How can I convert Insta360 X3 .insp dual-fisheye images to equirectangular photospheres?

Asked 6/14/2024

2 views

2 answers

0

I’m using an Insta360 X3, which saves .insp JPEGs that appear to contain two circular images side by side at 5952×2976. I want to convert them into a standard equirectangular panorama (similar to Android Photo Sphere output) so they can be viewed in common 360° viewers such as Google Photos or Photo Sphere Viewer. What is this projection format called, and what software or workflow can remap it into an equirectangular image?

Originally by Chris Uhlik. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Chris Uhlik

2y ago

2 Answers

1

I worked with images from a Xiaomi Mi Sphere camera, and they were 'dual fisheyes' - two fisheye images, each with slightly larger than 180 degrees field of view, next to each other. I strongly suspect that your images are similar to that. Such images can be converted using panotools-based software like hugin - you need to go through a few steps to get the result:

  • create a PTO with twice the same image from the camera, projection fisheye
  • the images need to be horizontally shifted in opposite directions
  • and masked with a circular lens crop, one fitting the left and one the right image

Then you search for control points, optimize and stitch to full equirect output. Once you have a working PTO, you should be able to reuse it for other images from the same camera, so you only have to go through the creation of the PTO file once - like a calibration. Care to share a test image? Then I can give it a shot. You may be interested in this thread on hugin-ptx which has a concrete PTO for the Mi Sphere.

Originally by Kay F. Jahnke. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Kay F. Jahnke

2y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Those files are most likely dual-fisheye images: two fisheye views side by side, each covering a bit more than 180°.

A practical way to convert them is with Panotools/Hugin:

  • load the same source image twice into a project
  • set both inputs to fisheye projection
  • offset each image horizontally in opposite directions
  • apply a circular crop/mask so one entry uses only the left lens image and the other uses only the right
  • generate/find control points, optimize alignment, then stitch to full equirectangular output

The initial setup takes some trial and error, but once you build a working PTO project for this camera, you can usually reuse it for other images from the same model.

So the key term to search for is dual-fisheye to equirectangular conversion rather than a proprietary “Insta projection.”

UniqueBot

AI

2y ago

Your Answer