1. Legal Requirements

It is crucial that you understand the guidelines and rules to ensure you remain within the law. Where operators may decide to take their drone abroad, you must ensure you are compliant in those countries too. This may involve registering your drone with the aviation authority, taking relevant drone tests and confirming that your insurance covers operation in the relevant location.

According to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as of 2 April 2025, the basic guidelines are as follows:

If your drone has a camera (unless it is a toy) or weighs 250g or more then you need to register with the CAA. You need to renew this registration every year. This is a registration of you as the operator rather than the drone itself. Anyone flying a drone weighing 250g or more needs to pass a test and get a flyer ID from the CAA. This is free and online. Regardless of whether you legally need a flyer ID we strongly recommend that you do the learning and test as it gives you valuable information on flying your drone safely. If you already have a flyer ID that is still valid, you don’t need to re-do the test until it expires, although you are required to keep up to date with the new regulations. You can register, get your flyer ID and find more information at register-drones.caa.co.uk

There are however some other rules you must follow should you decide to purchase and fly a drone for business or pleasure:

• Airspace & Permissions: Ensure that you do not fly into restricted areas and no-fly zones (e.g., airports, urban areas, military zones etc). A useful website highlighting restricted airspace for drones within the UK can be found on the NATS website.
• Insurance: Public liability insurance is mandatory for commercial operations (providers like Coverdrone or FPV are examples of popular insurers). According to the CAA’s drone code

There is no distinction between flying commercially and flying for pleasure or recreation. This means that an approval just to operate commercially is not required. However, all commercial drone flights require valid insurance cover.

2. Business Strategy And Development

• Target Audience: Identify sectors with potential to generate revenue, including real estate, construction, surveying, weddings, events or tourism for example. Each sector poses unique challenges for a drone operator.
• Pricing Strategy: As with any other business model, consider pricing based on hourly rates, project-based pricing or larger packages. Any cost analysis shouldl include travel, recording and editing of the video. Remember that you need to cover the costs of setting up your business in the first place – the drone, insurance and CAA fees.
• Competitive Analysis: Research competitors and determine how to differentiate yourself in the marketplace. Creating a showreel of your best work including your own signature video movement and composition combined with striking photography will ensure you stand out.

3. Equipment And Technical Considerations

• Drone Selection: Choose drones that meet your business needs and legal requirements. For example, drones in the sub-250g category, while compromising on quality to a degree, have significantly less restrictions than those over 250g.
• Camera Capabilities: There are a variety of drones available, each with their own capabilities in terms of camera quality, automation (such as Point Of Interest and Precision Landing) and battery life. Ensure that you check out examples of video footage and photography via reviews from reputable sources on video platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo to gauge camera quality and ease of use.
• Accessories: You will likely need accessories for your drone so invest in extra batteries, ND filters, SD cards, a landing pad, and a controller with a bright screen for use in direct sunlight where necessary.

4. Post-Production

• Editing Software: Software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro are suitable for video; Lightroom or Photoshop are common editing tools for photographs. Some drones, such as the DJI Mini 4 Pro for example, are capable of creating High Dynamic Range images.
• Stabilisation and Grading: High-end drone footage may require colour correction LUTs and stabilisation software prior to delivering the final product.

5. Scalability

• Additional Services: Drones are also capable of mapping, 3D modeling (photogrammetry), thermal imaging and cinematography for film/TV. You are likely to require an upgrade to your existing hardware and software to cater for these highly specialised services.

Useful Links

• See the Simcoemedia aerial video and photography page for more details about the service offered.
• For legal requirements and rules on drone use within the UK see the CAA Drone Code.
• Follow the The Drone Creative on YouTube for information about drones including hints and tips on operating DJI products.

Final Comments

As mentioned in the first paragraph, this article is designed to provide an overview of the general rules and guidelines associated with owning a drone and operating it commercially. If you are considering adding aerial video and photography to your business then please ensure you follow the drone code.

Applying Styles to 360 Photography Using Midjourney and Magnific

This tutorial examines how AI can transform 360-degree images by applying image styles using Midjourney and Magnific AI. If you are looking to enhance architectural shots, landscapes, or abstract environments, this guide can assist you step by step through the process, enabling you to enhancce immersive photography using AI-driven tools.

Introduction to Creating AI-Generated Music Videos

AI is revolutionising the way music videos are produced, enabling artists and filmmakers to bring visual storytelling to life without the need for expensive production crews or complex computer graphics. This free tutorial provides a brief history of music videos, explores the potential of AI-generated visuals, and provides practical examples of how Runway Gen 3, Kaiber, and other AI platforms can be used to create unique and engaging music videos.

Creating 360 Images Using Midjourney and Magnific AI

For those interested in creating immersive 360-degree images, this tutorial provides a complete workflow using AI tools. From generating high-quality panoramic scenes to ensuring seamless stitching for a flawless 360 experience, this tutorial guides you through the techniques required to create visually stunning, AI-enhanced environments.

The Future of AI in Creative Media

The fusion of AI and creative media opens up a new world, offering new tools for artists and designers looking to streamline the production of creative work. As AI tools continue to evolve, they provide new methods for expression, allowing creatives to push the boundaries of storytelling, photography, and digital artistry. Check out the full range of tutorials at the Simcoemedia Shop.

What Is Paloma?

Paloma is the 60-75 minute film of a story written by Peter Simcoe. It takes place 300 years in the future where a man living a solitary life in a post apocalyptic land finds a note from a mysterious woman that will change his life forever. It is an adventurous and challenging production for an independent filmmaker requiring an innovative approach and execution. It is important to explore different methods and techniques for crafting a tale with compelling visuals and soundtrack as there are many ways to tell this story including live action, AI generated content, CGI and hand drawn animation.

As part of the pre-production process a 20 page document containing details on the social, political and environmental aspects of life in the 24th century was produced. This enabled me to write and evaluate the storyline in depth whilst addressing some of its weaker elements. Having established the story theme and direction, an animated storyboard has was assembled to communicate the concept.

Creating The Storyboard

The storyboard began as a series of sketches on paper. These were individually input into Midjourney, a description added and drawing style applied. Using it’s vast bank of reference images, Midjourney’s generative AI generated a more refined version of the original paper sketches. There is some variation in the pencil strokes, fine detail and overall styling

To animate each of the frames, Midjourney was then tasked with creating variation on the original image. This process was repeated at least twice which resulted in a series of frames that could be input into Premier Pro. The animated sequences were grouped using the nest function and assembled in the correct order on the timeline. Preview production logos were added to the sequence from www.videohive.net. Introduction text was added in Premier Pro and sound effects were added using the Soundly desktop app plus existing sound from my own library.

Generative AI Experiments

A variety of production techniques are being considered including using generative AI to tell the entire story using platforms such as Runway, Firefly or Luma Labs. Developing this idea further, it is also possible to combine AI generated imagery by compositing it onto existing video and blending the video and AI generated elements using Photoshop. See other AI experiments I’ve been working on using the links below:

• Creating Music Videos With Generative AI
• Toyota PC Lock Screen With Generative AI
• Creating AI Generated Immersive 360 Images

Why Create A Video At This Stage?

Creating a pre-production video highlighting key elements of the story whilst providing a visual guide to the composition of each scene is useful when communicating the story to interested parties. These may be potential stakeholders, design clients, other filmmakers or even friends and family. Using simple animation techniques to create the impression of moving frames adds dynamism to the presentation, providing an additional hook to keep people watching.

I look forward to bringing you more developments on Paloma in the near future. If you are interested in supporting the project, please contact me at design@simcoe.co.uk or donate to the project at https://www.paypal.me/petersimcoe.

How Might AI Affect Creative Industries?

Creative industries rely on the skills and experience of people from a variety of backgrounds, including graphic design, video production, 3D VFX, and film production, among others. Some content creators have been exploring AI technologies to streamline their workflows and gain a creative edge over their competition. AI has already started reshaping these fields, offering new ways to generate, edit, and enhance content with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

One of the most immediate impacts has been on image generation and digital art. Platforms like Midjourney, Magnific AI, and Adobe Firefly have provided artists with tools that can generate highly detailed illustrations, concept art, and even photorealistic imagery in seconds. Traditional methods that once took hours or even days—such as sketching, refining, and coloring—can now be automated, allowing artists to iterate rapidly. Photoshop’s Generative Fill, introduced in 2023, further revolutionized workflows by enabling users to manipulate images with simple text prompts. This has led to a democratisation of creative tools, allowing individuals with little to no formal training to create professional-looking visuals. However, it has also raised concerns about originality and the potential devaluation of artistic skills.

In video production, AI-assisted tools like Runway, Kaiber, and Luma Labs’ Dream Machine have begun blurring the lines between live-action footage and AI-generated sequences. Filmmakers and content creators can now generate complex animations, enhance video footage, and even automate tedious editing processes. For instance, Runway’s text-to-video feature allows users to create short film sequences without the need for expensive equipment or extensive VFX expertise. While this is a boon for indie filmmakers and small production teams, some professionals fear it could reduce demand for traditional post-production roles.

AI’s role in music production has also seen growth. Suno and Udio are among the leading AI-driven music generators that can create fully composed tracks from simple prompts. These tools can generate music that mimics various genres, from orchestral scores to Electronic Dance Music (EDM). This has opened doors for independent creators who lack access to professional musicians or studio space. It has also sparked debates around copyright, authenticity, and the ethical implications of AI-generated music competing with human composers.

Hollywood Is Dead?

Popular YouTube channels such as Matt Wolfe and Curious Refuge frequently discuss how generative AI video could signal the end of traditional filmmaking. Some argue that AI-generated content will make professional studios and production crews obsolete because film producers can now create high-quality clips from a simple text prompt. However, I’m not convinced Hollywood level production is a risk. AI video tools like Runway Gen-3 have made impressive strides in generating short clips with minimal effort. However, generative AI still struggles with consistency, coherence, and the ability to tell complex stories. While AI-generated content may prove disruptive in areas like advertising, social media content, or even indie filmmaking, the idea that AI alone could replace blockbuster films, nuanced performances, and the artistry of cinematography seems far-fetched—at least for now.

This situation mirrors the evolution of gaming and computer-generated imagery (CGI). As a design and technology student, I remember discussions about how gaming would be indistinguishable from reality around the year 2030. While modern graphics engines like Unreal Engine 5 have brought us photorealistic visuals, the human eye can still detect the difference between computer-generated environments and footage shot in the real world. The same applies to AI-generated video—despite its rapid improvements, it remains fundamentally different from real-world cinematography. Take the early days of CGI in Hollywood as a case in point. When Tron (1982) experimented with computer graphics, it was groundbreaking, but clearly recognisable as artificially generated. Over time, computer generated imagery evolved into a powerful filmmaking tool, enhancing films rather than replacing traditional production. AI-generated video is likely to follow a similar path: not as a complete replacement for Hollywood, but as a tool for filmmakers to augment their craft, streamline workflows, and explore new creative possibilities.

The real question is not whether AI will kill Hollywood, but how filmmakers will adapt. Just as green screens, motion capture, and CGI didn’t erase practical effects but reshaped them, AI will challenge traditional production methods while offering exciting new possibilities. The future of film will likely be a hybrid—where AI tools assist in everything from pre-visualisation to special effects, but the heart of storytelling remains human.

AI Slop

You may have heard the derogatory term AI Slop. AI Slop is the content creators equivelant to spam email from automated bots and refers to low quality, low effort, unwanted content that is appearing online including images on social media, AI generated video content on YouTube and even entire websites. In a recent video YouTuber PenguinZ0 / Charlie (reknowned on the web for his sharp, insightful commentary) described the demise of a YouTuber known by the name Kwebbelkop as a result of using AI platforms designed to automatically generate content. The problem was that this content was perceived by his audience as lazily produced and lower quality…essentially AI Slop. As a result his audience began to lose interest, his reputation and brand permanently damaged with negative consequences in terms of income and reach. Content producers be warned.

AI Generated 360 Images

In November 2023 I initiated a series of experiments examining potential production methods for a short film. During experimentation Midjourneywas used to create equirectangular images which were edited in Photoshop (Beta). MagnificAI upscaling increased the resolution up to 12K. See them on the Simcoemedia website: www.simcoe.co.uk/product-category/360-images/

Also see:

12K examples on 360Cities.net
Applying styles to 360 photography experiment
Tutorials by Peter Simcoe

360 Video Handbook

Published in February 2018, the 360 Video Handbook is a coffee table book featuring a series of inspirational 360 video projects. The style and layout was designed to make it easy to access by featuring an explanatory diagram or photographs on one side of the spread throughout the publication. The book also answers frequently asked questions by beginners. See all Simcoemedia books at:

www.simcoe.co.uk/books/

Augmented Reality Music Video

An AR music video for the song ‘A Little On The Darker Side’ was created using Adobe’s Character Animator software. A series of character designs were developed. These were then animated and rendered in HD. The characters were exported as animated GIFs with transparency then imported into Adobe Aero to create an augmented reality experience. See the example video at:

https://youtu.be/ZfZQ5DZgq1w

Google Tilt Brush 3D 360 Video

3D 360 videos created with virtual reality art creation app Google Tilt Brush. These can be viewed in 3D on YouTube using red / cyan glasses:

Google Earth Studio

Google Earth Studio allows users to generate animated sequences using Google Maps including the 3D photogrammetry data available for many cities around the world.

Chester 4K 360 tour
London 4K 360 tour
London Interactive 4K with labels
Snowdonia 4K 360 tour

360 Video with Ambisonic Audio

In 2017 I became a content creator for HumanEyes Technologies. The company offered funding for 360 video projects using their camera technology including a series of travel videos in Chester, London and Barcelona, music videos, development of a second, upgraded light suit (the original low budget version can be seen in the One More Chance video). Some of these were featured in the 360 Video Handbook. HumanEyes Technologies supported the creation of music videos by supplying extended access to ambisonic audio software and funding the production of light suit v2.0.

Meta Workrooms Interview

Created a series of interviews with Emily Olman and Paul Tomlinson using Meta Workrooms. These interviews explore the connectivity and activities facilitated by Workrooms and explored the meaning of Spatial Computing:

Google Maps interactive 360 images

360 photographs taken at locations across the UK, Spain, Sweden and France have been uploaded to Google Maps to create a portfolio of immersive imagery capable of display on a desktop, mobile devices and within a VR headset.

See Google Maps images by Peter Simcoe

Simcoemedia Spatial Gallery

An interactive gallery created using Spatial IO. Can be viewed on mobile devices, desktop and VR headsets. See gallery.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

This VR video was recorded to demonstrate take-off and flight around Airbus (Broughton) plant in North Wales, UK using Microsoft Flight Simulator. It represents the level of realism the simulator currently offers.

Other Links

www.simcoe.co.uk
www.youtube.com/simcoemedia
www.x.com/simcoemedia
www.linkedin.com/in/simcoemedia/
www.behance.net/simcoemedia

360 Video

360 video can be viewed in a Virtual Reality headset such as Meta Quest 3 and, when uploaded to platforms such as YouTube, is also available on a desktop or mobile device. The viewer interacts with the content within a VR headset by moving their head or on a desktop by ‘clicking and dragging’ to change the point of view using an input device such as a mouse. It is also possible to achieve similar interactions using the gyro technology on a mobile phone or a screen with touch capability. YouTube can display interactive 360 video in VR, on desktop and mobile.

Video is recorded with a camera utilising a series of wide angle lenses designed to capture the surrounding environment. It is stitched together using compatible software which may be provided by the manufacturer such as Insta360 Studio or by a third party such as Mistika VR.

360 video is usually recorded in the same equirectangular format as 360 photography. Current cameras record video of at least 6 – 8K which results in Gigabytes of data per minute with the Insta360 Titan recording 11K (10K in 3D). The challenges posed in producing 360 video, such as hiding microphones, lights and other equipment, has led to a decline in use during recent years in favour of 3D VR180 video. However the format remains popular in real estate, tourism and journalism where a view of the entire environment is important.

VR180 Video

VR180 uses half the horizontal viewing angle of 360 video with just the front facing 180 degrees available. It is designed to be consumed within a VR headset, viewed on a screen with active glasses or converted to anaglyph for viewing with red / cyan glasses. Whilst there are only 180 degrees of recorded content, most VR headsets have a viewing angle of around 90 degrees which provides a realistic sense of immersion.

Content is typically recorded using 2 wide angle lenses covering a 180 degree viewing angle. Both of these lenses face the same direction with the centre of each lens placed at approximately the same distance as human eyes. When converted for use within a VR headset, the video provides realistic depth. HumanEyes Technologies released the Vuze XR in 2018 which had two 4K cameras which could be used in VR180 mode or 360 capture mode. A recent addition to the VR180 camera market is the CALF 3D VR180.

This format is used in vlogging and entertainment such as storytelling. However, as mentioned in the previous section, 360 video is still used when it is useful to see an environment in its entirety.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual Reality experiences are designed to facilitate interaction where location, physicality and changes to the environment have meaningful consequences. They are usually viewed within a VR headset such as Vive XR Elite or Meta Quest 3 using controllers or hand tracking. However, platforms such as Spatial and Horizon Workrooms allow users access via a desktop environment as a ‘window’ to the virtual world. The user is able to shape the narrative and environment by their choices which may involve changing the state or position of physical objects within a space. Many VR applications are created with software such as Unity or Unreal Engine.

Examples of immersive VR applications range from as simple as the simulation of fairground games within Nvidia’s VR Funhouse, production of 3D art using Google Tilt Brush or involve the complexity associated with piloting an aircraft in Flight Simulator. Other examples may be found on Meta’s App Store.

The term ‘Virtual Reality‘ was first used by American academic Jaron Lanier in the 1980’s as a title for his research project. He is considered to be the ‘father of VR’ because of his groundbreaking work in the field.

Ambisonic Audio

Ambisonics is an audio technology that uses hardware and software capable of rendering spatial audio in Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality. As few as 4 audio channels can be used to represent sound within a virtual space. As the viewer’s head changes direction or objects emitting sound move within a space the audio is adjusted in a realistic manner to reflect the effect of these movements on the perceived sound. It is also possible to experience ambisonic audio in a limited manner when viewing 360 video on a desktop PC or mobile device by moving the point of view. The use of 4 audio channels to simulate spatial sound is referred to as First Order. However, it is possible to use more than 4 channels to enhance the effect in a similar way to improvements of 7.1 surround sound over 5.1.

For more information on ambisonics, see this excellent summary of ambisonic audio from Waves.com

Olfactory

Olfaction or olfactory sense is the sense of smell. There are devices capable of stimulating the olfactory sense as part of an immersive experience. One example is the Smell Engine described as “a system for artificial odour synthesis in virtual environments”

Gustatory

Gustatory perception refers to the taste sense. It is possible to trick the human brain to into thinking that food is being consumed using stimulation by computer controlled plates placed upon the tongue. In 2013 digital lollipop was created by researchers at the University of Singapore that stimulated sweet, sour, salty and bitter tastes.

Summary

Immersive digital media has the potential to elevate and enhance the process of storytelling, communicating research ideas, developing products and in the provision of training. The last 10 years has seen rapid growth of hardware and software technologies at both professional and consumer levels increasing the number of creators and immersive content. Despite these advances, many challenges remain including the size, weight, cost and uptake of VR headsets, the cost and quality issues associated with 360 and VR180 cameras and the technical complexities of generating spatial audio. There are also positive signs too – the release of the Apple Vision Pro, camera releases from manufacturers such as Insta360 and continued support for immersive content in Adobe’s Creative Cloud.

Adobe Podcast was originally released in January 2023 as an online application designed to enhance audio by removing background noise, balancing EQ and improving the overall sound quality of audio recordings using AI. At the time of release the system only offered an automated enhancement filter (noise reduction / improved clarity) and a simple file upload feature. Users uploaded audio, this was enhanced using cloud computing and a 44Khz WAV file of enhanced audio generated.  Adobe have recently released Podcast Studio adding many more features and creating an incredibly useful tool for creators wanting to move away from traditional WAV editors. During Beta testing it is only available on the desktop version of Google Chrome.

Innovative Editor Interface

One appealing feature of Podcast Studio is the provision of a visual guide to your audio file using Adobe’s innovative mix of simple buttons and menus. These add fades, background music and other refinements along with transcription and editing tools that function similarly to a Word file – the app will cut or copy / paste the audio output without the need to use a WAV editor. It is also possible to add collaborators to a project enabling responses to questions or contributions to a topic remotely.  Once audio file responses are uploaded to the cloud, these can be located in the correct places on the running order in the project file which streamlines the process.

The Studio app will allow up to 1Gb of audio data to be uploaded, bulk upload of files and enhancement strength adjustment. In addition, it will also check your microphone settings including gain, distance from microphone, background noise and reverb to help optimise your recording setup. For a demonstration of features see Mike Russell’s demonstration on the YouTube video above.

Enhancement Filter Issues

As with many AI enhancement tools, the results are impressive but it cannot work miracles. Increasing the enhancement strength does reduce noise but at higher levels can start to add artefacts and negatively impact speech. However, overall there is usually a noticeable improvement in clarity when compared to the input. The most impressive results can be heard when comparing noisy audio recorded with mobile phones. Try Adobe Podcast for yourself by uploading audio to https://podcast.adobe.com

Example use cases:

• Reducing background noise from mobile phone audio recordings
• Ensuring a home studio mic setup is optimal
• Removing traffic noise from an existing video
• Allowing several collaborators to upload responses on a podcast
• Transcribing audio allowing rapid removal of unwanted speech

Download A Free Introduction

I recently created a brief introduction to generating AI music videos. The document provides a brief history of the music video covering the introduction of musical featurettes in the 1920s, the release of The Wizard Of Oz in 1939 through to A Hard Days Night 1964, The Song Remains The Same 1976, the launch of MTV on 1 August 1981 and beyond.

Download the Introduction To Creating AI Generated Music Videos PDF from the Simcoemedia webshop to see image prompts, video examples and commentary on this rapidly changing technology.

Below are 2 examples of music videos created by Peter Simcoe using AI tools. Heaven Knows, created with Midjourney and Runway Gen 2, You’ll Be With Me One Day created with Kaiber‘s Flipbook mode.

Luma Labs AI allow users to generate 30 videos per month for free using a Google account and is widely respected along with Runway’s Gen 3 solution. Monthly subscriptions for many video generators can be a little costly at around $30 – $40, but come with a variety of additional features and benefits. Open AI’s Sora has impressed the AI community with it’s music video demo created by Paul Trillo called The Hardest Part …Sora has yet to be released to the public. To read more about creating music videos using AI video tools, download the Introduction To Creating AI Generated Music Videos and see other Simcoemedia tutorials in the series. You can also find out more about generative AI and film production on the Simcomedia blog.

Designing A Lock Screen

Toyota Motor Manufacturing challenged Simcoemedia to create a computer lock screen that would appear on all PCs on startup / login at their Deeside and Burnaston plants during July’s ‘Environment Month’. Several designs were submitted. The chosen solution was based on the shape of a hybrid engine design. It was developed with the assistance of generative AI tools to create the mountains, streams, forests and ocean found in a natural ecosystem. As you can see in the comparison image above, several key components of the hybrid engine can be clearly identified, providing visual cues regarding the orientation and structure of the engine which is useful to those less familiar with it.