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🎥 Guidelines for Filming Football Players

🎯 Goal and Purpose

These guidelines are designed for camera operators recording football players in a controlled studio environment. The recorded materials will be used in an augmented reality (AR) experience, allowing stadium visitors to see themselves on-screen together with the players — as if standing side by side.

To achieve a realistic composition, it is critical that the camera angle, height, and perspective match the actual camera setup on the screen.

For each player, the final deliverables must include three assets:

  1. 🎬 A video recording with an alpha channel (transparent background)
  2. 🖼️ A static frame extracted from the video
  3. 📸 A square photo of the player

These resources will be uploaded to the ScreenSoft system to the AR Photoshop application, which processes them for the final interactive photo experience on the digital screen.

🎬 Recording Setup

Parameter Specification
Resolution 4K (minimum 2160 × 3840 px)
Camera height 140 cm from the floor
Field of view (FOV) 75°–85°
Distance from player 2 meters
Lighting Neutral, evenly diffused light without strong shadows
Background Green screen or neutral solid color
Output format Video with alpha channel (transparent background)

💡 If using a background color other than green, ensure strong contrast between the background and the player’s clothing to prevent blending or keying issues.

📐 Camera Position

On the screen, the camera is placed on the left or right edge of the screen, not in the center. To replicate this setup in the studio, the camera should be slightly tilted, using two types of adjustments:

  • Horizontal tilt: Aim the camera toward the screen’s center, simulating a natural “look toward” visitors standing approximately 2 meters away.
  • Vertical tilt: Tilt the camera slightly downward, matching the typical eye level of visitors (around 160–190 cm).

⚙️ The side offset of about 50 cm from the screen’s center must be mirrored during recording to ensure the player’s gaze and posture appear natural in the final AR scene.

⚽ Player Position and Behavior

  • Record each player individually.
  • The entire body must be visible in the frame.

Framing Guidelines

  • The lower edge of the player’s body - feets, should appear around 10% above the bottom edge of the frame.
  • The top of the player's head should remain about 25% below the top edge of the frame.

This framing ensures space is left for the visitor who will appear beside the player in the AR view.

Movement and Placement

  • The player enters the frame from one side (left or right, depending on the scene).
  • They should stand on one half of the frame, leaving the opposite side empty for the visitor.
  • Once in position, the player should turn toward the camera, make eye contact, and perform a short, natural interaction — e.g., a wave, smile, gesture inviting for a photo, or handshake.

Motion Quality

Movements must be smooth, natural, and moderate. Avoid abrupt gestures or fast movements to:

  • Prevent motion blur
  • Facilitate clean keying
  • Maintain a realistic and friendly appearance

⏱️ Time Sequence and Movement

🎬 Video Recording

Each player’s video should last approximately 9–10 seconds and follow this structure:

Time Action
0–7 seconds The player enters, interacts naturally (waves, smiles, greets), and maintains a friendly demeanor.
Around 7 seconds The player stops completely still for at least 1 second. This still moment is used to capture a static frame for the final AR photo. From this segment, one perfect frame should be selected — clear, sharp, and with a natural facial expression.
8–10 seconds After the pause, the player waves, smiles, or thanks the fan, and exits the frame the same way they entered.

🖥️ The video is displayed live in AR. 📸 The still frame is used for generating the final photo output.

📷 Square Photography

In addition to the video, provide a uniform square photo of each player:

  • Composition: head, shoulders, and upper chest
  • Background: white
  • Format: square (512×512 px)

This photography is used in the system’s player selection interface, allowing visitors to choose which player they want to appear with.

✅ Final AR Experience

After processing and integration into the AR system:

  • The visitor stands before the screen and appears in real time alongside the digitally inserted player.
  • The composition maintains accurate perspective, scale, and gaze alignment, creating a seamless illusion.
  • The photo mode captures the selected still frame to ensure a sharp, high-quality image.
  • The final experience gives the visitor the convincing feeling that they are truly photographed with the football player in the same physical space.