BCC VR Insert

Category: BCC VR

Effect Name: BCC VR Insert

The BCC VR Insert filter, part of the BCC VR category, provides users with a way to insert a secondary source clip, title, logo, etc. into a VR 360 shot in true 360 VR space in either mono or stereo format in addition to providing a full array of controls to reorient the source in 360 VR space.

Working with the Filter

Workflow considerations

The VR Insert filter can be applied in two distinct ways in most hosts, although in some hosts only one of the workflows is available.

• Apply to Background Workflow – Apply VR Insert to the background VR video layer, select the clip to insert via the Source > Insert Layer menu, and use the Normal apply mode. In this workflow the VR Insert effect does the final composite between the overlays and background layers.
• Apply to Insert Workflow – Apply VR Insert directly to the clip you wish to insert (or to a solid/slug), select the insert clip via the Source > Insert Layer menu (if required by the host), then use the Replace apply mode to generate just the remapped insert clip as an alpha track and rely on the host to do the final composite.

In most situations these two approaches will produce the same result and either can be used depending on which is most convenient. Note that it is important for the VR Insert filter to be applied to a clip with the same dimensions as the final equirectangular VR project.

If you want to stack multiple inserts onto the same scene, you will get the highest quality final result using the Apply to Insert workflow (Replace apply mode) and letting the host composite each inserted layer independently, as opposed to applying VR Insert multiple times to the background layer with the Apply to Background workflow.

Vegas Workflow

For Vegas users the simplest approach is the Apply to Insert workflow (available in Continuum 11.0.3 or higher), where you apply VR Insert directly to the front layer (title/logo) and let the host composite over the background VR track. When using this option, the Insert Layer menu and the Apply Mode menu will be grayed out because they are automatically set.

Resolve Workflow

For Resolve users the recommended workflow changed in Continuum 11.0.3.

Resolve Continuum 11.0.1 or 11.0.2

Only the Apply to Background workflow is available. Apply VR Insert to the background VR layer in the Color tab, then make the insert layer accessible by importing it as a matte layer.

Resolve Continuum 11.0.3 and higher

Usage is simplified to support the Apply to Insert workflow. Apply VR Insert in the Color tab directly to the insert layer. Since the effect generates an alpha channel and relies on Resolve to composite, you must preserve alpha output (for example: add Alpha Output, connect node alpha to the main alpha output, and enable “Use OFX Alpha” if needed). The Insert Layer and Apply Mode menus are grayed out because they are automatically set.

Supporting Alpha with VR Insert in Avid

Due to limited host support for alpha channels in Avid, special workflow considerations are required when inserting alpha content such as titles.

Inserting clips with alpha in Avid – Apply to Insert Workflow

• Stack a native title matte or BCC Title Studio over a video background.
• Filter the title matte with the VR Insert filter.
• Enable the Apply to Title-Matte option (Title Matte group) if using a native title matte. If using Title Studio, set the Background layer menu in Title Studio to None.
• Set Insert Layer to Filter Layer (Source group).
• Set Insert Apply Mode to Replace (Insert group).

Inserting clips with alpha in Avid – Apply to Background Workflow

• Stack the video background on the track above the native title matte or BCC Title Studio.
• Apply VR Insert to the video background layer.
• Set Insert Layer to 1st Below (Source group).
• If using a native title on the lower track, apply BCC Brightness Contrast to that title to ensure alpha is preserved and enable Apply to Title-Matte in Brightness Contrast, and set Background layer to None. If using Title Studio, set Background layer to None in Title Studio.

Presets and Common Controls

• BCC filters come with a library of factory installed presets plus the ability to create your own custom presets and preview them with the BCC FX Browser™.
• BCC filters also include common controls that configure global effect preferences and other host-specific effect settings.

For more information about working with presets and other common controls, Click Here.

Source Group

Contains options for specifying the VR source input to, and output from, the filter.

• Input Format: Set the source format:
  • Mono
  • Stereo Top-Bottom
  • Stereo Left-Right
  • Stereo Bottom-Top
  • Stereo Right-Left
• Input Horizontal FOV: Set the input source field of view:
  • 360 degrees
  • 180 degrees
• Insert Layer: Use this to select the secondary source that is being inserted into the filtered source. In some OFX workflows (when applying directly to the Insert layer) this option is disabled in the UI because the correct layer is automatically chosen for you under the hood.
• Output Format: Set the output format:
  • Left Eye
  • Right Eye
  • Stereo Top-Bottom
  • Stereo Left-Right
  • Stereo Bottom-Top
  • Stereo Right-Left

Insert Group

Contains options for controlling position, scale, opacity, etc. of the clip that is being inserted into the filtered 360 VR shot.

• Insert Latitude:Use this to control the position of the insert along the vertical axis.
• Insert Longitude:Use this to control the position of the insert along the horizontal axis.
• Insert Distance:Use this to control the position of the insert along the Z axis.
• Insert X Orientation:Use this to angle the insert along the X axis (spin).
• Insert Y Orientation:Use this to angle the insert along the Y axis (tumble).
• Insert Z Orientation:Use this to angle the insert along the Z axis (rotate).
• Insert Order: Controls whether the clip is inserted before or after the Reorient operations are applied.
  • Before Reorient: The insert is composited before the Reorient so the insert is affected by Reorientation.
  • After Reorient: The insert is composited after the Reorient so the insert does not move in response to Reorientation.
• Insert Scale:Use to control the transform scale of the insert.
• Insert Opacity:Use to control the opacity of the insert.
• Insert Convergence:Only available when the Stereo Input Format is selected and is used to set the stereo convergence of the insert.
• Insert Apply Mode: Use to select whether the filter source is included in the render. In some OFX workflows (when applying directly to the Insert layer) this option is disabled in the UI because the correct mode (Replace) is automatically chosen for you under the hood. There are two options:
  • Normal – Will composite the selected insert over the filtered source.
  • Replace – Will render the selected insert without the filtered source.
• Insert Anti-aliasing: Contains options for smoothing the edges of the insert. Higher values will increase render times slightly.
  • None
  • Good
  • Best
• Insert Repeat: Use to automatically clone the insert along multiple sides of the cube map.
  • Off
  • Four Sides
  • Front+Back
  • All Sides

Reorient Group

Contains parameters for reorienting the source clip in 360 VR space.

• Enable Reorientation:Toggles between the unfiltered original source clip orientation and the reoriented source clip.
• Tilt (X axis):Reorients the shot along the X axis.
• Pan (Y axis):Reorients the shot along the Y axis.
• Roll (Z axis):Reorients the shot along the Z axis.
• View Mode: Options for setting the current view mode of the filter. Set View Mode back to Full before rendering.
  • Full Displays the full reoriented source image in its original format.
  • Preview Displays the reoriented source image as if viewed through a headset.
  • Left
  • Front
  • Right
  • Back
  • Top
  • Bottom
• Preview FOV:Sets the field of view for Preview mode.
• Preview Left-Right:Shifts the view side-to-side in Preview mode.
• Preview Top-Bottom:Shifts the view up and down in Preview mode.

Overlays Group

Contains parameters for displaying guides that can assist in setting up the effect. Disable these options before rendering or they will be burned into the output.

• P.I.P. Mode: When enabled, generates a convenient picture-in-picture effect that displays the unfiltered source clip superimposed over the filtered result.
  • Off PIP is disabled. This is the default state.
  • Top-left
  • Top-Right
  • Bottom-left
  • Bottom-Right
• P.I.P Scale:Use this to set the size of the PIP overlay.
• Overlay Guides:When enabled, displays an outline of the 360 cube map onto which the source clip is mapped.
• Overlay Faces:When enabled, overlays a different color for each face of the cube map.
• Overlay Text:When enabled, overlays a text identifier for each face of the cube map.
• Overlay Opacity:Use to control the opacity of the color overlay for each face of the cube map.