PuppyPresent How-To Take A video Instructions

REQUIREMENTS

A webcam/cell phone to take video
(Optional) tripod

IMPORTANT

The camera must stay in the EXACT same spot for the entire video sent to puppypresent. The machine learning requires the background to not change at all

You will submit exactly 1 file.

Inside this single video file, you will be recording many "scenes." PuppyPresent does NOT change your background we just animate the video you are submitting.

PRIOR SETUP - CREATING A BACKGROUND

You should think about where you want to create video of you pup. There are several factors to think about.

First and most important (because the camera is fixed), the background needs to be a spot where you can catch your dog doing tricks, eating, sleeping, etc. You want to be able to record as much interesting content of your dog as possible and a big factor is deciding how you want to place the camera so that you capture these moments without your dog looking like a tiny dot in the video.

Second, the background should be cute! PuppyPresent's machine learning algorithm don’t change the background. So the background should be something that you enjoy looking at.

Third, the background should be a spot that evokes memories for you of your dog. If they have a favorite spot or their preferred dog corner that is probably the best spot. If they tend to spend most of their time on the couch then that spot is a strong contender. The key is that when you view your PuppyPresent animation later, you want to see your dog in a spot that seems particularly natural to them – it creates the best effect and the most connection.

RECORDING RULES

The camera must remain in the exact same spot for the entire video. A tripod is best, but not necessary. If you don’t have a tripod, just prop up the camera on/against some books or in a stable spot so that it can see the scene.

No jumping on the ground or pounding as that can move the camera
Find a cute background. Horizontal or vertical video are both acceptable.
Note that audio is thrown out. So you can say whatever you want and it doesn't matter because the device doesn't have speakers/audio is removed from the files
PRESS RECORD on your phone/camera. FROM THIS MOMENT ON. DO NOT TOUCH THE DEVICE
In this single recording session, you are going to record a series of "clips"/"scenes". Each one will have the same format:
(a) Start your pup out of view of the camera
(b) Then have your pup move into view of the camera
(c) Have them do something interesting
(d) Then finally have them end the scene by leaving view of the camera
(e) Try to revert any changes to the background caused by the last "scene"
You want the background at the end of each "scene" to look as close to the starting background as possible
Repeat 5. many times – following (a) through (e) to get many "scenes." Get 10 to 30 minutes of video in total
FINALLY. END RECORD on your device
Submit your single video file at the link received via email during your purchase

SUGGESTED SCENES

-Ideally each scene should be 10-20 seconds

-Note that holding a treat in hand can be helpful to encourage your dog to enter or leave the scene

-These are just suggestions of scenes that have worked well in the past. Really, just best effort on trying to capture any normal way you interact with your dog

Walkthrough: Have your pup walk through the scene. Once from right to left. And a second time from left to right
How to film it: Have your dog start left of screen out of view of the camera. You sit on the right out of view of the camera. Call to your dog so thatshe walks through the scene to get to you. Repeat for the reverse direction

Treat Pickup
How to film it: Keeping the dog off-screen. Lay out some treats on the ground in a path on screen. Once all the treats are places out, you exit the scene. Then let your dog go and pick up all the treats. After she has finished eating, call to her so that she exits the scene.

Sitting
How to film it: Have your pup enter the scene and sit in front of the camera. Ideally have her look into the camera. You encourage her to do that by holding a treat directly behind the camera. After 10 to 20 seconds of sitting, move to the side and call her so that she exits the scene

Laying
How to film it: As before, start her off screen. Then give her a treat and let her lay in the scene. This clip can be a little bit longer, just however your dog likes to relax. After a bit, call her or encourage her to exit the scene.

Laying [Second location] - couch or second location in the same scene **no changing the camera location/angle**
How to film it: If your dog doesn't like jumping up or down from a couch. For this scene, you can carry your dog into the scene and gently place them on the couch. After a big of petting, she can jump down or you can carry her out as you both leave together.

Barking
How to film it: As before, start her off screen. Have her enter and if your dog has a toy or cue that causes them to bark, show them that behind the camera. Ideally she would bark 3 or 4 times. Afterwards she can exit the scene.

Favorite Toy
If your dog has a favorite toy make sure to film a scene where they are interacting with the toy. If it's a ball or throwable and ideal scene would be to throw it into the scene, the dog enters, picks it up, plays with it, and then exits taking the toy out with them

ADVANCED Sniffing Around - if there's some way to encourage your dog to walk around sniffing different items in the scene

ADVANCED Eating/Drinking
How to film it: Walk into the scene and place her meal down so that she eats on screen. When she is done, walk into the scene and pick up the bowl and leave with the bowl and her so the scene is empty again

ADVANCED Pawing at the Camera - Have her sit center stage and lift a paw to "shake" with or show paw to the camera

ADVANCED Hind Legs
How to film it: Have her enter the scene. While you are standing behind the camera, hold a treat high above her head. Because your hand is so high, it shouldn't be viewable by the camera. Try to have her stand on her hind legs or bark to get the treat

ADVANCED Tricks - if your dog knows any tricks. Try to capture those on camera.
Examples: roll over, jumping, shake hands, spinning around, that shaking off water move dogs do, etc.