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In this post I quickly explain how “tiny planet” 360 spherical panoramas can be made, using only 2 little iPhone apps in under a few minutes.

Apps needed:

- Photosynth (Free)

- Tiny Planets ($0.99)

• Step 1 – Photosynth

After you have both those apps installed, find a large, open area and start up Photosynth. This app is used to easily create 360 panoramas that are similar to Google street view.

• Step 2 – Photosynth

Wait for the exposure to set and the camera to focus – then begin collecting photos of your entire surrounding. You need to take a photo of literally everything around you, so you are doing a full circle. You need to fill the empty sphere within the app to get the best results.

Move a foot or two forward or backward and take a picture of the ground below your feet when you get to that point.

• Step 3 – Photosynth

Once you’re complete, wait for the app to process your image. You should have a collage of photos that looks similar to the one below.

After that’s complete, you will be able to touch / drag your view around the panorama exactly like Google Street View. The app automatically saves a “flat” version of this image to your camera roll. You will use this picture in the “Tiny Planets Photos” app to create your planet.

The completed image will be ‘flattened’ like the one below.

Exit Photosynth.

• Step 4 – Tiny Planets Photos

Now it’s time to fire up the Tiny Planets app and turn your flat 360 panorama into a 3 dimensional little planet.

Once you open the app, you’ll be greeted with this screen. Select ‘Choose from Album’ and select the photo you just made with Photosynth.

• Step 5 – Tiny Planets Photos

If you select the icon on the left, the app will create a “planet” out of your photo. If you select the icon on the right, it will create a “tube” like photo. In this case, we will be using the planet icon!

• Step 6 – Tiny Planets Photos

After the app is finished processing your image, you should have a completed planet like the one below!

For this particular “tiny planet” there were a few tall buildings, street lights, and trees around. Anything like this can make a huge impact in how your planet will look in the end. The more structures that stick out, the more depth it gives to the image and can make it far more eye catching.

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It’s a simple process, and isn’t too aesthetically pleasing, but I still had to post about it. Here’s some process shots of how it was done.

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“Flash Goggles” are exactly as their name describes. I modified 2 old flashes so their bulbs were exposed, and attached cables long enough to extend out of the flash housing. With the ability to put a small flash “tube” inside of goggles, glasses, masks, etc. – The possibilities are endless.
See a little info about the process below.

Supplies:
  • 2 x Vivitar Zoom Thyristor 2500
  • Steam punk goggles with 50mm lenses
  • 2 x Auxiliary ’extension’ cables
  • Tinfoil & tape

Removing flash bulb / extending cables
 

 

Sealed up flash housing / added flashes into each eye
 

 
           

The finished product!
 

 
           

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Here’s a little screencap of what the old site’s homepage looked like, in case you never had a chance to view it!

This is a pretty easy little project for anyone wanting to try something different with their iPhone camera. I made this with just a small piece of packaging the iPhone comes in, an old screw-on fisheye I never used (30-40 bucks on eBay), some really strong cement glue, and a couple rubber bands. Simple to make and produces some decent photos/videos! Small gallery below shows a little bit about how it was made, and some demo shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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