The technology:
Computer-generated 360° panoramic images rendered in 3ds Max with V-Ray. A spherical camera captures the complete environment from a fixed viewpoint — look in any direction, including up and down.
A standard rendering shows one camera angle. A 360 rendering shows the complete sphere around a single point — you look in any direction, including straight up at the ceiling and straight down at the floor. We produce these in 3ds Max using V-Ray’s panoramic camera, which renders an equirectangular image covering the full 360° × 180° field of view.
What it takes to do this properly
The main constraint of 360 rendering is that there is nowhere to hide. In a standard rendering, areas outside the camera frame don’t need to be finished. In a 360, the complete model — ceiling, floor, every wall, every corner — must be complete and properly detailed. This makes 360 renderings more expensive to set up than a comparable flat render, but the same viewpoint can be revisited from any direction without additional rendering.
Model completeness — all geometry in every direction must be present and textured. Unfinished areas that would be cropped in a flat render are fully visible in 360.
Resolution — equirectangular images need to be rendered at significantly higher resolution than flat images to maintain the same perceived quality when viewed interactively. We typically work at 8K × 4K (32 megapixels) as a base.
Lighting — the lighting rig must work from all directions simultaneously. A light source visible in the frame in a flat render is hidden; in 360 it’s part of the image.
What we need from you
| 3D model | Complete in all directions from the chosen viewpoint — no unfinished areas. CAD/IFC for us to build from, or an existing 3ds Max model. |
| Viewpoints | Eye-level positions agreed before rendering. Each viewpoint is a separate render at full cost. |
| Material specs | Same requirements as for flat renderings. More surfaces are visible, so material coverage needs to be more complete. |
| Lighting design | Interior viewpoints need a fully resolved lighting setup — everything is visible. |
Delivery
Equirectangular images viewable in any 360 browser viewer, embedded on websites, or loaded into Pano2VR for use in a full 360 Tour. VR-headset compatible via WebVR.
When to use 360 renderings
- Spatial review — the most efficient way to check how a room actually feels before it’s built. Plan layouts, ceiling heights, and view connections are hard to judge from flat images.
- Checking sight lines — what can you see from the kitchen into the living area? What’s the view from the bed toward the window? 360 answers these questions directly.
- Client sign-off — putting a client inside the room, even at a screen, is more convincing than showing them a selected angle.
- VR headset use — 360 renderings are the source for 3DOF VR experiences, which add a headset and full spatial immersion.
Related techniques
For capturing an existing space rather than an unbuilt one: 360 Photography
For showing new elements inside a real photographed space: 360 Photo Integration
For connecting multiple viewpoints into a navigable experience: 360 Tour
