Making a QTVR Object

by Jon Sanbo

QuickTime Virtual Reality (QTVR) allows pictures to be interactive. There are two different styles. One style is where it seems you are pivoting around for a 360° panorama. You can look from side to side, up and down, and zoom in or out of the picture. The other style lets you rotate or “walk around” the object. You can view it from all angles and zoom in and out.

Drag your mouse horizontally on the QTVR movie at left to see that it gives much more information than a still picture from one viewpoint. You can turn the object around and see all of the sides; this adds depth to the item.

One digital camera website provides a virtual tour of many cameras they review using QTVR. You can see where all the buttons, doors, ports, and knobs are located.

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The four basic steps to creating a QTVR are: (1) plan what you are going to do; (2) take pictures; (3) make your still pictures into a movie; (4) convert the movie to QTVR. I use iPhoto, iMovie, and QTVR Edit Object.

Editor’s Note: For current information on creating your own QTVRs, start by reviewing the information at the Apple website. Continue by googling “How to create QTVR Panorana Mac OS X”.

Picture Taking Hints

Use light, neutral colored backgrounds to reduce the harshness of the shadows. The background will also get rid of distractions behind the object. Mount the camera on a tripod.