Getting Started
The documents in this section outline the basic workflows, installation, and project set-ups.
Pano2VR Basic Worklow
Learn the basic workflow of bulding a virtual tour built in Pano2VR.
Download example files to work with: Building_a_tour.zip.
Prepare the Project Files
Good practice is to keep all the files organized in one location.
- Create a folder for your project.
- Add all the input media (all media that is added to the Tour Browser; the main content).
- Use subfolders for all the project assets (pinned media, hotspot images, sounds, etc.).
★ When putting the project together, keep in mind that Pano2VR has some automatic organization tools. For instance, if you drag in a folder of input media, the folder name is added as a Tag. For example, if you have multiple nodes in a single room, you could create a subfolder called Kitchen. When you drag the Kitchen folder in, each image in that folder will have the tag, Kitchen.
Learn more about organization in Pano2VR.
Import Input Media
Input media refers to the images or videos that will be added to the Tour Browser. This is your main content.
★ Pano2VR does not stitch. You must first bring your 360 media into stitching software like PTGui, Hugin, or Mistika VR to stitch the media. Make sure the files are equirectangular with a 2:1 aspect ratio before importing them in to Pano2VR.
There are multiple ways to get the content into Pano2VR. Dragging in a folder will give the images within the folder a tag with the folder name.
-
Select the input media in your file browser and drag them on to the Viewer or the Tour Browser.
-
Drag a folder containing the input media to the Tour Browser or Viewer.
-
Click the input button in the Toolbar and navigate to your image/s.
Learn more about dragging and dropping in Pano2VR
This is a good time to save your project. Save the project file to the project folder: File > Save.
Add User Data
In the Project Properties, give the project some metadata. To start, give the Project a title. This will be the title of the HTML page.
Also give each input media a Title in User Data. This title can be used in menus and as tooltips.
Exif data is imported with the images and will be added to User Data according to what is set in the Preferences/Settings.
★ Tip: Use keyboard shortcuts to quickly move through the nodes: ⌘[
, ⇧⌘P
or Ctrl+[
, Ctrl+Shift+P
for previous and ⌘]
, ⇧⌘N
or Ctrl+[
, Ctrl+Shift+P
for next.
Learn more about adding User Data.
Patch
Patching is generally used to remove a tripod at the nadir. But it can also be used to blur faces and license plates or to edit a section of the panorama without distortion.
Leveling
In some cases, the panoramas might need to be leveled or fine-tuned. Hold down L
and drag on the sides of the Viewer to level.
Add North
Make sure is North is added to the images if the project will incorporate maps, floor plans, or be added to Street View.
Learn more about adding location data.
Link the Nodes
Now you’re ready to link everything together. Tour Nodes are linked together using hotspots. Point Hotspots will provide a point of interaction, providing the link to the next node.
Here is one way to link nodes together:
-
Enable Point Hotspot Mode by hovering your mouse over the graphic in the upper left corner of the Viewer and choose the Point Hotspot Mode. You can also use the keyboard shortcut, P, to change to Point Hotspot mode.
-
In the Viewer, spin the panorama to where you would like to place the hotspot.
-
Drag the node that should be linked at that point from the Tour Browser and drag it to the Viewer.
A point hotspot will be created, including its connection to the panorama.
For a faster way to connect the nodes, use Automatic Linking.
Learn more about linking nodes.
Output the Project
The last step is to export the project from Pano2VR.
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Open the Output Panel.
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Click the green plus sign to select an output format and choose Web.
-
Choose a skin from the Skin menu. For instance, the feather_box.ggsk skin.
-
Output the project by clicking on the gear wheel. The tour will open with the Integrated Web Server that allows you to see and interact with the project locally. It is not being uploaded to the internet unless you choose to use Gnome Cloud for hosting projects.
You can then take the output folder and all of its contents to your self-hosted webserver, or send it to a client to upload to their webserver.
Alternatively, you can also output a package format output that you used to upload and embed the project in your CMS site. Or upload the project using Gnome Cloud.