Tutorials

We recommend also watching the video "Shooting Vertically Using a TxN Script".
This is the TxN script we used to demonstrate how to shoot column by column, six columns 60 degrees apart, with five positions on each column at tilts of 90 degrees, 45 degrees, 0 degrees, -45 degrees, and -90 degrees.

In today's video, we will show you how to obtain the same result using a py script, which utilizes pitch and yaw conventions.

We will first change the script type to py.

Sometimes, for various reasons, the slider and the panoramic head are not synchronized. This will not cause errors, but it's good to know that the slider can be updated using the [P], [L], or [R] button. First, ensure the caption of this button is "SET".
For example, our slider shows 90 degrees vertically, which is correct: the upper rail is in the parked position and the camera is facing up. However, horizontally it should show 0 degrees, not 60.
We will use the [P] button to update the slider, since the upper rail of our panoramic head is in the parked position.

MECHA is able to convert a TxN script into a py script, and vice versa, when the scripts are created automatically, which is not the case now. We will write a py script similar to this TxN script manually.
It is very easy to define positions on a column by specifying a certain yaw and a list of pitch values for that yaw.

At 0 degrees yaw, we need one position at a pitch of 90 degrees, next at a pitch of 45 degrees, and the last at a pitch of -90 degrees. MECHA will compute the pitch values omitted from the list.

At 60 degrees yaw, the positions are the same as at 0 degrees, specified by empty round parentheses. The next columns represent positions at 120 degrees yaw, 180 degrees yaw, 240 degrees yaw, and 300 degrees yaw. "RT" instructs MECHA to return to the starting position on the shortest path, and remember the script has priority over other settings.
This is our script in py format:
SP y0 (p90 45..-90) y60 () y120 () y180 () y240 () y300 () RT

The starting position is parked, SP.
We don't need the Repeat setting here, as all the positions are already specified in the script.
Update the preset notes, then save the preset under a different name. This preset is equivalent to the previous one, which uses a TxN script. MECHA executes both presets the same way.
We will launch the preset from the User Interface using the [RIGHT] button.

The first position is the position for the zenith shot, at a 90-degree pitch and 0-degree yaw. The pitch and yaw angles tell us where the camera is pointing.
The next positions are at 45 degrees pitch, 0 degrees pitch, -45 degrees pitch, and -90 degrees pitch, while the yaw remains constant.
The last position is the position for the nadir shot.

The second column is at 60 degrees yaw.
The column at 120 degrees yaw.
The column at 180 degrees yaw.
The column at 240 degrees yaw.
And the column at 300 degrees yaw.

While MECHA executes a preset using a py script, the slider shows all the positions as specified in the script.