PURE Player for Windows User Guide
1. Introduction
1.1 Welcome!
ImmerVision’s multimedia solutions are built around PURE (Panorama Universal Rendering Engine) technology.
Available only with ImmerVision software, this exclusive technology has expanded the horizons for multimedia
content creators working with panoramic imagery.
PURE Player panoramic image viewers combine superior performance capabilities with optimal viewing ease on either a standard office PC monitor or a pocket computer.
PURE TOOLS is a highly evolved suite of tools that lets you take full advantage of the innovative functionalities of PURE Player and PURE Player PRO panorama viewers. These tools include a range of functionalities for both professionals and amateurs to work with, including the options to:
PURE Player panoramic image viewers combine superior performance capabilities with optimal viewing ease on either a standard office PC monitor or a pocket computer.
PURE TOOLS is a highly evolved suite of tools that lets you take full advantage of the innovative functionalities of PURE Player and PURE Player PRO panorama viewers. These tools include a range of functionalities for both professionals and amateurs to work with, including the options to:
- Edit panoramas: Convert formats, add effects, create virtual visits
- Publish panoramas: Create Web pages, package files, encrypt data
- View panoramas: Directly access the most recent PURE Player and PURE Player PRO viewers, customize the PURE Player PRO viewer, and more.
1.2 What is PURE?
PURE is a collection of high-performance algorithms dedicated to projecting, controlling and viewing photos
and videos in a virtual 3D space. Accessible through its own API, PURE is featured in all ImmerVision
new-generation viewers, in order to guarantee top performance levels and maximum quality results with
all compatible platforms.
1.3 System requirements
The system requirements to run PURE Player for Windows are as follows:
OS: Microsoft® Windows® 2000 / XP / Vista
Processor: 500 MHz or +
Screen resolution: 800x600 16 bits or +
RAM: 256 MB or +
1.4 Supported files types
PURE Player for Windows can read all IVP files (packaged) created with Package Maker
or Panorama Filemaker
which are provided in the PURE STARTER TOOLKIT software suite.
You can find more information about these programs
here.
The lock indicates the panorama file is encrypted.
With panoramic thumbnails:
Without panoramic thumbnails:
The lock indicates the panorama file is encrypted.
Please note that PURE Player for Windows cannot open domain encrypted IVP files. These files can only be viewed
with PURE Player for Java
, PURE Player for PRO Java
and PURE Player for Flash
on the website of the corresponding domain name.
2. Using PURE Player for Windows
2.1 Opening a panorama file
You can launch PURE Player for Windows directly by double-clicking on the IVP panorama file.
You can also open a panorama from within PURE Player for Windows by going to the File Menu and
clicking on Open as illustrated below. You then simply navigate to the panorama that you wish to display
You can also drag and drop an IVP file onto a PURE Player for Windows' window to open it.
You can also drag and drop an IVP file onto a PURE Player for Windows' window to open it.
2.2 Move inside a panorama
Moving inside a panorama is very easy. Just click and hold your mouse's left button and
move the mouse in the direction you want to see. You can zoom in or out by clicking and holding
the right mouse button and moving your mouse. The zoom functions can also be accessed in two
other ways, either by using the Shift key to zoom in, and the Control key to zoom out, or
by using your mouse scroll wheel.
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2.3 Checking for updates
Updating your PURE Player for Windows is a simple task. Simply click on the Help menu and select Check for Updates.
It will then download this version and install it. You need to be logged in to you computer as an administrator
to perform updates to PURE Player for Windows.
PURE Player for Windows will then connect to the PURE servers to see if a more recent version has been made available.
If an update is available, you will be presented the option to download and install this new version. Please make sure that you are logged in with administrative privileges to perform updates.
It will then download this version and install it.
PURE Player for Windows will need to restart for the update to take effect. You can restart PURE Player for Windows right away, or restart it manually at a later time.
If you encounter problems in the update process, have a look here to resolve the issue.
PURE Player for Windows will then connect to the PURE servers to see if a more recent version has been made available.
If an update is available, you will be presented the option to download and install this new version. Please make sure that you are logged in with administrative privileges to perform updates.
It will then download this version and install it.
PURE Player for Windows will need to restart for the update to take effect. You can restart PURE Player for Windows right away, or restart it manually at a later time.
If you encounter problems in the update process, have a look here to resolve the issue.
2.4 Update settings
To change the way PURE Player for Windows checks for new versions, simply click on the Update Settings
option of the Help menu.
You can change when and how often PURE Player for Windows checks for updates. You can also configure your proxy server connection settings if you require this.
You can change when and how often PURE Player for Windows checks for updates. You can also configure your proxy server connection settings if you require this.
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3. Configuring PURE Player for Windows
3.1 Introduction
PURE Player for Windows can easily be customized to your preferences.
You can also backup your configuration settings as shown here.
First, go to the Settings menu and click on the Display Settings option:
This will open the following window:
First, go to the Settings menu and click on the Display Settings option:
This will open the following window:
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3.2 General settings
You can choose between opening a new PURE Player for Windows instance
each time you double-click on an IVP file or to open them inside that same instance.
Using many instances allows you to display many panoramas at the same time.
You can also choose to hide the navigation menu from the interface. This will remove the lower menu bar.
With the user interface menu visible:
With the user interface menu hidden:
You can also choose to hide the navigation menu from the interface. This will remove the lower menu bar.
With the user interface menu visible:
With the user interface menu hidden:
3.3 Startup settings
The Startup settings affect the size of the window when PURE Player for Windows starts.
PURE Player for Windows can remember the size of the window from the last time you viewed a panorama. You can also specify a window size in pixels. The minimum window size is 300 pixels wide by 200 pixles high. You can reach the maximum size by sepcifying the startup in Fullscreen mode.
PURE Player for Windows can remember the size of the window from the last time you viewed a panorama. You can also specify a window size in pixels. The minimum window size is 300 pixels wide by 200 pixles high. You can reach the maximum size by sepcifying the startup in Fullscreen mode.
Please note that you will need to restart PURE Player for Windows for the Startup settings to apply.
Please also note that these settings might be overriden for certain panorama files if the author has chosen specific startup options. An example would be a panorama that starts in fullscreen mode.
Please also note that these settings might be overriden for certain panorama files if the author has chosen specific startup options. An example would be a panorama that starts in fullscreen mode.
3.4 Anti-aliasing settings
Anti-aliasing minimizes the distortion artifacts that appear mostly around edges.
The result is a smoother presentation.
You can have the option to disable anti-aliasing, enable it only when the image movement stops (the default setting) or enable it full-time.
This image has an antialiasing filter applied. Hover your mouse on top of the image to see examples without the antialiasing filter activated.
You can have the option to disable anti-aliasing, enable it only when the image movement stops (the default setting) or enable it full-time.
This image has an antialiasing filter applied. Hover your mouse on top of the image to see examples without the antialiasing filter activated.
This image has active zones
3.5 Quality/Speed settings
This setting changes the number of polygons the rendering engine uses.
The higher the number, the more precise and smooth the image will be.
This does however represent more work for your processor and therefore limit
the speed of the rendering.
3.6 Smooth stop settings
The smooth stop settings changes the amount of time the image keeps moving once
you let go of the left mouse button when moving in a panorama.
When this setting is disabled, the movement will stop instantly.
3.7 Mouse sensitivity
The mouse settings affect the sensitivity of the mouse movements when
navigating in a panorama.
3.9 Export your settings
PURE Player for windows stores all of it's configuration data in an IVWS file.
You can export this file easily by clicking of the Export Settings menu option as show below.
You then simply have to enter the name and location of the backup file.
3.10 Import your settings
Importing your settings is simply a matter of importing the proper IVWS settings file by
clicking on the Import Settings menu option and navigating to your IVWS settings file.
3.11 Activating panoramic thumbnails
By default, when you install PURE Player for Windows, panoramic thumbnails
are activated by default. This setting can easily be changed after the installion.
Please note that you need to be logged in with administrative privileges to perform this operation.
Simply click on the Windows Start Menu and navigate to the PURE Player for Windows section ( by default, this will be in here: Start -> All Programs -> ImmerVision -> PURE -> PURE Player for Windows ). There you will see 'Activate panoramic thumbnails'. Clicking this item will activate panoramic thumbnails on your computer.
You should see this message upon successful activation:
If you are not logged in with administrative privileges, you will see this error message:
Please note that you need to be logged in with administrative privileges to perform this operation.
Simply click on the Windows Start Menu and navigate to the PURE Player for Windows section ( by default, this will be in here: Start -> All Programs -> ImmerVision -> PURE -> PURE Player for Windows ). There you will see 'Activate panoramic thumbnails'. Clicking this item will activate panoramic thumbnails on your computer.
You should see this message upon successful activation:
If you are not logged in with administrative privileges, you will see this error message:
3.12 Deactivating panoramic thumbnails
You can also easily deactivate panoramic thumbnails.
Please note that you need to be logged in with administrative privileges to perform this operation.
Simply click on the Windows Start Menu and navigate to the PURE Player for Windows section ( by default, this will be in here: Start -> All Programs -> ImmerVision -> PURE -> PURE Player for Windows ). There you will see 'Deactivate panoramic thumbnails'. Clicking this item will deactivate panoramic thumbnails on your computer.
You should see this message upon successful deactivation:
If you are not logged in with administrative privileges, you will see this error message:
Please note that you need to be logged in with administrative privileges to perform this operation.
Simply click on the Windows Start Menu and navigate to the PURE Player for Windows section ( by default, this will be in here: Start -> All Programs -> ImmerVision -> PURE -> PURE Player for Windows ). There you will see 'Deactivate panoramic thumbnails'. Clicking this item will deactivate panoramic thumbnails on your computer.
You should see this message upon successful deactivation:
If you are not logged in with administrative privileges, you will see this error message:
4. FAQ
4.1 FAQ - Performance
Q: Will a better graphics card enhance the performance of PURE Player for Windows?
A: To ensure compatibility across the widest range of hardware, the graphics acceleration
is done within PURE Player.
The hard work is therefore mainly done by your processor. For best performance, we recommend using
a PCI-Express graphics card instead of the older PCI or AGP.
4.2 FAQ - Network connection
Q: I get an error message when checking for updates!
A: There are two types of error that can occur when updating PURE Player for Windows.
Either you are not connected to Internet or PURE Player for Windows does not
have permission to connecte to Internet. If this is the case,
the error message you see should be like this:
In this case, make sure you are connected to the Internet and that your firewall allows PURE Player for Windows to use the connection. If you connect to Internet through a proxy server, don't forget to setup PURE Player for Windows accordingly. You can access these settings directly by clicking on the "Connection Settings" button.
The other error message you might encounter when updating PURE Player for Windows is:
In this case, as stated in the error message, there was an error. If the message appears again after you have retried again, simply wait a few minutes before retrying.
In this case, make sure you are connected to the Internet and that your firewall allows PURE Player for Windows to use the connection. If you connect to Internet through a proxy server, don't forget to setup PURE Player for Windows accordingly. You can access these settings directly by clicking on the "Connection Settings" button.
The other error message you might encounter when updating PURE Player for Windows is:
In this case, as stated in the error message, there was an error. If the message appears again after you have retried again, simply wait a few minutes before retrying.