updated: 8/3/2010

In my REIT class I’m always saying how this is so easy and very cheap. Here’s how to do it;

Place your digital camera in the middle of the room/scene on a tripod at about eye level. Lock the tripod. Set the camera and zoom out as far as you can go.

Take a photo.

Turn (pan) the camera until the next image just overlaps the last one just a bit. Keep the level the same, just turn horizontally, not up or down. Stay behind the camera. (sorry, obvious I know)

Take another photo.

Continue this until you are back to your starting point. Usually about 6-10 shots depending on your camera. Each one has to overlap the last one by a little bit.

You need the complete 360 degrees, all at the same horizontal level.

Take these photos  into your computer and arrange them in order.

I used to recommend Realviz but AutoDesk bought it and now its a bit more expensive. Still good. But there are dozens of alternatives; Easypano, 360dof, Stitcher and many more. Look around. Google “virtual tour software”. Prices range from $99-$1000. Some cameras (Canon and others) include Stitcher as a free bonus.

Import the photos in order into Stitcher or similar.

Select Auto-stitch. This stitches the images together to form a cylinder.

Select auto-align. This lines up the images.

Select equalize images. This fixes the colour.

Select Render and pick cylindrical Quicktime VR.

Press Ok. This makes a Quicktime VR movie file.

Paste that movie onto your web page just like you do for still photos.

Done!

Your viewers will need the Quicktime plug-in. On the Mac, it’s built in, Windows users will get a pop-up helping them install it, if they don’t already have it.

You only need the free player, not the Pro version.