Auto exposure: A camera setting that automatically adjusts the exposure to the lighting conditions of
the scene. Use this mode for 360 videos but not for 360 photos. Instead, you'll want to
use bracketing, a technique where the camera takes multiple shots at different exposures,
which then get merged together into a single high dynamic range image. Most 360 cameras
automate this sequence in their inbuilt HDR mode. Before shooting, though, you'll need
to do calibration. When you first take your 360 camera out of the box, the calibration process
helps it determine which way is up and which way is down so your photos and videos appear level.
Now you can go ahead and shoot, and after you finish shooting, you'll end up with double fish
eyes. This is what your 360 photos and videos look like after capture. When you stitch them together,
they become equirectangular, a two by one flat projection of a 360 photo or video. When viewed
in a non-360 viewer, you'll want to be careful not to make it look fisheye. Fisheye is the look
you get when you zoom out too far in your 360 video. Zoom in a bit to avoid this, kind of like
the perspective you'd see on Google Street View, a web-based service that allows users to explore
360-degree views of streets and landmarks around the world. A similar navigational experience you
can create with 360 videos is making a hyperlapse, a technique often used in 360 videos to create a
time-lapse effect while also moving the camera through the scene. Combining this with the motion
blur effect can look seriously epic, and the best cameras to achieve this effect are from Insta360,
the most popular 360 camera company. Photos taken with Insta360 cameras often end up as a JPEG,
a common file type for 360 photos that produces small file sizes. Only shoot in JPEG though if you
don't need the highest quality possible, or you don't plan on doing any editing. If you do plan
on editing, specifically 360 videos, you'll need to use keyframes. A keyframe is a frame in a 360
video that marks a significant change in viewpoint, allowing you to transition smoothly
from one perspective to another. Like right here where my second viewpoint is a little planet,
a spherical projection of a 360 photo or video that creates a miniature planet-like view of the
scene. Also, my friend Peter from Belgium likes to shoot with his DSLR, and inside all of his photos,
you'll find metadata information embedded in a 360 image or video that provides details such
as camera settings, location, and date of capture. While this information is hidden within the file,
something that isn't is the Nadir, the bottom point of the 360 photo or video,
typically where the tripod or camera mount is located. If you don't want your tripod in shot,
you'll need to do some object removal, the process of removing unwanted details using 360-friendly
software like Affinity Photo. This process falls into the category of post-production,
the process of editing and enhancing 360 photos and videos, including importing and editing,
color correction, and more. For best results in editing, you can improve your shots on location by
using Quick Settings, a menu filled with different exposure presets that allow you to instantly
adjust your camera settings based on the shooting conditions and the type of activity you're
filming. If you're shooting photos, you can set a photo quick setting to include RAW, a file format
that captures all of the data from 360 camera sensors without any compression or processing,
allowing for greater editing ability and a better end result. Always choose RAW if you're shooting
360 photos professionally. Now, after shooting, the very first post-production step is stitching.
Again, this is the process of combining the double fish-eyes into an equirectangular, which can then
be viewed back as fully spherical in a 360 viewer or reframed. This can be done by using the free
software of your camera by dragging and dropping your files and letting the software do the rest.
"Tiny planet" is another commonly used term for "little planet" and something I became very well
known for in the early days of 360 cameras. In fact, I even wrote a free ebook sharing all of my
top secrets and techniques for awesome tiny planet shots, which I'll link underneath this video. If
you're trying to make tiny planets underwater, however, you're going to need an underwater
housing. Even though many 360 cameras are marketed as waterproof, an underwater housing will allow
you to capture 360 photos and videos without any major stitching issues that will inevitably occur
as a result of water touching the lenses directly. Some 360 cameras have underwater housing options
and some don't. If you're not into underwater or action-type shots, you may instead be interested
in using your 360 camera for virtual tours. A series of 360 photos or videos connected together
through clickable hotspots to create a guided tour of a location. If you want to make your
own virtual tours, you'll need to learn the best workflow - the overall step-by-step process you
take when making 360 content, including shooting, stitching, and editing, as well as the tools you
use to do so. Two different people can use two entirely different workflows to achieve the exact
same result, which is why finding the easiest and best workflow for your specific use case should
always be a big priority. If you're using multiple programs in your workflow, you might end up using
an XML. This is a file format used to transfer metadata and other information between two
different video editing applications. To be fair, this process is pretty uncommon with 360 videos,
but what else was I supposed to do with the letter "X"? Once your edit is finalized, you may decide
to upload your videos to YouTube and YouTube VR. These are the most popular platforms for watching
360 videos as 360 in a browser or in a VR headset. If you look directly up in your 360 video,
you'll see the zenith, aka the very top point of a 360 photo or video, directly opposite the nadir at
the bottom. That's all for today, boys and girls. Now that you know the ABCs of 360 camera terms,
be sure to hit the like button if you enjoyed the video and consider subscribing for more
content just like this. So, now that you have the technical side of things down pat, check out this
video here to get 30 of my most creative 360 video shots. But subscribe first. Bye!