Be it VR games or videos– how VR content is made is perhaps one of the most asked questions by enthusiasts!
Despite being a popular immersive technology, virtual reality videos are still a new thing for most of us. Though slightly different from a standard video, virtual reality technology is similar to 360-degree videos, except for the platform you view them on. So, the process of making VR videos is more or less the same as a 360-degree video.
Instead of shooting videos in one direction, you will have to capture a full 360-degree angle of the scene.
VR video production isn’t as straightforward as creating a standard video, but it isn’t a Herculean task, either. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps of making an immersive VR video that your audience will enjoy.
So, without further ado, let’s get into the deets!
How To Make Virtual Reality Videos– The Process
Basically, the process of making a VR video can be divided into three parts–
- Pre-production or planning
- Production or shooting
- Post-production or editing
Pre-production or planning is the stage when you’ll have to get all the equipment ready and carefully plan the shots you wish to take. In this stage, you will also have to plan a story that you wish to narrate to viewers through your VR video.
When planning the storyline, keep in mind that spectators wouldn’t only watch the video but will also be experiencing it. Therefore, your video content must be engaging such that it would draw the watcher’s attention by piquing their curiosity.
After planning comes the shooting or production phase, where you’ll have to film the video as per the script. Your ordinary camera would be of no use for shooting virtual reality content; hence, you’ll need a 360-degree camera to capture shots.
One thing to keep in mind is that 360-degree cameras capture everything, which means they will record you too. If you don’t wish to be in the frame, you will have to step out of the scene after pressing the record button.
The final stage of making a VR video is editing the shots that you’ve recorded. Currently, the majority of VR cameras compile multiple shots together automatically to create immersive VR experiences.
If your camera cannot stitch shots, you’ll have to use editing software. One such editing software that you can rely on for editing your shots is VideoStudio.
Equipment Needed To Make A VR Video
To make a VR video, you need very little equipment, so you can start this venture without investing a lot of money. Here’s what you need to film virtual reality videos:
- One or more 360-degree cameras
- Spatial sound recorder
- Equipment like a drone, unipod, tripod, or a selfie stick
- Memory stick
- Virtual reality headset
As for the camera, the insta360 ONE X2 camera is a dependable option for making virtual reality videos because of its versatility and functionality. Its ultra-bright touchscreen, FlowState stabilization, and voice control are what make it a popular pick among VR video makers.
And if you’re fond of recording content outdoors, you will like this camera because of its compact size, which makes it travel-friendly. What’s more, this device comes with an IPX8 waterproof rating, so you can shoot VR videos without worrying about water damage.
It’s compatible with a variety of devices, so you won’t have to spend extra money on smartphones. And it masks out the selfie stick attached to it, so your viewers won’t be distracted by any object on the screen.
After shooting your video on a VR camera, you’ll need a VR headset to watch the finished video. When shopping for VR headsets, make sure to go for branded ones, even if that means shelling out a few dollars extra for a truly immersive VR experience.
Step-By-Step Tutorial On How To Make A Virtual Reality Video Using Blender
To create a professional-grade virtual reality video, you’ll need to take the help of industry-standard 3D video tools. While there are a wide number of these available in the market, we recommend going with Blender if you’re just a beginner.
Blender is a free and open source software tool that can be used to create professional VR videos. In the following, we’ve mentioned the basic steps to get you started.
Step 1: Download “Blender”
The first thing that you must do is install “Blender” from its official website. When downloading, make sure you install the latest version; only then will you be able to access all the features.
Step 2: Open The Application
After the application is downloaded successfully, open it, go to “file,” and click “new project.” Immediately after, a screen with a light, cube, and camera will appear. You’ll have to delete the cube by selecting it and pressing the “delete” key.
Step 3: Add A Plane
You’ll have to add a plane to the screen by clicking on “Mesh” and “Plane” from the menu options that come after pressing “Shift A.” Next, you will have to place a 3D model, which you can either make or download from the internet.
Step 4: Add Light And Camera To The Room
Inside the 3D model or the room, you’ll have to place light and camera and animate the latter. After clicking on the camera, add animation by going to the “Animation” tab and choosing the rotating parameter while making sure that the Z-axis value is zero degrees. Subsequently, choose “insert keyframes” from the menu that appears after making a right click.
Step 5: Move The Needle To The 100th Frame
Click on the timeline needle and move it to the 100th frame to create a clip that lasts 100 frames. You’ll also have to change the value of the Z-axis, which you can do to any value you want; ideally, we suggest changing it to 100.
Again, you’ll have to repeat the same process– select “insert keyframes” after right-clicking.
Step 6: Render The Animation
One thing that you must keep in mind is that there are two rendering engines in Blender– “Cycles” and “Eevee.” When it comes to creating VR videos, the render setting must be set to “Cycles” while making sure that the dimensions are 2:1. Also, set the type to “Equirectangular” and change the camera setting to “Panoramic.”
Now that everything is set, press “F12” on the keyboard to render the video, or you can simply click “Render Animation” after clicking on “Render.”
Step 7: Upload The Video To Facebook Or YouTube
Once you’ve rendered the animation, your 360 degrees video or VR video will be ready. You can upload it to Facebook or YouTube by injecting the metadata info, which can be downloaded from the internet.
6 Things That Will Help You In Shooting A Perfect VR Video
1. Make Sure The Tripod Is Placed Underneath Your VR Camera
Whenever you set out equipment to shoot VR videos, make sure that the camera tripod is placed below your VR camera. If you don’t do that, your tripod will appear on the video shot, which will become problematic during editing.
2. Always Clean Your Camera Lens Before Shooting
Before you start shooting scenes with your camera, clean its lens because you wouldn’t want any impurities to ruin the captured shots. Believe it or not, even a tiny spec of dust can degrade the quality of your video.
3. Point Your Camera Lens Directly At The Subject Matter
If you want to offer a fully immersive experience to your audience, position the camera such that its lens is focused on the subject matter. Or, the “stitch line” – a small yet noticeable line between two 180-degree videos– will be noticeable. It’s not much but it can degrade the experience for viewers.
4. Shoot Videos In Good Lighting
Even if your camera enhances the dynamic range of your photos, you must still shoot videos in good lighting. Videos shot in good lighting are of good quality compared to those shot in low-lighting conditions.
5. Record Short Clips
You mustn’t shoot overly long videos because editing lengthy videos is quite challenging. Ideally, you must shoot clips of two minutes or less, which will reduce your time spent on editing.
6. Don’t Be Afraid To Be Creative
Virtual Reality is totally different from traditional filmmaking, which means you’re not bound by any rules. In the virtual world, you can break the rules and be as creative as possible. After all, you’d want your audiences to get fully immersed in the video– wouldn’t you?
Tips For Dealing With Extensive Details In VR Videos
- Adjust the colors of the setting and the contrast of the lighting to make objects stand out
- Move slowly and deliberately when shooting videos to capture details
- Note that items far away won’t get captured at all, so shoot accordingly
Summing It Up
So, that was about making a VR video.
There’s no denying that you may feel stuck in the beginning, but with time, you’ll become a pro. Once you learn the basics, you’ll be able to create videos that will transport viewers to a totally different world.
After creating the video, make sure you watch it on a VR headset before uploading it.
To offer a fully immersive virtual reality experience to your audiences, make sure you use a high-end camera that comes with high resolution and ultra-bright touchscreen to record videos. Also, go for a compact yet durable model so that it can survive accidental drops.
On that note, we shall wrap our guide on the topic. Good luck!
