Image based lighting with SpheroCam HDR Capture light perfectly 0 60 120 180 240 300 360 0s 20s 40s 60s 80s 100s 120s SPHERON VR high dynamic range imaging Spheron VR AG u phone u internet Hauptstraße 186 +49 (0)6333 2766-0 http://www.spheron.com D-67714 Waldfischbach-Burgalben u fax u e-mail Germany +49 (0)6333 2766-11 info@spheron.com
0 60 120 180 240 300 360 0s 20s 40s 60s 80s 100s 120s Merging real and CG worlds seamlessly is a challenging avoided during capture because the dynamic range of task. the SpheroCam HDR is larger than the dynamic range of the scene. The concept of using real-world photographic images to illuminate CG objects - image-based lighting - has Full spherical HDRi completes the idea of an accurate proven to be one of the most promising approaches measurement process by providing the high dynamic toward this goal. Today, most rendering software range information in every direction around the camera implements image-based lighting by using full spherical location. and High Dynamic Range images as lighting sources. Capture real-world luminosity with the SpheroCam HDR What is High Dynamic Range imaging? and bring real light into your scene! High Dynamic Range imaging is, first of all, about not losing information when capturing an image: If an object in an image is a million times brighter than another object, then its pixel values should be a million times higher, and not just 255. High Dyanmic Range imaging means measuring the real world luminosity as it is, without clipping of pixels or bleaching of regions within the image. Information loss is the concept
SpheroCam HDR - Benefits single scan, full spherical High Dynamic Range capturing 26 f-stops dynamic range no bracketing of multiple exposures no stitching of individual images complete control through a laptop computer for preview and storage real-time preview during capture ensures the best image the first time Spheron VR has developed the SpheroCam HDR from post processing engine to generate the desired HDR the ground up for taking outstanding full-spherical High- output. Dynamic Range images. The system captures incident Setting up the equipment and preparing for the final real-world radiance over the full sphere in a single pass capture only takes a few minutes. In a typical lighting and stores the image data in one of several widely situation a complete 360 x 180 HDR scan takes less accepted file formats. The high resolution gives plenty of than 3 minutes. detailed structure for reflection mapping and background shots as well. The examples below show HDR lighting compared to conventional lighting. The top image on the opposite Capturing full spherical HDR images with the page has been captured with the SpheroCam HDR and SpheroCam HDR is very simple and efficient: set up the has been used for lighting. camera, record the light distribution in a single scan and save it as a raw file in highest resolution. Use the built-in No.1: wire frame No.2: Lighting with one single ambient light No.3: Lighting with HDR image SpheroCam HDR
SpheroCam HDR Spheron VR provides a complete High Dynamic Range compared with existing technologies for producing full turnkey solution to create full spherical images: the spherical HDR images: SpheroCam HDR! All present approaches require a sequence of images The camera is made in Germany. It is a reliable and taken with different exposure times. The media handmade piece of precision mechanics, equipped with response curve of the camera or film has to be analysed state of the art electronics and imaging components. Its before the sequence can be assembled into the HDR innovative, bidirectional data flow makes working with image. Within this procedure, stray light induced effects the SpheroCam HDR interactive; e.g. electronic spirit can cause problems and impair the quality of the result. level, directional focus or white balance. The compact Stitching full spherical images from individual dimensions of the camera also allow shooting in areas photographs can result in geometric and colorimetric with limited space. inaccuracies. It also adds the risk, that those artifacts The SpheroCam HDR operates by rotating around its are not noticed until it is too late and the scene no longer vertical axis. A unique color sensor captures the exists. In combination with bracketing of exposures the surrounding scenery as a continuous set of vertical stitching of one full spherical HDR image can easily HDR scan lines. The image data is then transferred to require hundreds of photographs. the attached notebook computer for display and The SpheroCam HDR takes a HDR image in just one storage. The results can be inspected in real-time during single pass and thereby avoids lens flare problems. the scan using tools for display and quality inspection. Compared to stitching the results can be inspected The SpheroCam HDR shows its strengths when instantly. the camera
The SpheroCam HDR software was developed specifically for the camera and is not a plug-in from a third-party. This allows quicker development of future improvements to both the software and hardware that can be updated with a few clicks. The SpheroCam software grants full access to all camera settings for professional adjustment and image capture: fine and precise tuning of exposure and dynamic range analog white balance with management of factory presets and individual settings lens management for precise image capture and lens correction focus tool with acoustic and graphic feedback selftimer to delay scan start pause function When designing the camera and the software Desired processing steps are arranged in post Spheron VR put special emphasis on simple camera processing jobs, which can be applied to a raw image in handling and minimizing time consuming post order to extract one or more derivatives from a single processing. Both goals are achieved with the integrated, image (e.g., a full spherical Radiance file transformed to automated post processing in the SpheroCam software. six cube faces or a web ready QuickTimeVR movie). The Typical processing steps include cropping to 360 x180, post-processor runs independently in the background compensation of luminosity changes during the scan, and thus allows time saving and cost-efficient geometric transformations, e.g. to cube faces or production of large HDR projects. spherical maps and saving in various HDR file formats. the workflow
Operation Technology Scan Time 360 Viewfinder One-shot 360 x180 HDR scanning 60 seconds to 30 minutes depending on dynamic range, resolution and ambient lighting conditions approx. one MByte/s HDR raw data generation Laptop screen / instant LDR preview Resolution Height up to 5.300 pixels Width up to 13.000 pixels (full spherical), up to 100.000 pixels (cylindrical images) Horizontal Angle 1 to 400 Pixel Data 3x32-bit RGB raw, floating point TIFF, rgbe, Radiance Photographic Details Lens Nikon AF-D 16 mm Fisheye and also any other standard SLR lens with focal length between 4mm and 200mm Vertical Field of View 180 Dynamic Range more than 26 f-stops Hardware Data Transfer USB (Universal Serial Bus) Driving Unit DC motor (2 million precise positions per 360 ) Unplugged Operation more than 7 hours on one battery pack Dimensions Ø 140 mm, 300 mm (Ø 5", 12 ) technical specs
Supplied SpheroCam HDR with Nikon standard SLR lens mount Nikon Nikkor AF D 16/2.8 diagonal fisheye lens High End laptop computer with preinstalled SpheroCam software Manfrotto Carbon No. One 440 tripod with 460MG 3-way head Battery pack, USB/Battery power cable, A/C adapter User manual SpheroCam HDR Software; free updates from SpheronVR homepage and assorted accessories in a waterproof and very robust case Pricing and Terms of delivery For pricing and terms of delivery please contact Spheron VR directly. Please note that all prices are ex factory, packing included. Payment will be due upon shipment. It should be made by electronic bank transfer. Spheron VR retains title to the goods until the entire amount of the invoice has been paid to our account. Shipping and taxes are at the expense of our customers. Please be advised about our general terms of business as of October 2000. how to buy