6.1 Camera Coloring Options
The coloring method you choose is determined by the processing pipeline you intend to use, and the settings are not interchangeable. Using the wrong settings for your pipeline produces a coloring failure, not a quality reduction.
The Pipeline Decision Comes First
The K1 and L2 Pro both produce raw scan data that can be processed through 2 separate pipelines: LixelStudio for point cloud output and LCC Studio for 3D Gaussian Splatting output. Each pipeline uses a different coloring method and requires different Insta360 camera settings. Configuring the Insta360 for LixelStudio and then processing through LCC Studio produces unusable color data. The same is true in reverse.
Determine which output you need before the scan begins. Configure the Insta360 accordingly. If you need both outputs from the same data: LCC Studio uses normal video recording and LixelStudio uses timelapse mode. The 2 modes cannot be captured simultaneously on a single Insta360. You need either 2 cameras or 2 separate scan sessions.
LixelStudio / Point Cloud
External Insta360 settings for this pipeline:
- Mode: timelapse
- Resolution: 6K
- Interval: 1 second
- Exposure: automatic (default) or fixed ISO + auto shutter for low light
- Color profile: Standard
LCC Studio / 3DGS
External Insta360 settings for this pipeline:
- Mode: normal video recording
- Resolution: 6K
- Frame rate: 24Hz
- Exposure: automatic (default) or fixed ISO + auto shutter for low light
- Color profile: Standard
The setting mismatch causes a coloring failure, not a degraded result. If you shoot timelapse and process in LCC Studio, or shoot normal video and process in LixelStudio, the software will either error or produce no coloring at all. Verify the setting before tapping record.
Built-in Camera Coloring
The L2 Pro is equipped with 2 48MP panoramic cameras and a 1MP positioning camera. These cameras are always active during scanning and produce colored point clouds automatically when processed in LixelStudio. No external camera is required for basic point cloud coloring on the L2 Pro.
The K1 carries 4 built-in cameras that also produce color data during scanning. Both devices provide acceptable color results for most professional deliverables under good lighting conditions.
When Built-in Color Is Sufficient
Built-in cameras are the correct choice for the majority of projects. The workflow is simpler, there is no external device to configure, and the timing synchronization is automatic because the cameras are part of the scanner itself.
- As-built documentation where color aids navigation but is not a primary deliverable
- Projects with consistent, adequate ambient lighting across all scanned areas
- Any workflow where speed matters more than maximum color fidelity
- Drone mode scans, where attaching an external Insta360 is not practical
When the External Insta360 Adds Value
The Insta360 ONE RS paired with the L2 Pro or K1 produces higher resolution, wider dynamic range color data than the built-in cameras. The improvement is most visible in high-contrast environments and in deliverables where color accuracy is a stated client requirement.
- High-fidelity point cloud deliverables where color accuracy is part of the specification
- Mixed indoor and outdoor environments with large lighting variation
- 3DGS processing in LCC Studio, which uses the Insta360 video directly
- Projects where the client will inspect the point cloud color closely
Do not block either the panoramic camera or the body cameras during scanning. Carrying the device in a way that places your arm, jacket, or bag strap in front of a camera for extended periods degrades the color data for those sections. The same applies to nearby walls: avoid holding the device so that a surface is less than 0.5 m from the camera for more than a few seconds at a time.
External Insta360 Setup and Synchronization
The Insta360 ONE RS mounts on the bracket above the scanner body. Confirm the bracket is installed securely before each session. A camera that shifts position partway through the scan will cause color misalignment in the sections captured after the shift.
Configuring the Insta360 for LixelStudio
On the Insta360 camera screen, swipe right to left to access recording settings. Set the following before each scan session:
Configuring the Insta360 for LCC Studio
LCC Studio requires continuous video, not timelapse. The settings are different and must be verified separately if you switch between pipelines.
Timing Synchronization
The Insta360 and the scanner do not share an internal clock. LixelStudio and LCC Studio synchronize them by comparing the timestamps at the moment recording started on each device. If the time gap between pressing record on the Insta360 and tapping Go in LixelGO exceeds 5 seconds, the synchronization becomes unreliable and color misalignment results.
Start the Insta360 first, then tap Go in LixelGO within 5 seconds. The Insta360 must be recording before the scanner begins its initialization countdown. Do not start the scanner first and then scramble to start the camera. If the camera is not recording when the scan begins, the timing synchronization between the scanner and camera fails. The result is no coloring or misaligned color across the entire scan. Set up the camera, confirm it is recording, then initiate the scan.
The scan must run for a minimum of 2 minutes for coloring to process successfully. A scan that starts, covers the initialization dwell, and ends at 90 seconds does not have enough data for the colorization step to complete. Plan routes that ensure at least 2 minutes of active scanning movement.
ISO Settings for Low Light
In dim environments, the default automatic exposure often produces underexposed frames that colorize poorly. The recommended approach for low-light scanning is to switch the Insta360 to fixed ISO with automatic shutter speed. This gives the camera control over shutter duration while preventing the ISO from climbing to levels that produce noisy color output.
In dark environments, add supplemental lighting before relying on high ISO. A portable LED panel that provides consistent, even illumination across the scan area will produce better color results than any ISO setting. Uneven or changing light sources during the scan cause color banding at the transitions between exposure states.
Camera Orientation
Mount the Insta360 with the front lens facing the direction of travel. The camera records a 360-degree field, but the synchronization algorithm uses the front-facing orientation as its reference direction for matching color to geometry. Consistent mounting orientation throughout a session ensures the alignment is stable.
Preventing Coloring Failures
Coloring failures are one of the most common post-processing problems reported for K1 and L2 Pro scans. Most of them trace back to one of 4 avoidable causes.
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