(1.1.0) Desktop UI - Handling 360-degree Content

360-degree content are visuals in which the view in every direction is captured and presented simultaneously. ICE can process content provided in the following 360-degree formats to make it appear perspectively correct for the screen in use.

Cubemap
Equirectangular

ICE can process 360 formatted content within any Layer type, not just images and videos.

Tutorial Video

Working with 360-degree Content

Cubemap

The Cubemap format consists of 6 undistorted, perspective images (or faces): Left, Front, Right, Back, Bottom and Top. Typically, the faces are arranged in a strip or a cross topology. The following example uses a strip, which has a 6:1 aspect ratio.

When adding Cubemap content to the workspace, the default behaviour is for it to be centred within the canvas while maintaining its aspect ratio.

First, select Add Content > New > Image and set the image filepath to C:\ProgramData\Igloo Vision\IglooCoreEngine\example content\cubemap.jpg.

Cubemap image with no effects applied.

Next, we need to convert to the Equirectangular format.

Go to the Layer Effects Tab, press the '+ Add effect' button and select Cubemap to Equirectangular

For more information on using Effects see - ICE Documentation - Effects

Adding the Cubemap to Equirectangular Effect.

Equirectangular

The Equirectangular format consists of a single 2:1 aspect ratio view, common resolutions include 3840x1920, 4096x2048, 5760x2880, and 7680x3840. You can think of equirectangular like a world map from a globe, unwrapped and flattened.

Example Equirectangular image.

When adding Equirectangular content to the workspace, the default behaviour is for it to be centered within the canvas while maintaining its aspect ratio.

Default Layer Geometry.

Applying the True Perspective effect will extract the correct perspective view from the Equirectangular content.

Go to the Layer Effects Tab, press the '+ Add effect' button and select True Perspective .

Note that if your source content is Equirectangular, not Cubemap, then only the True Perspective effect is required.

Adding the True Perspective Effect.

The Screen Tab can be used to visualise how True Perspective will affect the output on the physical screen.

Parameters of the True Perspective effect can be used to modify which region of the 360 content is displayed

Heading

Rotates the content Left and Right.

Pitch

Rotates the content Up and Down.

Direction

Sets the direction the content is Pitched in.

Changing the True Perspective parameters.

Next Section: (1.1.0) Desktop UI - Working with WebViews