360 Photos for Portals

360 photos are useful for use in Portals - once inside the portal, you can look all around the 360 image as if you were standing in the room (space) and looking around.

OK: Cell phone camera in Panoramic mode

Many cell phone cameras have a panoramic mode which can stitch together images. However, there are gaps above and below so the ceiling and floor are generally not at all realistic, or distorted in a unrealistic way.

Better: Poly.cam app in 360 mode

This cell phone app has a 360 capture mode that uses AI to patch together the ceiling and floor. Better than a raw cell phone pano image, but stitching together the edges is still imperfect.

Best: 360 camera in still image mode

A full 360 camera is the best way to capture a Portal image. Two 180 cameras have one stitching line. Full overhead (skylight) and full floor views are captured in the fullest extent possible. See the Barcelona music hall for an example of a nicely rendered Portal: https://hoverlay.io/space/ncje . Enable the sound for a full experience and don't forget to look straight up at the bright skylight. This is a demo space from Hoverlay.

Another example of a spherical camera shot is the grass in front of the First Congregational Church https://hoverlay.io/space/vcpx .