FAQ

Quick answers to the most common questions about Virtual.ink.

1. General questions

1.1 My camera is not listed in the supported camera list. Can it work anyway?

Your camera needs to output clean HDMI without overlays. If you are not sure, check your camera manual. Most cameras released after 2021 can output clean HDMI.

1.2 How can I save my videos?

For short videos, ideally under 30 seconds, you can use internal saving and instant replay. This works especially well for photobooths and short animations.

To save a video inside Virtual.ink:

1. Open the live view.
2. Press the record button, or use the "b" key, to start recording.
3. Press it again to stop.
4. If needed, set a predefined recording time from Dashboard / Actions.

For longer videos, such as live performances, saving externally is usually more efficient. You have two common options:

5. Use an external HDMI recorder, for example an Atomos Ninja V: https://amzn.to/34trt4j
6. Record from a second computer using an additional HDMI converter with OBS or similar software.

Typical setup: computer #1 with Virtual.ink -> HDMI to USB -> computer #2 with OBS.

1.3 How can I save individual picture frames?

By default, the last frame of a short clip becomes the thumbnail and an available image for sharing. You can also capture additional frames during the process by using the "e" key or the Save button at the bottom of the live view.

• If you are currently recording, the JPG files will be saved in the same session folder as the current video.
• If you are not recording, a new folder will be created each time you save a new picture.

1.4 Where can I find my saved images and videos?

From the software, click the folder icon in the top-right corner.

1.5 What type of wireless remote control can I use?

For outdoor work, performances, or photobooths, I highly recommend:

• a gamepad with a dedicated dongle
• a USB extension

I also love the Kokuyo Ela-fp1 finger trigger, which works great and helps keep both hands free: https://amzn.to/2DhSgq6

1.6 Do I need internet to run Virtual.ink?

You only need an internet connection for two things:

7. Validating your license when you launch the app
8. Sharing videos from the sharing screen

If you go offline during an event, you can still use the sharing station. You will just need to reconnect later to clear the queue.

1.7 Why do my light painting trails sometimes have gaps?

Virtual.ink captures light trails using your camera's rolling shutter sensor. A rolling shutter doesn't expose the entire frame at once: it scans from the top row of pixels to the bottom row in sequence, one line at a time.

Between each frame, there is a short blanking interval: a moment where the sensor resets and no pixels are being exposed. During this interval, the camera is blind. Any light movement that happens during a blanking interval is simply never recorded: no pixel in any frame captures that position of the light.

The result is that if you move a light source quickly, the trail will have small gaps corresponding to the positions the light passed through during those blind moments.

The faster you move the light, the wider the gaps appear, because the light travels further during each blanking interval. This is a physical limitation of the sensor and capture process, not a software artifact.

At 25 frames per second, the blanking interval is typically a few milliseconds per frame: short, but enough to miss a segment of a fast-moving light trail.

2. Dual mode

2.1 What is the difference between using one or two cameras?

With one camera, you typically work in a dark environment for regular light-painting. Here are a few examples: example 1, example 2, example 3. In these cases, you can use either light-painting or a slow-speed strobe to light up your subject.

With two cameras, you can shoot in much brighter light and still keep the light-painting visible. One camera captures the ambient light, while the second captures the light-painting only. Here are a few examples: example 1, example 2, example 3, example 4.

2.2 Do I need two cameras of the same model?

No. Ideally, both cameras should use the same focal length so the images are easier to align.

2.3 Do I need two converters to use the dual feature?

Yes. Each camera should be connected to its own converter, and then both converters can connect to a single computer.

2.4 How do I align my two feeds?

Use two lights. Put a subject in the center of the frame, then align the two lights.

You can also fine-tune the alignment directly from the software using the arrow keys.