What is an Equirectangular Image

What is an Equirectangular Image?

While using CenarioVR you may come across the term equirectangular image.  This article will explain what it is and why you must use it within the application.

A common example of an equirectangular image or projection is a map of the earth. The image isn’t completely accurate because it takes a spherical object and converts it into a flat object.  For this reason, the degree lines marking longitude and latitude are curved.

With virtual reality cameras and videos capture the 360-degree view.  The easiest way to convert this image into a flat usable object is by making it equirectangular. When in CenarioVR you’ll notice that the smart guides are curved.  This is because you’re inside the spherical view and the system is mapping out the x and y-axis.  This way placement of objects is not only accurate for a vertical and horizontal view but also by taking into consideration perspective.

Stitched Panorama

This article last reviewed June, 2019. The software may have changed since the last review.