FAQ
Please click on the links below to view the FAQ answers.

What
are your qualifications and credentials?
M.S. Scientific & Technological Imaging (Brooks Institute)
M.A. Education: New Media Design & Production (CSULA)
B.A. Art (CSUN)
Specialized Studies: Architectural Photography (UCLA Extension) & 3D Modeling/Digital Environments (Gnomon).
Owner, Graphic Design Consultancy (10 years): Specialized in product photography, branding, and digital media.
Art Director: First MTV/Viacom video game.
Imaging Technician/Photographer: Teledyne.
What
are the services you offer?
The following services are
available individually, or combined in one project:
- Individual 360º panorama creation (VR Photography).
- Multiple 360º panoramas linked into a tour (360º Virtual
Tour).
- High resolution color calibrated 2D still photography.
- 360º visual rotations of objects (Object VR / Object 360º).
- 3D digital twins of room-sized spaces and artwork (Gaussian splats).
- Consulting on the implementation of immersive imaging.
How
can these presentation formats be shared?
This question has a multipart
answer...
Photography is the most versatile and can be shared in email, social media,
websites and prints. Importantly, photography can also be embedded in
360º virtual tours.
A 360º virtual tour is displayed via a Web browser. A tour is made up of
virtually any number of individual 360º panoramic images. The tour creation
software bundles these images together, along with code that makes them
individually viewable, with hotspots that link them together into a
single cohesive presentation. Well designed 360º virtual tours are easily
presented on desktop and mobile. Additionally, tour output can be
tailored for VR headset viewing.
An object 360º is displayed a Web browser. It is essential a number of
photographs taken sequentially while an object is rotated. This
sequence can then be played back in a browser to give 360º user-controlled
viewing.
A 3D digital twin is an accurate visual representation of any subject that
allows viewing that subject from virtually any angle. The subject
can be a small room, a large outdoor environment or even a single item.
Such viewing is done via a browser or VR headset. This kind of image,
also know as a "Gaussian splat", can be used in 360º virtual tours to
enhance immersion.
As you can see, options for image types and viewing methods are
versatile. Consultation on the technical implementation of
these presentation formats is available.
Can
audio and video be added to these products?
Yes, for individual 360
panoramas and for virtual tours.
A button to enable or mute audio can be included to give the
persons viewing the tour control over that aspect of the
presentation.
Video is usually accessed within a tour through the activation
of a hotspot.
Can
tours be updated over time?
Yes. Note that tours are created
with specialized software, which is not included with the
tour. Therefore, modifications to a tour can either be ordered
from this service, or the post-processed project files will be
provided, and the client can make changes, contingent on
possessing and having proficiency in the tour making software.
Do you
provide raw image files?
No. Raw image files are the
original captures and are essentially digital 'negatives'.
These images are not suitable for direct display. The
post-processing phase of a project creates the final form of
the images, and those are then delivered to the client.
Do
your imaging products require a subscription to you?
No. The imaging products created
by this service are provided subscription-free. If,
however, you desire to have your deliverables hosted
separately for convenience and simplicity, such services are
available in the marketplace.
How is
your service different than Matterport?
Matterport is a subscription
service that retains all productions on their servers. While
you may link to your virtual tours on the Matterport service,
you cannot download or retain them on a local computer or on a
different Web host. The deliverables from my service can be
hosted on the system of your choice. In fact, standalone
virtual tours are possible, that will run on any modern
computer.
Photographers, versus Matterport camera operators, prefer
access to their images because they want to personally control
the quality of the final results. If I retain control of the
virtual tour process from start to finish, you can be assured
of meticulous and specific quality characteristics. So, for
example, I can control the color management of all media when
I create a virtual tour of an art gallery. I capture
high-resolution high dynamic range still images from the best
vantage points, rather than cropping out still shots from a
tour.
My methods do not produce a 'dollhouse' view. And if you need
BIM integration with your virtual productions, Matterport is
an appropriate choice to consider.