Please note: the images for these animations are NOT part of the main program download. They must be purchased separately.
Once the central feature of Virtual Belfry, the photographic animation of bells is now merely one option among several for the main window of the program. The bells can be raised and lowered by the click of a mouse (or the dab of a finger on a touchscreen device), but once they're ringing the realism has to be seen to be fully appreciated. The small bells swing more quickly than the big bells and rise higher when they're ringing rounds. Changes of pace while hunting and dodging are achieved as you would expect - by checking a rise, or allowing a bell to rise further.
This realism is achieved by real-time calculations of each bell's position, speed and acceleration, with a table of forces to apply at various stages during each swing to make the bell move in such a way that it ends up striking on time and with the right amount of momentum to take it to the correct height ready for the next blow. All Virtual Belfry's ringing is calculated this way, even if the Bells window is not displayed.
The Bells window would be useful for demonstrations and for showing new ringers how bells behave during normal ringing. It is also enjoyable to look at while listening at home to your favourite touch (especially full-screen).
Three sets of bells from Australia have been captured photographically for Virtual Belfry, as shown below.
The images were captured using digital video at 30 frames per second, with the camera and lighting mounted on a special gantry erected about six metres above the bells. As with all the images, extensive post-processing was required to produce the entirely convincing result that you see.
These images are available for purchase and will be made available by download. An evaluation version can be downloaded and installed to try them prior to purchase.
Digital video was used again. A sheet was removed from the roof to give access to the ideal location for the camera and lights.
These images are available for purchase and will be made available by download. An evaluation version can be downloaded and installed to try them prior to purchase.
These images are provided free if you purchase one of the other two sets.