📱 About VRStereoCalc
VRStereoCalc is a professional on-set calculator designed for VR stereoscopic filmmakers. It provides 6 essential tools for VR180, 3D-360, and Apple Immersive Video production.
1. Interaxial Perceived Scale
Calculate how camera baseline (IA) affects viewer perception
2. FOV & Focal Plane
Field of view and focal plane dimension calculator
3. Stereo Comfort
Real-time parallax and comfort zone monitoring
4. VR Camera Database
Specs for Canon R5C, Blackmagic URSA, Insta360 Titan
5. Resolution & PPD
Pixels-per-degree calculator for headset optimization
6. On-Set Quick Tools
Camera height, unit conversion, depth-of-field
🚀 Getting Started
First Launch
- Open VRStereoCalc on your iPhone or iPad
- Select your preferred language (English, Chinese, Japanese)
- Choose your unit system (Metric or Imperial)
- Start with Module 1: Interaxial Perceived Scale
Basic Workflow
For VR Filmmakers:
- Enter your camera's interaxial distance (IA)
- Set shooting distance to subject
- View real-time perceived scale calculations
- Adjust IA to achieve desired cinematic effect
For Technical Directors:
- Use the VR Camera Database to load preset configurations
- Calculate FOV and focal plane dimensions
- Monitor stereo comfort zones with the 1/30 rule checker
- Plan resolution and PPD for target headsets
📖 Module Guides
Module 1: Interaxial & Perceived Scale
What it does: Calculates how your camera's baseline distance affects the viewer's perception of scale in VR.
Key Parameters:
- IA (Interaxial Distance): Distance between camera lenses (2-500mm)
- DIST (Shooting Distance): Distance to subject (20-600cm)
- IPD (Inter-Pupillary Distance): Standard 65mm
Effect Modes:
🔴 Giant/Oppressive (S ≥ 7)
Close-ups, props, immersive fear
🟠 Facial Presence (2.5 ≤ S < 7)
Emotional monologues, actor close-ups
🟢 Natural Vision (0.7 ≤ S < 2.5)
Dialogue, medium shots, natural movement
🔵 Miniature/Diorama (S < 0.7)
Wide shots, aerial views, god's-eye perspective
Example:
• IA = 32mm → Perceived scale = 2.03x → 160cm actor appears 325cm tall
• IA = 65mm → Perceived scale = 1.0x → Natural 1:1 vision
• IA = 130mm → Perceived scale = 0.5x → Miniature effect
Module 2: FOV & Focal Plane
What it does: Calculates field of view angles and physical dimensions of the focal plane at any distance.
Inputs:
- Focal length (mm)
- Distance to subject (cm)
- Reference object (male/female/child figure or custom)
Outputs:
- Horizontal FOV angle
- Vertical FOV angle
- Focal plane width and height
- Reference figure coverage
Module 3: Stereo Comfort / Depth Budget
What it does: Ensures viewer comfort by monitoring parallax and stereo limits.
Safety Rules:
• 1/30 Rule: Maximum parallax should not exceed 1/30 of screen width
• 3% Threshold: Comfortable parallax range for extended viewing
• Negative Parallax: Objects appear in front of screen (use sparingly)
• Positive Parallax: Objects appear behind screen (comfortable depth)
Module 4: VR Camera Database
Preset Cameras:
- Canon R5C + RF 5.2mm Dual Fisheye
- Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive
- Insta360 Titan
- Z CAM V1 Pro
- And more...
Custom Cameras: Add your own camera rigs with full parameter entry.
Module 5: Resolution & PPD Planner
What it does: Calculates pixels-per-degree for quality planning.
Target Headsets: Meta Quest 3, Apple Vision Pro, PICO 4, and more.
Module 6: On-Set Quick Tools
- Camera height references (eye level, chest, waist)
- Metric ↔ Imperial conversion
- Depth-of-field calculator
- Quick reference charts
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q: Is VRStereoCalc free?
A: Yes, completely free with no ads and no account required.
Q: What platforms are supported?
A: iPhone and iPad running iOS 15.0 or later.
Q: Does it work offline?
A: Yes, all calculations are performed locally on your device. No internet connection required.
Q: What languages are supported?
A: English, Chinese (Simplified), and Japanese.
Technical
Q: What is Interaxial Distance (IA)?
A: The physical distance between the centers of your two camera lenses. This is the most important parameter in stereoscopic VR filming.
Q: Why does changing IA affect perceived scale?
A: When IA differs from human IPD (65mm), the viewer's brain interprets the scene as if they were larger or smaller. Smaller IA = viewer feels smaller = objects appear larger.
Q: What's the 1/30 rule?
A: A safety guideline stating that maximum parallax (stereo disparity) should not exceed 1/30 of the screen width to avoid viewer discomfort.
Troubleshooting
Q: The app crashes on launch
A: Try restarting your device. If the issue persists, delete and reinstall the app.
Q: Calculations seem incorrect
A: Verify your input units (mm vs cm). Check that IPD is set to 65mm unless you've intentionally changed it.
Q: Can't find my camera in the database
A: Use the "Custom Camera" feature to add your rig's specifications manually.
🔄 Version History
Version 1.0 (Current)
• Initial release
• 6 professional VR stereoscopic production tools
• Support for 9+ VR camera profiles
• 5 target headset presets
• 3 language support (EN/CN/JP)
• Dark/Light mode
• Metric/Imperial units