360-tours 101:
All you need to get started.

Step 1: Choose your 360 camera and stand.

Camera

360 cameras have come a long way these past few years - you can even take them on your Google Pixel or Android phone.

But if you want to really take your tours to that professional level and product industry-grade results, there are a number of cameras you can use - and these cameras are a prerequisite to monetising your virtual tour creating services.

Here are a few 360 cameras we recommend 👇

Koala360 supports all cameras. If you already have a camera you can create a tour now.

Stand and monopod

For great 360 images, it's best to setup the camera in a fixed position. This can be done with a tripod, monopod or selfie stick and each has their pros and cons.

Tripods provide the best stability and allow for great framing for conventional cameras. They are also best for images that require longer exposure times, such as night-time shots or time-lapses. Though they are heaviest, bulkiest and least manoeuvrable of the options.

Monopods are the favourite mount for most 360 photographers as they are lightweight and have great mobility, making for quick capturing of images. If chosen correctly, they may not show up in the image reducing time in post-processing. While not as stable as a tripod, a monopod provides more stability than hand-holding the camera and enables you to setup the camera and leave the room before taking a photo.

Selfie Sticks are extremely portable and lightweight and sticks such as the Insta invisible won't be seen by the 360 camera. Though they are the least stable of the options and can result in blurry images, if used carefully they can get the job done. They can double as a makeshift monopod, adding a bit of stability in a pinch.

Most professional 360 camera photographers choose monopods and this article presents a detailed overview of different options with great explanations.

The rule of thumb for if the stick will be invisible in the image or not is "if it's thinner than the camera, it won't be included".

If you find your stand is visible in the image, you can easily remove it with software following along with the tutorial in this post.‍

When searching for the best stand for your setup make sure you check if it compatible with your camera or has an adapter, that will not be captured in the image and can be extended up to 150cm.

When choosing a monopod make sure you pick one compatible and has independently adjustable legs.

Step 2: Capture the 360 images.

Most cameras come with a companion app which you can download and use to control your camera, capture and view images and more. You'll first have to connect your camera to your phone following the in-app instructions.

But before you dive straight into taking the photos, it's important to setup the camera and scene correctly.

Here's a surefire way to capture great 360s for your virtual real-estate tour 👇

1. Prepare the space, make sure it's clean and looks great!
2. Set the camera at a height that is natural for people, around 150cm.
3. Make sure the camera is upright and not tilted.
4. Use a monopod and always place it on the floor (don't place it on tablets etc).
5. Hide! Go around the corner and use the phone to take the image. Make sure you're not visible in mirrors.
6. Take one photo every 3m for apartments and small spaces and one every 6m for large spaces.

Pro Tip: Ensure the camera in pointing in the same direction in all photos. This will streamline the tour creation process. If there is a misalignment, you can easily adjust the starting position of a photo in the Koala360 editor.

Step 3: Create, share and embed a tour with Koala360.

With the photos captured, it's time to upload the photos to a virtual tour creator and link them together with hotspots.

Then customise the tour with options such as auto-rotate, full-screen mode, hiding hotspots, removing zoom (PRO or unlimited plans) - or directly publish the tour.

With the tour published you can share it directly with a link or a embed it on your website.

Here’s the 5-step process:

1. Login to the dashboard and create a tour.
2. Upload your photos (it's best to compress them first).
3. Create all the hotspots by dragging and dropping thumbnails into the images.
4. Customise the tour with PRO features (optional).
5. Share and embed the tour on your website.

Watch the video below to see how to create a 360 tour in under 5-minutes 👇

Conclusion

And there you have it, a 101 quick start guide to creating 360 tours.

Here's a quick summary:

1. Choose your 360 camera.
2. Choose your monopod camera stand.
3. Prepare the scene and take the photos.
4. Create a tour on Koala360 by uploading photos, adding hotspots and sharing.
5. Share the tour and embed it on your website.

I hope this has given you all the information you need to begin creating professional grade 360-tours.

If you have any thoughts or further questions, please feel free to get in touch. We are more than happy to answer them!