🎬 Video Capture Techniques for E-commerce 3D Models

With your product, scene, and camera ready, let's capture that footage! How you move your camera (or rotate your product) is super important for a quality 3D model. The goal: show our software your product from all key angles.

⭐ Golden Rules for Product Capture

No matter your method, remember these for e-commerce success:

Rule	Description
🌟 Smooth & Steady	Avoid jerky or rushed movements. Think slow, deliberate, and smooth to prevent blur
📐 Overlap is Key	Each new view should overlap the last by about 60-70%. Imagine painting a wall – you overlap strokes for even coverage!
🎯 Product is the Star	Keep your product centered and filling a good part of the frame. Don't cut off edges!
💡 Stay Consistent	Don't change lighting, lens or camera exposure settings mid-shoot for one product

🚶 Method 1: The 360° Walk-Around (Handheld Camera)

Good for any product but particularly larger products you can't easily put on a turntable and especially reflective, plain or transparent objects. You (the camera) will move around the stationary product.

Best for: Small furniture, larger electronics, decor items, reflective or textureless objects

👟 Steps for the "Orbital Path"

1. Plan Your Route

   • Clear a path around your product for smooth movement

2. Loop 1 (Product Lower Angle)

   • Start recording
   • Angle slightly up
   • Maintain a consistent distance

3. Loop 2 (Middle Angle)

   • Change camera height (go higher)
   • Circle the product slowly, keeping it centered
   • Keep object in frame

4. Loop 3 (Higher Angle)

   • Raise camera height
   • Angle slightly down
   • Circle again

5. Optional: More Loops/Details

   • For complex items, add another loop
   • Sometimes 4-5 loops give better result

6. Optional: More Details

   • For complex items, get closer in even if object is not fully in frame
   • The other loops will inform the algorithm
   • Maintain overlap

Why Multiple Orbits?

Different heights and angles create parallax (slight shifts in how features appear). This is vital for our software to "understand" the product's 3D shape accurately.

🔄 Method 2: The Turntable (Rotating Product)

Perfect for smaller to medium products, products that you might want to turn over to capture all sides. The product rotates; the camera stays (mostly) still. Often gives very consistent results for e-commerce.

Best for: Shoes, accessories, electronics, packaged goods.

Avoid this method for shiny, transparent or featureless objects

⚙️ Setting Up Your Turntable

Component	Details
Turntable	Any smooth, stable rotating platform works
Lightbox	Highly recommended! Provides even, diffuse light for clean, professional product shots
Tripod	Use one for your camera! Maximum stability = sharp, consistent frames

How to Scan with a Turntable

1. Camera Position 1 (Straight-On)

   • Mount camera on tripod
   • Frame product
   • Start recording
   • Rotate turntable slowly and smoothly for 1 full 360° turn

2. Camera Position 2 (Higher Angle)

   • Stop recording
   • Raise camera, angle slightly down
   • Re-check focus/framing
   • Start recording
   • Rotate product again (1 turn)

3. Camera Position 3 (Lower Angle - if needed)

   • Repeat process
   • Move camera lower, angling up

4. Capture the Base (Very Important!)

   • Stop recording
   • Carefully flip/reposition product on its side or upside down (if stable)
   • Adjust camera if needed
   • Record 1 more full rotation from at least two heights

Video Capture Tip!

For turntable video, a very slow, continuous rotation is best. If capturing still images with a turntable.

Capturing Stills

Turntable scans can be done as seuqences of still images instead of video if the camera and turntable control allow it. Try to capture avery 6-10 degrees of the object within a 360 loop.

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Patience and precision during capture are your best friends for amazing 3D product models!