360 and VR Tour From Your Existing 3D Model
Quick answer: For a 360 or VR tour, send a complete model, a list of viewpoints, finishes and the audience and devices. The studio reviews the model, builds the panoramas and links them into a tour.
What a 360 image and a VR tour are
A 360 image is a panoramic picture that lets the viewer look in every direction from a fixed point, on a phone, a computer or a headset. A VR tour is a set of such viewpoints linked together, so the viewer can jump from one place to another and explore the space. Both are produced from a 3D model, and both are popular because they let clients understand a space without needing to read drawings.
They are different from an animation. In an animation the studio controls where the camera goes. In a 360 image or a tour, the viewer controls where to look and, in a tour, where to go. That freedom makes them convincing and also demanding, since every direction must look right. This guide explains the options, the preparation and the limits.
Types of interactive deliverables
- Single 360 panorama. One viewpoint, all directions.
- Multi-point tour. Several panoramas linked with hotspots.
- Web tour. Opens in a browser, with no software to install.
- Headset VR. Immersive viewing in a virtual reality device.
- Real-time walkthrough. A navigable environment where the viewer moves freely.
Panoramas and web tours are the most practical for most projects. They are reasonably priced, they work on phones and they can be sent by link. Real-time walkthroughs give the most freedom, but require additional preparation of the model and are suited to large projects with a budget for it.
Why every direction has to work
In a still image, we choose the framing and hide what is not ready. In a 360 panorama, there is nowhere to hide. The ceiling, the floor, the back of the room and every corner are visible. If the model is incomplete or a material is unresolved, the viewer will find it. The advantage is that these panoramas make excellent reviews of the design, since problems that a plan hides become obvious when you stand in the space.
For this reason, we review the model for the whole space before we begin. We check ceilings, floors, junctions and the exterior visible through windows. We report what is missing and suggest whether to complete it or to choose viewpoints that avoid the gap.
Choosing viewpoints
Placement of the viewpoint decides what the viewer understands. A panorama taken in the middle of a room shows its size and relationships. One placed near the entrance shows the first impression. A viewpoint on a balcony shows the view. For a tour, the points should be spaced so that each one reveals something new, and the transitions should feel natural, like walking from room to room.
Camera height is set to a typical standing or seated eye level. We avoid placing viewpoints too close to walls or furniture, which can distort perspective and make the viewer uneasy. When accessibility is part of the story, we can also provide a seated eye-level version.
Hotspots, floor plans and information
A tour can include more than images. Hotspots can link to other viewpoints, show a note about a finish, open a product page or reveal alternatives, such as two kitchen options. A small floor plan in the corner helps the viewer orient. These features make the tour useful as a sales or decision tool, but each adds production time and needs clear content.
Tell us what information matters to the audience. For a residential sale, it may be the unit mix and finishes. For an office, it may be seating options. For a public agency, it may be accessibility and circulation. We propose a simple set of hotspots and avoid overloading the interface, since a cluttered tour is harder to use.
Web, mobile and headset: choosing the platform
Most people will view a tour on a phone or a laptop. A web-based tour opens from a link, requires no installation and can be embedded in a website or sent by email. Headsets offer stronger immersion and are valuable in sales galleries, design reviews and exhibitions, but they require hardware and a person to guide the experience.
We recommend starting with a web tour and, if the project justifies it, offering a headset version from the same scene. The images are similar, and the additional cost is mostly in testing and packaging. Tell us who will view the tour and on which devices, and we choose the resolution and file size accordingly, since a heavy tour that loads slowly on a phone loses its audience.
A worked example: a model apartment in a pre-sale
A developer has a model of a two-bedroom apartment and wants a tour for pre-sale buyers who live abroad. They send the model, the finishes list and a furniture package. The team reviews the model and finds that the ceiling detail in the living room is missing. The developer adds it.
The tour has five viewpoints: entrance, living area, kitchen, main bedroom and balcony. Each has hotspots linking to the next, and a small floor plan shows the position. A second finish package can be toggled in the kitchen. The developer receives a web link for buyers and a headset version for the sales office. Prospects can walk through the apartment months before construction is complete, and the developer uses the same scene later for stills.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Incomplete ceilings and floors. Review the model in every direction.
- Viewpoints too close to walls. Place them at natural standing positions.
- Too many hotspots. Keep the interface simple.
- Heavy files that load slowly. Optimize for phones.
- No plan for who will view it. Choose the platform first.
- Late design changes. Update every viewpoint together.
Comfort, scale and motion in headset VR
Headset experiences are more sensitive than screens. If the scale of a room is wrong by even a small amount, people feel it immediately: a ceiling that seems too low, a door that feels too narrow or a kitchen counter at the wrong height. Because the viewer stands inside the space, the model must be accurate in real dimensions, and the camera must sit at a believable eye height.
Motion also needs care. Moving the viewer smoothly through space can cause discomfort, so most tours use jumps between fixed viewpoints instead of continuous travel. That approach is comfortable and works on every device. When a project justifies a fully navigable real-time environment, it needs testing on the target headset, optimization of the geometry and a plan for who will guide the user, since first-time users are often disoriented.
Lighting choices and the option of day and night versions
In a tour, the viewer spends time in each space, so the light must be pleasant and believable in every direction. Looking toward a bright window can darken the rest of the room, and looking away can reveal flat, unlit corners. We balance exposure and add subtle light sources so that no direction looks broken.
A day and a night version of the same viewpoint can be a valuable addition, especially for residential projects and hospitality. Buyers want to imagine morning coffee and evening dinner. Because the scene is the same, the second lighting condition costs much less than a new tour, and it can be offered as a toggle inside the tour.
Sharing, embedding and measuring the tour
A tour is only useful if people actually open it. A simple link in an email, a QR code on a brochure or an embed on a project page places the experience where prospects already are. Test the link on a phone with an ordinary connection before you send it, since that is how most people will see it.
Many hosting platforms report how many people viewed the tour and which viewpoints they visited. That information tells you what draws attention, and it can guide the design of the final building or the marketing message. If viewers spend most of their time in the kitchen, feature it more prominently. Ask us which platform we recommend, what it costs and how long the tour will stay online. A tour that disappears after six months, because a hosting plan lapsed, wastes the investment, so agree on the period in writing. Also keep a downloadable copy of the files, so you can move the tour to another host if your needs change. Ask as well whether viewer analytics are included and who owns that data.
What to send
- The model, complete in every direction of the planned viewpoints.
- Finishes, furniture and lighting information.
- A list of desired viewpoints or a plan marking them.
- Information to show in hotspots.
- The audience and the devices they will use.
- The deadline and where the tour will be hosted.
Questions to ask a studio about 360 and VR
- Do you review my model for every viewing direction before rendering?
- What platform will host the tour and who pays for hosting?
- How many viewpoints and hotspots are included?
- Can you deliver a version for headsets from the same scene?
- How large are the files and how do they perform on a phone?
- Can you update the tour if the design changes?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a 360 image and a VR tour?
A 360 image is one viewpoint. A tour links several viewpoints so the viewer can move through the space.
Do I need a headset to view it?
No. Most tours open in a browser on a phone or computer. A headset is optional for stronger immersion.
Can you make it from my existing model?
Yes, after we review it and confirm that it is complete in every direction of the viewpoints.
How many viewpoints should a tour have?
It depends on the project. Three to eight is common for an apartment or a small office.
Can the tour show finish options?
Yes. We can toggle alternatives, such as two kitchen finishes, when the model contains them.
Will it work on a phone?
Yes. We optimize file sizes so the tour loads quickly on mobile connections.
Who hosts the tour?
It can be hosted on a web platform or your own site. We discuss options and costs at the start.
Can I get still images from the same scene?
Yes. Stills from the same viewpoints are inexpensive to add.
Related guides
This guide is part of our series on rendering when the 3D model already exists. Start with the overview, rendering only when you already have the model. Related: the render-ready model checklist, still images from your existing model, animation from your existing model. When you are ready, send the file and the deadline through our quote request.