How Can We Help?
Why does the scale of the panorama seem wrong / too large?
Why Your Panorama Feels the Wrong Size
1. DEPTH PERCEPTION
Monoscopic panoramas are a single, flat image wrapped around you.
They show you what the scene looked like, but not how deep things are.
Without separate left/right eye views, your brain can’t judge depth—so everything can feel unnaturally large or distant.
Stereoscopic panoramas supply two slightly different images (one per eye).
This mimics how your eyes work in the real world and restores real-world depth cues.
In short:
monoscopic = “flat” → depth ambiguous;
stereoscopic = “3D” → correct depth.
2. The Capture-Height Effect
Your sense of scale in VR also depends on the height at which the panorama was captured:
- Panorama capture height = camera’s height above the ground when the photo was taken.
- VR user stance = whether the viewer is seated or standing when exploring the panorama.
If these two don’t match, the scene can feel too large or too small:
| Capture Height | User Stance | How It Feels |
|---|---|---|
| Low (e.g. knee level) | Standing | You feel like a giant—the world looks tiny. |
| Low (e.g. knee level) | Seated | Feels a bit more natural, but still slightly exaggerated. |
| Eye level (~1.6 m) | Standing | Most accurate: matches average adult view height. |
| High (e.g. mounted on pole) | Seated | You feel like you’re floating above the scene. |
| High (e.g. mounted on pole) | Standing | Similar floating sensation, plus downward-looking angle. |
Tip: Always capture panoramas at the height closest to how users will view them in your app. If you expect most users to:
- Stand in VR tours, shoot at eye level (~1.6 m / 5 ft 3 in).
- Sit (e.g. classroom demos, seated experiences), shoot at seated comfort height (~1.2 m / 4 ft).
How to Get the Best Scale in Our App
- Capture stereoscopic panoramas
Use stereoscopic panoramas when you need accurate depth—especially in scenes with close objects or tight spaces. - Match Capture Height to User Stance
Before publishing a tour, note whether it’s designed for seated or standing viewers.- If you’re not sure, default to standing and shoot at eye level (~1.6 m).
- For seated experiences (e.g., in chairs or car seats), lower your tripod to ~1.2 m.
- Communicate Viewing Mode
In your tour’s first panorama/intro, specify “Best viewed while seated” or “Best viewed while standing.”
This helps users know how to position themselves for the most natural scale.