Understanding 360-Degree Images: A Technical Introduction

360-degree images, also known as panoramic or immersive images, are a way of capturing and displaying a complete environment around a single point of view. Unlike traditional photography that captures a limited frame, a 360° image records the entire sphere—both horizontally (360°) and vertically (180°)—allowing viewers to navigate and look around as if they were inside the captured scene.

From a technical standpoint, these images are usually stored in equirectangular projection format, a method that maps the spherical view onto a 2D rectangular image. This makes them compatible with web viewers, VR devices, and mobile platforms.

How 360 Images Are Created

1. Dedicated 360 Cameras
   Devices such as the Ricoh Theta, Insta360, or GoPro Max come with multiple ultra-wide-angle lenses (usually fisheye lenses). Each lens captures a field of view, and internal software automatically stitches them together into a seamless panorama.
2. DSLR or Mirrorless Cameras with Fisheye Lens
   Photographers can use traditional cameras with fisheye lenses mounted on panoramic heads. Multiple shots are taken while rotating the camera around a fixed nodal point. Software like PTGui or Hugin then stitches the photos together.
3. Mobile Devices
   Many smartphones offer “Panorama” or “Photo Sphere” modes, allowing the user to capture 360° environments with computational stitching.

Storage and File Formats

• JPEG/PNG (Equirectangular): Standard images that can be uploaded to web viewers or platforms like Facebook and SharePoint.
• HDRI (High Dynamic Range Images): Used in 3D rendering and visual effects for realistic lighting environments.
• EXR/TIFF: Professional formats for high-quality, uncompressed workflows.

Displaying 360 Images

1. Web Browsers
   JavaScript libraries like three.js or Photo Sphere Viewer can render 360° images directly on a webpage using WebGL.
2. VR and AR Devices
   Platforms like Oculus, HTC Vive, and Microsoft HoloLens allow immersive viewing, making users feel as though they are inside the image.
3. Enterprise Platforms (e.g., SharePoint)
   360° images can be embedded using custom web parts (SPFx) or third-party plugins to enable interactive navigation.

Market Applications

• Real Estate: Virtual tours of properties.
• Tourism: Immersive previews of destinations.
• Engineering & Construction: Site inspections and progress monitoring.
• Education: Virtual field trips and training simulations.
• Entertainment: Immersive storytelling, concerts, and sports events.

The global market for immersive media has been expanding rapidly, driven by adoption in VR/AR applications and the increasing accessibility of consumer-grade 360 cameras. Major players such as Meta, Google, and Insta360 are shaping the ecosystem by integrating these formats into social media, cloud storage, and enterprise collaboration tools.

Summary Table

For deeper background on related concepts:

• Virtual Reality (VR)
• Panoramic Photography
• Equirectangular Projection