Welcome to the 360 Panoramic Frequently Asked Questions Page
How to Use this page
All the FAQ's are presented in an accordian format. Just click on the heading you want to read.
What is a virtual tour?
A virtual tour is a series of 360 degree panoramas linked together in an interactive manner, where the viewer can navigate around in 360 degrees, experiencing the locations as if they're actually there.
Who uses virtual tours?
Virtual tours have traditionally been used for the real estate market and travel industry. However due to popularity on the internet, the true benefits of virtual tours are being realized from cities wanting to showcase convention facilities to motorhome dealerships showcasing their products on a worldwide basis.
Why should I have a virtual tour?
Virtual tours engage your web visitors for longer periods of time. That means your web visitors are more engaged which can lead to more sales. Plus, websites with virtual tours are more likely to get traffic from word of mouth.
How do I display a virtual tour?
A virtual tour can easily be displayed and styled to suit your existing website. No special software or hardware is required for viewers to enjoy virtual tours. Virtual tours are powered by Flash technology, which has a 98% market saturation. Viewers can use either PC or Mac with any browser.
How do you photograph a virtual tour and how long does it take?
Virtual tours are photographed using a spherical fisheye lens and a special Panoramic tripod head. We photograph 6 different views at 60 degrees apart and then one view looking up. We typically use HDR (High Dynamic Range) techniques to yield the best lighting and contrast for a scene. Each panoramic location will yield between 35-49 high resolution photos. Each scene can take between 20-40 minutes to photograph. So if you have several locations it could be a full day of shooting. If you want people in the virtual tours then they must sign either a company release or a generic one we can supply.
What features can I have in a virtual tour?
There are many features that can be included in a virtual tour. We encourage you to view our demos to get an idea of what is possible. Features that can be included are: text, graphics, logos, custom navigation, hotspots, maps, Google map, compass, audio-including narration and or music, weblinks and much more.
How long does it take to produce & deliver a virtual tour?
Typically the photography will only take 1/2 day. Every panorama created takes about 1/2 day to stitch together and program. For example - a 5 scene virtual tour will take about 3 days to complete, depending on the complexity of the menu structure and the navigation. Delivery can be on disc or we can FTP the files direct to you. It is easy to implement a virtual tour from your existing website.
Where are you located?
We are in Dallas, Texas. We can travel as needed to service your needs. If you want to include locations in a tour that are not nearby, we have a network of virtual tour photographers all over the world that can help us out.