What Is Equirectangular Projection?
Equirectangular projection maps a full 360-degree spherical view onto a flat rectangular image. The horizontal axis represents 360 degrees of longitude and the vertical axis represents 180 degrees of latitude. This format is the universal standard produced by consumer 360 cameras and accepted by every major panorama viewer and VR platform.
How the 3D Viewer Works
The viewer creates a large sphere in a 3D scene and applies the equirectangular image as a texture on the inside surface. The camera sits at the center of the sphere, so dragging rotates the viewpoint to look in any direction. Zooming adjusts the field of view, giving the sensation of getting closer to details in the scene.
Tips for Capturing Great 360 Photos
Place the camera on a tripod or monopod to minimize parallax errors. Shoot in even lighting or during golden hour to reduce harsh shadows. Keep the horizon level and avoid fast-moving subjects. For interiors, use HDR bracketing to capture both bright windows and dark corners in a single exposure.
Common Uses of 360 Photography
Real estate agents use 360 photos for virtual property tours. Travel bloggers create immersive destination previews. Architects document construction progress from a single vantage point. Event planners showcase venues. Museums offer virtual gallery walks. All of these use cases rely on the equirectangular format supported by this viewer.
