filter reduces high-frequency signals. Allows low-frequency signals to pass, but weakens the passage of signals with frequencies higher than the cutoff frequency.
Any difference between Stereo and Binaural?
Stereo recordings are essentially any recording made with two channels of audio, where the signal on each channel is different. you hear a sense of space between the headphones which creates the stereo image. Binaural recordings are two-channel recordings created by placing two omnidirectional microphones close to the ears. the head and ear structure affect the way sound waves are picked up by the microphones.
04
step 2: compare different soundtracks in same location
Each soundtrack is unique, and I will choose the best audio according to the image. What factors will I consider: Does the soundtrack provide important information to enhance understanding? Does the soundtrack has recorded a lot of wind noise? Does the soundtrack synch with sound sources? Does the position of the soundtrack recorded is same as the image captured?
step 3: reduce wind noise in Audacity
I will listen to the soundtrack carefully and select the part that recorded wind noise. Then, use noise reduction function to reduce the sound I don't want. Repeat this action in each soundtrack.
step 4: cut off unnecessary parts
Each time I record sound on the street, I will say the recording's position. This action is used for marking and also pairing with images. Also, every soundtrack is recorded around in 3 minutes and 21 seconds, ensuring I am enough audio for editing.
VIRTUAL TOUR
step 1: SKIN
In the first step, choosing good skin is very important. There have different types of it, such as a magazine or indoor apartment. I prefer to use a clear and simple style that displaying the minimum item. Then, basic on the preset, I adjust the size and transparency of the thumbnail bar. Apply some shadow on the images also enhance stereoscopically impression.
step 2: PANORAMAS
Import 360 images orderly in series. Set view as an initial point. Drag the next hotspot in current images, and assign an arrow. There have two types of an arrow. One is using in the same site, and another one is using for moving to the next location. Set the size of arrows (372*170px) and set it as a loop. Then, put an info window appropriate and assign an icon of "i." input texts and choose font and font size. Next, upload audio, and adjust the quality(kbps) to 150 in looping. Some places have two to three soundtracks assigned in different directions.
step 3: PUBLISH
Before entering the virtual tour, I also make a loading screen. It is a picture created in Adobe Illustrator. Next, adjust the size that fits with the screen. Press the "publish" button. There have five options, I will use offline version.
