What do we call a "360 product photo"

Saying "360 product photo" we mean animated clip with any product or object in it rotating 360 degrees. Usually this 360 degrees clip is made specially for viewing online and consists of at least couple of tens usual photographs of an object. Sometimes it is not for online: 360 product photos are excellent for show rooms, exhibitions or museum expositions. Sometimes it is not even a "product" photo: it might be human or cake or tree or even cat.

General trend is that 360 product photo is easy viewable with any mobile device with IOS, Android or Windows Mobile systems. A good 360 product photo player must be 100% compatible with any internet browser as well.

What's the difference between 360 product photo and 3D product photo?

Usually we say "3D product photo" when talking about 2-axial animated clip with product, and we say "360 product photo" when mean 1-axial clip. Two-axial means one can rotate an object in any direction: left to right or up and down. One-axial means there is only left to right rotation in the clip.

When comparing 360 and 3D product photos, we can see advantages and disadvantages of both types:

• 360 is easer to produce. Less lighting issues, less equipment needed, less time to make a photo
• 3D photo is more impressive and more informative then 360 photo. It really matters in some cases.
• 360 "eats" less traffic as it consists of less images

Talking generally, there are some options, and 360 and 3D product photo are just two basic cases. For instance, it is possible to make a "mix" of 3D and 360. Check this example for inspiration: it consists not too much images, but looks cool and gives both side and top views.

Why do I need a 360 or 3D product photo?

Check the page Advantages of 360 and 3D product photo. Talking shortly, 3D and 360 product photos on your website are positive for customers confidence, conversion and incredibly important for SEO.

How does the 360 photo production looks like

It's quite easy. Generally, you need the same equipment as for usual product photo plus PC-controlled turntable. For details check the Tutorial, but basic things on 360 product photo described below.

For user it is like that:

• You prepare things: connect the camera and the turntable to the computer with USB or WiFi connection, install the software, and choose the settings.
• You place a product and check that it looks the way you like,
• You press Start button in the software and in 2-3 minutes you save ready to view online animated clip.

For equipment it is like that:

• When you press Start button, the software starts to syncronize turntable and camera.
• Camera automatically make a photo. After that turntable turns on a specified angle and camera make the next photo. It repeats for all photos in the set, fully automatically.
• Parallel with shooting, all the images are transfered to the computer. When the last frame has been taken, all the set of frames is already in the PC ready to be saved or postproducted. Frame set looks like that:
• When you press Save button, software resizes the frames, generate the clip and save it. It can be uploaded straight from the photo software or later with any CMS or FTP client. Raw files are also might be saved unchanged.

How to upload and publish 360 product photo online? What are the formats?

Check publishing manual for details.

In a few words, Photo3D Studio supports saving in the following formats:

• HTML + JavaScript - it's the most flexible, cross-platform and ajustable format.
• Flash (swf) - for those who loves
• Silverlight - for Microsoft lovers
• GIF - most easy one-file format
• Folder - untouched raw and JPEG files that came from camera. For archiving and postproduction, if needed.

Photomechanics equipment is also compatible with third-party software including leading Object2VR. Check software page for details.

What is the price?

Photomechanics equipment is cost-effective. Check our shop for the prices. Generally, it depends mostly on the size and weight of your products.

Purchase and Payment

A: There are two general options to buy Photomechanics equipment:

• You can find local receller on Contacts page.
• You can buy in Photomechanics Online Shop. We accept PayPal or bank transfer payments and we ship the equipment worldwide. 

A: We accept credit/debit card payment securely via PayPal. We can also make an invoice for bank transfer payment.

A: We work both with individuals and companies. We can sign the sales contract with all the specifications of the purchased equipment.

A: We provide 1 year limited warranty for all the Photomechanics equipment. We also provide lifetime support and updates on Photo3D Studio software.

Technical Features

A: 1 to 360 images can be taken in complete rotation.

A: Yes, our Photo3D Studio can operate two turntables synchronically, but the turntables must be made as "the pair". Please contact us for details.

A: Yes, it can. Direction is being set in Photo3D Studio while operating the turntable.

A: Yes, it can. You may start and terminate non-stop rotation using Photo3D Studio. 

A: Our Photo3D Studio Software works under Windows only. If you prefer using Mac, you might like to use Object2VR software. Object2VR is fully compatible with Photomechanics turntables. If Photo3D Studio is neccesary you should use one of the many ways to run Windows on your Mac. Photo3D Studio works well on Mac with any kind of Windows virtual machines etc.

A: The necessery things are laptop or desktop PC, Photomechanics turntable and DSLR camera. For producing high quality 360 and 3D photographs you also need some environment. Check 3D Photo Studio Kits page for variants.

A: For now we have clients in 15 countries and counting. Check Customers Feedback page.

A: Yes, we can easily ship all you need to any of the states.

A: It depends on where you are located, how bulky is your order and what shipping method is used. Contact us for details.

A: K-100 is 1 meter long. K-150 is 1.5 meter long. The distance is measured from the center of rotation to the camera film plane.

A: Yes, Wi-Fi turntables works both with USB and Wi-Fi control.

Photo3D Studio updates

Photo3D Studio is Photomechanics utilite for 3D photo equipment and camera control, for 360 and 3D photo generation and publishing.

Usually we introduce updates to Photo3D Studio every 1-2 months. So, for new functions of the software please check Tutorial and Photo3D Studio page in the shop. Here we shortly list the main and basic features of the programm.

General features

Photo3D Studio software has following functions:

360 photo and 3D photo shooting features

• Canon, Nikon and Pentax DSLR camera control
• Multiple camera control
• Photomechanics equipment control and syncronization with camera
• Fully automatic 360 and 3D photo shooting
• Semi-automatic 360 and 3D photo shooting (one key pressed - one frame made, to make extra animation in 3D photo)
• Turntable rotation speed control
• Turntable and photo arm movement range control
• Delays before and after each movement control
• 360 and 3D photo settings ajustment including number of frames in one 3D photo
• Sound signal control
• To take single photos
• To operate camera settings (available only for Pentax and Canon cameras)
• To create exposition and ISO
• To change file format and photo definition
• To save and upload photo shooting profiles to a file

3D photo equipment special features

• To make a 90, 180, 270 degrees turn
• To operate wireless turntables  and camera via Wi-Fi
• To operate turntable and photo arm manually
• To rotate at a user-defined angle
• To lock turntable in the desired position, to unlock

360 photo and 3D photo saving features

• Saving 360 product photo and 3D photo in different formats
• To save 3D photos in p3d  format (to store and process in the software)
• To save a photoscript in folder, using JPEG and RAW formats
• To save 3D animations with Adobe Flash player (in SWF format)
• To save 3D animations with JavaScript player (HTML5)
• To save 3D animations in GIF format
• To adjust GIF rotation speed
• To make backup copies of all taken photos
• To save files to a chosen folder with an order number, assigned to every file
• To save files, choosing a file save path and file name manually
• To set definition of the saved 3D photo
• To adjust JPEGcompression quality
• To adjust zoom
• To save single frames To save chosen frames

360 and 3D photo publishing features

• To upload 3D animations directly to a database and to a website right after photo shooting (option)  
• To make photoscripts
• To add watermarks and logos to 3D images
• To save photoscripts automatically according to frame numbers

360 and 3D photo postproduction features

• To view the created 3D animation
• To process 3D photo
• To change image brightness / contrast
• To reverse rotation
• To choose the first frame

Here we describe the main settings of 3D and 360 photo and the process of taking 360 product photos itself.

Read more: Photo3D Studio: shooting 360 product photo