Welcome to the Frequently Asked Question area, click a topic below...

Questions about the software         Questions about the photography             General questions

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SOFTWARE

Question: Does my machine support Realview files?

Answer: Yes, normally any machine will support the exported results in your browser, however recently Microsoft stopped including the Java Virtual machine in the Windows XP installation. Install the service pack (SP1) for XP from Microsoft or download the Java virtual machine from the Sun website (http://java.sun.com/getjava/download.html). You pobably have installed this already since most of the websites include all kinds of Java based techniques and without the Java Virtual machine it will not operate at all!

Question: Is it hard for me to make an interactive (3D) animation?

Answer: No, it isn’t. Start with the photography, go for instructions to FAQ “about photography”. You don’t need any special skills to produce an interactive object yourself. All our software include an extensive helpfile. You might need some help to publish your animation into your website.

Question: Is it only possible to rotate the objects?

Answer: No, in fact the only limit is your phantasie. Interactive slideshows, colorchanges, sound, navigation to an orderform or another URL; it is all possible ! So 3D is just a tiny part of all interactive features. Watch our sample page and don’t forget to look at our “specials”.

Question: Is it expensive?

Answer: No, it is not expensive. The price is only a small part of your total investment when you include photography services. You pay Euro 15,- for an animation, no matter how many images you want to use.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHY

Question: How to get my product in 3D?

Answer: First you need some hardware: a digital camera, a turntable and a tripod. We advise you to buy a turntable from Kaidan. You can find all the information about Kaidan at www.kaidan.com  Now you can start.

  1. Look for a place with enough (day)light to take your pictures.
  2. Make the surrounding of your product white.
  3. Put your camera on the tripod, make all your camera settings and place your product in the center of the turntable. Take your first picture.
  4. Don’t change your camera settings, and turn the turntable for instance 40 degrees.
  5. Repeat step 4 until your have taken pictures of your product from any angle (When you use 40 degree steps you will end up with 8 pictures).
  6. Load the images in your PC and, if necessary, make the background white with for instance Adobe Photoshop
  7. Save your images, start Realview 3D and begin with a “new project”.

Question: Which hardware do I need, and how do I take the two panorama pictures?

Answer: Cameras: Since Realview 360 only stitch fisheye images into panoramas, only fisheye lens attachable digital cameras are acceptable. Among the fisheye lens attachable cameras, the Nikon COOPLIX serie is the most suitable one. Here are the most common cameras: Nikon COOLPIX 995, 990, 950, 880, 800, Olympus D-3x0R and Olympus D-4x0 series. You also need a fisheye lens: Nikon FC-E8 fisheye lens or Sigma AF 8mm F4 EX. To attach the camera to the tripod we advise you to buy a Kaidan rotator. The Kiwi series of Kaidan are specially designed for this purpose. For more information go to www.kaidan.com To complete your equipment you need a tripod. Here are the steps to take your two pictures:

  1. Attach the fisheyelens to your digital camera, attach your camera to the rotator and mount the rotator on the tripod.
  2. Put your camera on the spot you want (this will be the center of your panorama view) and make your camera settings. Turn your camara until you feel a “click” of your rotator.
  3. Make your first picture and turn the camara (180 degrees) until your rotator clicks again.
  4. Don’t change the settings of your camera and take the second picture.
  5. Load the two pictures in your PC and save them.
  6. Start Realview 360 and follow the instructions of the wizzard.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Question:  Do I need a new website?

Answer: No, you just delete your 2D images, and replace these images by your (3D) interactive animations. That’s all.

Question: And if my webbuilder does my website?

Answer: If your webbuilder also takes care of the photography, he will be able to make the animations by using our software. In the case you deliver the images yourself to the webbuilder, you can offer him the animations instead of the images.

Question: But I’ve seen this before.

Answer: Probably, you have seen a different technique which also resulted in interactive animations.  But with a closer look there appear to be many differences compared to Realview software. The filesize of the animation is much bigger (so the visitor of your website has to wait much longer), and any other technology requires more skills. All other technologies can’t protect your animations from “stealing” from your website. Alternative technologies mostly urge the vistor of your website to download a plugin or a player. This is killing for your (potential) clients, because often they don’t have the skills to do this, or they don’t have the patience for it.   

Question: What is the quality of the animation?

Answer: If you like your images now, you will like your future animations even more. Because your animation is based upon the same true color JPG’s as you use right now; so there’s no loss of quality of your images.

Question: I assume that my website becomes much slower?

Answer: Not really. Due to our “realtime compression” the filesizes of the animations are about the same as the filesize of your present 2D image. 

Question: Why should I make animations for my website?

Answer: Because research (Greenfield) shows a much longer stay of your visitors on your website. Your (potential) clients are also more willing to buy your merchandise and there’s less chance that they will return your products afterwards. It is important for you to give much attention to the way you present your products to your public on the internet.  So the content of your website should be an essential part of your total E-commerce strategy.

Question: Can I use the animations only for my website?

No, you can e-mail your animations without attachments to the world, which is a strong marketing tool. Inform your dealers, clients, prospects etc... Realview B.V. offers you also the service to burn the animations on a CD. If you want, exactly in the lay out of your company and/or website.

 

Realview is a company from the Netherlands that develops and distributes graphical related software for the Home and Professional market. Several products have been developed, mainly to enrich content for the internet. Specialists in image optimalisation to ensure the smallest possible file sizes on the internet today! All our ouput is Java based to ensure platform compatibility and does not require to use any plugin or other player to view your content.

(C) 2003 Realview, The Netherlands, T +33 553513891, F +33 553516175