.360 — 360-degree Image/Video
Various Camera Manufacturers · 2010s
A .360 file is an image or video designed for immersive, 360-degree viewing, often used with VR headsets.
Key Features
- Captures a full spherical view.
- Supports interactive and immersive playback.
- Often uses standard image/video codecs with spatial metadata.
- Compatible with VR headsets and specialized viewers.
Best For
- Creating fully immersive visual experiences.
- Providing virtual walkthroughs or explorations.
- Content intended for VR headsets.
- Capturing scenes with a wide, all-encompassing view.
Less Ideal For
- Standard, flat photography where depth isn't a focus.
- Archiving large volumes of simple images.
- Fast, low-bandwidth image sharing.
- Content requiring precise editing of individual elements.
Common Use Cases
- Virtual reality tours of real estate or venues.
- Documenting travel destinations with an immersive feel.
- Creating interactive training or educational content.
- Capturing unique perspectives for social media or marketing.
How to Open It
- Use dedicated 360 photo/video viewers like Google Photos or Facebook.
- Open with specialized desktop software like Adobe Premiere Pro (for video) or Photoshop (for images).
- Utilize VR applications or platforms designed for panoramic content.
- Many modern web browsers can display these if embedded correctly on a webpage.
What is a .360 file?
The .360 file extension typically refers to images or videos captured by 360-degree cameras. These files contain panoramic visuals that allow viewers to look in any direction, simulating the experience of being present in the captured environment. Unlike standard flat images, .360 files store spatial data, enabling interactive viewing through specialized software or VR headsets. They are designed to provide an immersive and engaging visual experience, often used for virtual tours, real estate, and exploration content.
Programs That Open .360 Files
| Platform | Program | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Adobe Photoshop | Paid | Official |
| VLC Media Player | Free | ||
| macOS | Adobe Photoshop | Paid | Official |
| VLC Media Player | Free | ||
| Linux | VLC Media Player | Free | |
| Android | Google Photos | Free | |
| YouTube | Free | ||
| iOS | Google Photos | Free | |
| YouTube | Free | ||
| Web Browser | Facebook 360 | Free | |
| Google Street View | Free |
How to Convert .360 Files
| Format | Method |
|---|---|
| .JPG | Adobe Photoshop, FFmpeg (command line), Online converters |
| .MP4 | Adobe Premiere Pro, FFmpeg (command line), Online converters |
Common Problems with .360 Files
Frequently Asked Questions
A .360 image contains spatial data allowing you to look around in any direction, simulating a sphere, whereas a regular image is flat and shows a single, fixed viewpoint.
No, while VR headsets offer the most immersive experience, .360 files can also be viewed on computers, phones, and tablets using compatible software that allows you to pan and tilt the view.
Typically, .360 files are created by specialized 360-degree cameras. However, software can stitch together multiple standard photos or videos to create a similar equirectangular projection.
Technical Details
These files are essentially standard image (like JPEG) or video (like MP4) formats but with metadata embedded that indicates they are equirectangular projections. This metadata signals to compatible players that the content should be displayed as a spherical panorama rather than a flat image. The actual visual data is stored in a way that maps a 3D environment onto a 2D projection.