How Virtual 1st Works
Virtual 1st is a subset of Chyron's base product Virtual Placement. Throughout this document and interaction with the applications that comprise the solution, the names Virtual Placement and Virtual 1st may be used interchangeably.
Virtual Placement is a video graphics system that is unlike Chyron’s flagship character generator products. The subset product Virtual 1st utilizes image tracking technology to superimpose graphics within moving camera images as if they are part of the camera’s original scene. As such, Virtual 1st is highly dependent on what the camera sees and how key markers in the scene are detected. Users of Virtual 1st instruct the system where to find key markers during the calibration steps. Camera operators help Virtual 1st users by framing parts of the scene while the Virtual 1st operator captures these frames. Later, once all the calibration frames have been captured, the Virtual 1st operator highlights known lines on the playing field which assists in detection of camera location and motion, setting the final scale for the graphics and more. Once calibrated, camera operators can pan, tilt, zoom and focus normally without any concern for the downstream process. However, there may be changes in the scene during production that will impact the ability of the tracker to work properly. These changes include but are not limited to overall changes in luminance, color temperature, environmental factors such as rain, snow, fog, and smoke. Some changes are easier to control such as keeping the camera in focus at all times, keeping the camera in place while in operation (do not relocate the camera), operating the lens as it was during calibration (do not use the lens extender, do not replace the lens) and finally, keep anything from blocking the camera shot even momentarily such as fans waving flags or towels.