| Frequently Asked Questions |
 How do I install Surround Video plug-in for
Netscape?
 You
can download all necessary files from our Software Downloads page.
If you downloaded the self-extracting executable
NPSVIDEO.EXE
- all you need to do is close Netscape and run the
executable (either by double-clicking on it or by
clicking Open).
If you have downloaded the archive SVPLUGIN.ZIP
- Close Netscape and unzip this archive (using
PKUNZIP or WINZIP programs).
- Copy the plug-in file, NPSVIDEO.DLL into your
Netscape Plugins directory (typically in:
C:\Netscape\Navigator\Program\Plugins)
- Copy the SURROUND.DLL to your Windows system
directory (typically in: C:\Win\System)
- Register the DLL by running the supplied
REGSVR32.EXE (either by dragging the SURROUND.DLL
over the executable, or in MS-DOS window, at the
command line> REGSVR32 SURROUND.DLL)
What
image formats can I use with Surround Video Editor?
The
Surround Video Editor can open *.BMP or *.SVI file
formats. After adjusting, cropping and compressing with
CODEC or JPEG compression the output will be saved in
*.SVI format.
Can I
use virtual-reality images directly from the Roundshot cameras?
No,
Roundshot cameras are not digital. They use standard
films (negative or positive - 35mm, 120, 220). After
developing a film, the images can be scanned in a drum
scanner (or a flatbed scanner with transparency option).
Alternatively, you can have prints made and then scan the
prints.
Can I
create pages like Microsoft's CarPoint site?
Yes,
you can create pages like CarPoint. The images would
download and look the same. However, CarPoint uses
Microsoft's Surround Video Active X control and their
images are stored in *.SVJ format. Black Diamond's
Surround Video Active X control allows you to do all of
the above plus image correction, embedded links in the
image itself and text and sound support. Black Diamond's
Surround Video stores images in *.SVH format.
What
is the maximum length of a panoramic print?
A
length of a print depends on the film and height of the
print. The length of the film image depends on the type
of camera and lens used, and on the angle of the shot.
For example, a Roundshot
35 with a 35mm film has a 244mm length for 360 degree
photographs. If you enlarge this image without any
cropping to a 25cm high photograph, you will end up with
length exceeding 2 meters. If you enlarge the same
photograph to 40cm height, the length will be nearly 5
meters. However, if you use a Roundshot Super 35 with a 200-300mm
lens, the same 360 degree rotation, when enlarged, would
approach the length of 30 meters.
These are not theoretical numbers. The largest
photograph we have seen is about 40 meters long. It was
produced by Custom
Panoramic Lab using a special Roundshot enlarger.
Can
you use a Roundshot camera for indoor shots?
Yes,
it's like any other camera. To get the proper exposure,
you'll have to determine the correct combination of
shutter speed and lens opening. You also have a choice of
various films, between 100 and 1000 ASA.
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