The short answerA virtual tour is a sequence of connected 360-degree panoramas. The viewer drags to look in any direction and clicks to move to the next point, as if they were on site.
In a video, the director decides where you look. In a virtual tour, the viewer decides. That makes it suitable for anyone who wants to examine a place at their own pace: a buyer, an investor, a project manager or a store tenant.
Who is it for?
- Real estate. Showing the surroundings, the view and the accessibility of a project.
- Construction sites. Visiting the site from the office, and documenting its condition on a given date.
- Shopping centres and stores. Getting to know the place before arriving.
- Festivals and events. Presenting the grounds to visitors and producers.
A 360 tour or a brand film?
| 360 tour | Brand film | |
|---|---|---|
| Who leads | The viewer | The director |
| Strong at | Understanding the place | Emotion and story |
| Viewing time | As long as you like | Fixed |
| Suits | In-depth examination, documentation | Advertising, social media |
The two complement each other and can be produced from the same shoot. See examples of brand films.
How is a virtual tour shot?
- Planning the points. Choosing where each panorama tells something, and how to move between points.
- Shooting. From the air by drone and from the ground with high-resolution cameras.
- Stitching. Combining the images into one complete panorama.
- Linking. Adding transition points and information at each point.
- Embedding. Placing the tour on the website, where it also works on a phone.
What makes a good tour?
- A few good points. Six smart points beat twenty similar ones.
- The right hour. Soft light makes a big difference.
- Fast loading. A tour that loads slowly loses viewers.
- A call to action. At the end of the tour, it should be clear what to do next.
Can a tour be updated?
Yes. On a construction site, the same points can be shot again to compare periods. It is a natural fit with construction progress tracking.
On the virtual tours page you can try a live tour and drag it yourself.
