What Is a Virtual Tour and How to Create One

What Is a Virtual Tour?

A virtual tour is undoubtedly one of the most important elements in the commercialization and development of any architectural or 3D design project. Without an interactive virtual tour, the project would be less accessible and far less understandable for both professionals and potential clients.

For this reason, all technologies related to design, interior design, architecture, and construction offer high-quality, user-friendly virtual tours, as they are essential for both project development and sales.

Now, let’s take a closer look at what a virtual tour is and its technical aspects:

A virtual tour is a digital representation of a project and its surroundings. Its main goal is to show both interior and exterior spaces in an interactive, detailed, and dynamic way, creating an experience as close as possible to what a real visitor would perceive.

It is also commonly referred to as a tour, virtual visit, or 360º tour.

A virtual tour offers numerous advantages and is relatively easy to create. Below, you’ll discover all the details.

When Is a Virtual Tour Used?

The interactive virtual tour aims to add more dynamism compared to standard 3D rendering technology. One of its key advantages is the freedom it provides to the user, as the viewer decides how to explore the space.

For example, in real estate virtual tours, potential clients can explore bathrooms, offices, outdoor areas, lighting conditions, and spatial proportions at their own pace. These tours are ideal for large-scale projects where multiple spaces need to be visualized.

Additionally, virtual tours allow movement to be represented, which is especially valuable in exterior scenes—showing elements such as trees swaying, vehicles in motion, birds, or pedestrians.

Some examples of industries that benefit from this technology include:

• Real estate agencies
• Construction companies
• Interior designers
• Virtual museums
• Virtual maps, such as Google Maps
• Video game industry

These are just a few examples of sectors that benefit from this innovative technology.

How to Create a Virtual Tour

Creating a virtual tour is easier than it may seem. In fact, there are several key steps involved:

1. First, place the camera on a tripod and connect it to photography software so you can capture images remotely and avoid appearing in them.

   • Capture images in 360º format to allow full navigation in all directions.
   • Take photos in sequence to simplify the linking process later.
   • If you don’t have a 360º camera, you can take multiple images from different angles.
2. Once the images are captured, edit them to enhance the user experience. Use specialized architecture or interior design software for the best results.

3. Finally, use dedicated software to organize and connect all images into a seamless virtual tour.

   • This is why capturing images in order is highly recommended.
   • You can use tools like Roundme or 360 Tours. Some are free, while others are paid, depending on the level of quality you need.

Benefits of a Virtual Tour

Virtual tours offer a wide range of advantages. While 3D rendering is essential for presenting architectural projects, virtual tours take the experience to the next level.

Here are some of the main benefits:

• Movement: Users can navigate through the space, creating a more immersive and realistic experience. This increases engagement and improves the likelihood of closing a sale.
• Freedom: Users control their journey—deciding what to explore, in what order, and how detailed they want the experience to be.
• Exterior visualization: Perfect for showcasing outdoor environments, including natural movement such as wind, trees, and surroundings, making it easier to imagine the final result.
• Realism: All these features contribute to a highly realistic experience, improving understanding, communication, and ultimately, project sales.

Differences Between a Virtual Tour and a 360º Tour

Many people believe virtual tours and 360º tours are the same, which is understandable since the experience can be quite similar.

The key difference is that 360º tours are created using real photographs, while virtual tours are built using 3D renders, allowing for fully digital environments that may not exist in reality.

For example, a virtual museum would be considered a virtual tour, as it is entirely created using 3D rendering. On the other hand, Google Maps is a 360º tour, since it is based on real-world images.

Examples of Virtual Tours

To make things clearer, here are some real examples of virtual tours created using 3D renders or 360º imagery:

• Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City
• Maya Museum in Yucatán
• Museum of Contemporary Art in Bogotá
• The Pyramids of Egypt
• The Grand Canyon

All these places can be explored virtually using VR headsets, computers, smartphones, or tablets.

Behind Pictures, Your 3D Rendering Studio in Barcelona

What do you think about virtual tours? Would you like to experience them when buying your next home or include them in your projects?

At Behind Pictures, we are known for our 3D rendering technology, which allows us to create highly realistic visualizations. However, we go a step further by integrating innovations such as virtual tours, offering greater freedom and a deeper understanding of the final result.

If you want to learn more about how we can help with your project, contact us and we will develop a 100% customized solution for you.