Support for Gaussian Splatting models in the 3D tab (Upgrade) 

What is Gaussian Splatting and Why is it Revolutionary?

Gaussian Splatting is an innovative technology that creates hyper-realistic 3D models using points instead of traditional polygons. This ensures a faithful representation of materials, textures, and reflections, resulting in lighter, more detailed, and dynamic models.

Benefits Over Traditional Photogrammetry

• Superior Visual Quality: It captures materials, transparencies, and reflections with exceptional realism, accurately mimicking the behavior of light.
• Reduced File Size: Models are up to 10 times lighter than traditional GLB files, making them easier to use and distribute.
• Precise Measurements: Enables exact measurements directly on the 3D model, ideal for technical analysis and planning.
• Solving Complex Challenges: Gaussian Splatting overcomes common issues in traditional photogrammetry when capturing transparent or reflective elements, which often produced erroneous and unusable surfaces.
  

Applications Across Multiple Industries

Gaussian Splatting is a key tool for industries such as architecture, engineering, e-commerce, tourism, cultural heritage, real estate, and design, allowing projects, products, and spaces to be visualized with unparalleled detail.

The Potential Combined with 3DVista VT Pro

When integrated with 3DVista VT Pro, this technology reaches its full potential:

• Multimedia Integration: Combines Gaussian Splatting models with traditional panoramas to leverage the best of both worlds.
• Exploration Flexibility: Explore models in Fly Over, Orbital, and First Person modes, adapting to the needs of each project.
• Advanced Interactivity: Interact with hotspots, take precise measurements, and access key data directly on the 3D model.
  
• Temporal Analysis: Visualize and compare different stages of a project through interactive timelines.

Gaussian Splatting, combined with 3DVista VT Pro, redefines how we view and interact with the digital world, delivering more realistic, precise, and efficient 3D experiences than ever before. 

VT Pro supports the PLY format (compatible with the official paper) and SPLAT formats.

"Dynamic Resolution" option for 3D Models (Upgrade)

"Double Click Action" option for the Orbit camera in 3D Models (Upgrade)

We’ve added the "Double Click Action" option to the orbit camera in 3D models. This feature allows you to center the camera pivot with a simple double-click, enabling more precise and fluid navigation around the model.

This small adjustment significantly enhances the interactive experience, making it much easier to explore and focus on specific details intuitively.

New option: "VR Menu" for 3D Models

The "VR Menu" is now available for 3D models. Previously, this functionality could only be activated in panoramas, but now VR device users can enjoy the same interactive experience with this type of media.

The "VR Menu" appears when looking up in a VR device, allowing easy access to navigation options. To activate and configure it, simply go to the Project / Playlist tab in the right panel, within the VR Settings section, and check the "Show VR Menu" option. Additional menu settings can be adjusted by clicking on the gear icon next to it.

With this improvement, navigating 3D models in VR environments becomes even more fluid and accessible.

New Option: "Min/Max Yaw/Pitch" Settings for the Fly Over Camera in 3D Models

New Option: "At End Repetition" Event in Live Panorama

New Option: "Keep 3D Model Loaded Without Location"

New Default Format: WebP for New Projects

Added VR mode in 3D Models (Upgrade)

Now it's possible to visualize three-dimensional content in VR mode. All your 3D models can be viewed on your VR devices like Quest or Pico (not available on Cardboard). Enjoy greater immersion in your virtual experiences using 3D, which will give you a new dimension of realism and spectacularity when viewed in VR (Works with 6 degrees of freedom – 6DoF).

You can make use of the 3 modes we have for 3D:

• Orbital Mode: Use the controllers of your VR device as if you were "grabbing" your object or model and rotate it, flip it, bring it close to your eyes… as if it were a real object.
• Fly-Over Mode: Analyze and explore large surface models as if you were flying over them.
• First Person View Mode: Traverse and observe the space of your model as if you were really inside it. Inspect your new, yet-to-be-built house, transport yourself inside a spaceship, or stroll through the streets of ancient Rome… there are no limits.

And of course, all the features of the 3D models will also be available in VR, so you can use hotspots, animations, light changes, environment maps, effects, etc…

For more information on this feature, you can find a more detailed explanation and an example to visualize in our previous blog post.

Added Accessibility Options (Upgrade)

Your tours can now be more accessible thanks to the new options for interacting with them. With the new capabilities, you will be able to:

• Use Labels for Screen Readers on Buttons, Dropdowns, and Thumbnail Lists.
• Have Automatic Tab Order for Skin Elements.
• Use Custom Tab Order for Skin Elements.
• Navigate through hotspots using Keys and the Pointer Mode.
• Activate/Deactivate Pointer Mode with Action.
• Add Subtitles in Audio.
• Pause/Play Videos with the "Space" key.

For more information and a more detailed explanation about each of these options, you can read our recent post about it.

Added "Fog" effect in the 3D Model / FX subtab (Upgrade)

Create a more immersive and dramatic atmosphere in your 3D models by adding this striking fog effect. Distant elements will become less visible when wrapped in fog, and as we approach them, they will gradually become more visible. You can control the color and intensity of the fog.

We added the "Visible only in VR mode" option for hotspots applied to 3D models (upgrade)

With the incorporation of VR mode to 3D models, it will be very useful for many projects to create hotspots specifically for viewing in VR, so they do not appear on other devices. This way, we can better customize our tours without having to create specific versions or new projects for these purposes.

Supported 3D Model importation with Draco compression (Upgrade)

With 3D programs that allow it, you can now export models with this method of compressing the geometry, as VTPro will now be able to recognize and work with this type of models.

Added "VR Foveation" in Project / VR Settings Panel to improve performance by decreasing rendering quality at the edges (Upgrade)

Since optimizing our project for correct and fluid viewing in VR will be a priority, we have added this option as an aid to this task. With it, you can control the level of application of this property with values from 0 to 1, finding the perfect balance for your project. Values close to 0 will have no effect, but values close to 1 will reduce the image quality of the outer areas of our field of view in the goggles, optimizing and improving performance during viewing.

Added "Save as Zip" option in Publish / Autoexecutable / Windows

This ZIP option allows you to create a ZIP file with the client’s tour instead of an EXE. The ZIP file includes a viewer and the tour, making it easy to drag and drop. The EXE is a signed executable from 3DVista, so it avoids security error issues. Additionally, once the EXE is decompressed, it doesn't need to be decompressed again, resulting in faster loading of tours after the first time.

Improved the filter quality in the Panorama exportation (requires clean cache)

Thanks to this improvement, the panoramas in your tours will be displayed with higher quality and sharpness.

Added "Item Padding" option in the Thumbnail List

A new option to adjust and further customize this type of component.

Want to try it?

This is an update available to all 3DVista users, although some of the features will require a valid Upgrade plan (what's that?).

Not a 3DVista user yet? Try our free 30-day trial (no credit card required) of the desktop software VT PRO to design and create your own virtual tours. You don't have any 360º content to work with yet? No problem. Just download our demo tours and use them in the software to play around with.

Committed to web accessibility

In an increasingly digital world, equal access to online information and experiences is essential for an inclusive society. However, many people with disabilities face significant challenges when trying to access web content, including multimedia virtual tours. From difficulties interacting with complex interfaces to the inability to access visual or auditory content, online barriers can exclude a large portion of the population.

For people with visual impairments, the lack of appropriate labels on elements and insufficient contrast in design can hinder content comprehension. Those with motor disabilities may struggle to navigate the interactive elements of a virtual tour, especially if keyboard accessibility is not considered in design. Meanwhile, individuals with hearing impairments may miss crucial information if subtitles or transcriptions for audio content are not provided.

To overcome these barriers, many people with disabilities rely on assistive devices such as screen readers, alternative keyboards, eye-tracking devices, and other adaptive tools. These tools enable them to interact with web content more effectively, but only if the content is designed with accessibility in mind.

At 3DVista, we firmly believe in the importance of creating online experiences that are accessible to everyone. That's why we are committed to improving accessibility in our multimedia virtual tours and, above all, providing tools in our software that enable creators to publish content that is more accessible and inclusive for all communities.

New Options to Enhance Accessibility:

Use of Labels for Screen Readers on Buttons, Dropdowns, and Thumbnail Lists:

Thanks to this new addition, when these elements are selected by the user, screen readers will be able to view and read the text content of those elements, greatly helping communities with visual impairments.

Automatic Tab Order for Skin Elements:

This new option has been added in the skin properties, allowing navigation through components (buttons, dropdowns, thumblists, etc.) using the 'Tab' key in the order they are added to the component list or “Shift + Tab” to go back. The user can click on them using the "Space" or "Enter" key, and deselect with the "ESC" key.

Custom Tab Order for Skin Elements:

Regardless of whether the previous option is enabled, it is possible to force some components to be selected using the "Tab" key, and above all, to modify their order. This can now be done by accessing the advanced options in the component settings and checking the "Tab index" option. By doing this, a new numerical field appears where you can indicate the position of that component relative to the general order.

Navigate through hotspots using Keys and the Pointer Mode:

This includes a kind of central point, like a "sight," in the tours with which to interact with elements when passing through that area. It moves the camera so that when the hotspots are centered on it, it will activate turning orange (as if it were a rollover), and by pressing "Space" or "Enter," you can activate it. This option is activated in the Project tab / Navigation Settings / Pointer Mode at Startup.

Activate/Deactivate Pointer Mode with Action:

Although this mode explained above is enabled at the beginning of the tour, through this new action, it can be deactivated and activated live. This can be assigned, for example, to a skin button, so that users can change mode during their visit. It is important to note that the button must be a "toggle" mode to add it. It is found in the action list, in the "Media Control" group / "Toggle Pointer Mode."

Subtitles in Audio:

Now it is possible to add subtitles to our audio tracks, in the same way that we already had for video files. So when playing these audios, you can display a text version of the same content. Supported formats are .srt and .vtt. Just upload the subtitle file in the settings of your audio.

Pause/Play Videos with the "Space" key:

Now, automatically without having to activate anything, videos have this function enabled by default. This makes access easier without needing special buttons or anything similar.

Other Actions to Improve Accessibility:

In addition to these new options in our software, there are several additional actions and guidelines that virtual tour creators can implement to improve accessibility according to WCAG guidelines:

• Providing alternative text for images, or using titles and subtitles in our case.
• Ensuring high contrast between text and background for improved readability.
• Designing a clear and consistent user interface to facilitate navigation.
• Providing transcriptions and subtitles for video content.
• Avoiding flickering content.

Old features to improve accessibility:

Remember that alongside these new added options, we already had some other features available for these purposes, which you can also use to expand accessibility possibilities:

Keys to control the camera in panoramas and 360º videos: Although the usual practice is to use the mouse, we have the alternative of being able to use certain keys such as the arrow keys on the keyboard to rotate the view, or the "A" and "Z" keys for zooming.

Video subtitles: Add subtitle files in the video settings. Common formats (.srt and .vtt) are supported to address hearing problems.

Text-to-speech: Automatically narrates or triggers text included in the tour, distinguishing between Infowindows, E-learning questions, or tooltips. Check our old Post dedicated to this. Very useful for those with reading or text vision difficulties.

Media Control: With this action, you can assign a variety of controls to buttons or hotspots to interact with media, such as camera rotation, zooming, play/pause… to not depend on mouse movements for individuals with reduced mobility.

At 3DVista, we are committed to continuing to explore ways to improve accessibility in our products and to promote a more inclusive web for everyone. Join us on this journey towards a more accessible digital experience for all!

Support for two 3D Models in Dual Viewer component. (Development sponsored by R2DS)

Allows viewing and comparing two different 3D models with dual viewers. With this feature, we can see in a split-screen mode, two distinct models simultaneously, linked in such a way that moving one also moves the other in the same manner. It works in both "Split View" and "Twins" modes.

For example, you can compare different variations of a model with various finishes or historical versions of a 3D-scanned and photogrammetrized construction. The scale/position must be the same for synchronization.

"VR Apps" publish option (Upgrade)

With this new module in the publishing options, you can optimize and reduce the size of your tours for viewing in 3DVista's VR apps. Select the specific VR device for which you want to publish (Quest 2, Quest 3, Pico, or HTC Focus Vive 3).

For more information about this upgrade, you can check out our previous post where we explain this in detail.

"On Focus In" and "On Focus Out" events for Panorama and 360 Video hotspots (Upgrade)

We've added this new type of event for hotspots. With it, you can make your hotspot actions trigger when they are in the center of the screen. This adds a new way of interaction to the existing ones (on click, on rollover, on rollout, etc.). For example, when looking at and centering a vase on the screen, it could be highlighted, and a descriptive text could automatically appear. When looking at another area, the text could fade away.

"Focus Area Scale" in Publish / Global Settings (Upgrade)

In relation to the previous option, from here, you can define the size of the action area for the On Focus in/out event. Its value is measured as a percentage of the screen size. If you set it to 50%, the actions will be executed if the hotspot is displayed within the area that would be within half of the screen (both in width and height). 

Here are some examples to visually understand it.

"Rotation with Thumbstick" option in the VR Settings panel (Upgrade)

By popular demand, this new option allows you to control the camera rotation using your VR device controllers. This eliminates the need to turn your head to change the viewpoint in your virtual tour, or you can do it by combining both methods.

"Export Stereo Video as Mono for Unsupported Devices" in Publish popup

By enabling this checkbox in the publishing options, you allow devices that do not support "Stereo" videos to view a "Mono" version instead. This ensures a more optimized tour on these devices, playing videos that are half the size and weight. This improves performance and reduces your hosting bandwidth usage.

Some other added features are:

• Added "Text Shadow" in Skin Text Button. 
• Moved the 360º Video exportation from the Publish popup to the "File / Export to 360º Video" option.
• Removed "Optimize for old VR Devices", "Export to iOS legacy" and "Optimize for Quest 2" options in the Publish popup.
• Added "fov" url parameter to change the zoom in a Panorama.
• In E-Learning, the "OK" button in the question is hidden when the user presses it, waiting the delay time.

Want to try it?

This is an update available to all 3DVista users, although some of the features will require a valid Upgrade plan (what's that?).

Not a 3DVista user yet? Try our free 30-day trial (no credit card required) of the desktop software VT PRO to design and create your own virtual tours. You don't have any 360º content to work with yet? No problem. Just download our demo tours and use them in the software to play around with.

First Person camera in 3D Models (Upgrade).

This new feature will allow you to add and view your 3D models from a first-person perspective, mimicking the experience of a video game.

In this way, you'll be able to explore Indoor and Oudoor spaces, in a more immersive and realistic manner. Imagine being able to virtually walk through a new architectural project, traverse a planned landscape, or even visit spaces that do not yet exist in reality. Now, all of this is possible thanks to this feature, which opens up new horizons in the way we understand and experience 3D models.

You will also be able to interact with the various elements that make up the model, for example: opening doors, turning lights on and off, activating animations, etc., which will help you have a more complete and enveloping experience.

If you want to know more about this new function, we invite you to read our specialized article, where we show an example, we detail its benefits, possibilities and how to use it..

3D Model as media in the Question Card action (Upgrade).

We now have the capability to incorporate 3D models as multimedia within our question windows. This enhancement significantly broadens the multimedia capabilities of our software, optimizing the effectiveness of e-learning in our virtual tours.

This new feature provides an interactive, dynamic, and visually rich learning experience. Users can manipulate, explore, and examine the 3D models while answering questions, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter. It transforms the process of answering questions into an immersive experience, promoting active learning and bolstering memory retention.

In conclusion, the integration of 3D models into the question windows greatly amplifies the educational value of our virtual tours. It offers a powerful tool for educators, allowing them to create more engaging, interactive, and effective e-learning experiences, capturing the attention of students in a unique way.

Collision property for individual objects in 3D Models (Upgrade).

This new feature simplifies the assignment of collision properties to the various objects that make up a 3D model. It allows you to individually determine which entities will allow passage through them, and conversely, which ones will obstruct movement and prevent transit. This detailed control over object properties enhances user interaction and navigation within the 3D environment in First Person View, thereby improving the overall user experience.

You can find this property to activate or deactivate it in the list of objects of a 3D model.

Cast Shadow option for individual objects in 3D Models (Upgrade).

This new option allows you to assign the shadow cast property to objects individually, offering detailed control over light and shadow interaction. This is particularly useful in models with multiple shadow-casting objects, as by 'baking' the shadows and assigning projection only to animated objects, performance is optimized without sacrificing the dynamics of animated shadows. More information here.

Receive Shadow option for individual objects in 3D Models (Upgrade).

Similar to the previous feature, this property allows us to individually control which elements have the ability to receive shadows and which do not. This affords you much more precise control over how your models are visualized.

For instance, you might desire a scene abundant with projected shadows, yet wish to emphasize a particular object. By disabling the "Receive Shadow" property for this object, it will remain unshadowed, thus appearing more luminous and pronounced against the surrounding elements. This facilitates a tailored manipulation of light and shadow, emphasizing focal points within your 3D environment.

Use Hand Cursor option in 3D Models / Objects.

As you may know, the internal objects of a 3D model can be used as interactive zones, to which actions can be assigned upon clicking or hovering over them. Essentially, they can function as if they were a "hotspot". For this reason, we have added the "use hand cursor" option to these objects. In this way, you can decide whether or not you want the cursor to change to this mode when the user hovers over these objects, clearly indicating or not that it is an "interactive zone" where something can happen if it is clicked. Very useful for quizzes, where you don't want to reveal that something can be clicked. 

Some other added features are:

•  Added "Stay at last frame when finished" option in 3D Models / Animations (Upgrade).

With this new option (located at the end of the right panel when you select an animation from the list), you can individually determine whether, when an animation ends its playback, it remains fixed on the last frame, rather than returning to the first (which is the default behavior).

Previously, we could do this, but only on a "global" basis for all animations in the autoplay list or the "animation" action. Now, you can do this on an individual basis for greater control over the management of animations in our project.

• Added "Show Play Button when stopped" option in 360 Videos (Upgrade).

By enabling this option, a play button will be displayed over your 360 video when it stops or pauses. This feature provides a clear indication to users that the video is paused and, by clicking on the button, playback can be resumed.

This function streamlines the process and eliminates the need to manage the creation of custom buttons in the skin, add actions, control their visibility, and so on. It simplifies user interaction with the video, optimizing the user experience.

• Added "Play/Pause on Click" option in 360 Videos (Upgrade).

This option allows you to pause/resume the video playback simply by clicking on it. Play/pause icons will appear for a few seconds to indicate the action executed.

This feature, along with the previous one, streamlines the process and eliminates the need to manage the creation of custom buttons in the skin, add actions, control their visibility, and so on.

• Added a selector with different values for the "Reduce Textures for Mobile" option in the 3D Model (Upgrade).

Now you can fine-tune the compression level of your textures for display on mobile devices, with the choice among three different levels. This way, you can find the perfect balance between quality and performance.

Want to try it?

This is an update available to all 3DVista users, although some of the features will require a valid Upgrade plan (what's that?).

Not a 3DVista user yet? Try our free 30-day trial (no credit card required) of the desktop software VT PRO to design and create your own virtual tours. You don't have any 360º content to work with yet? No problem. Just download our demo tours and use them in the software to play around with.

Stereo 360º (3D) video is here!

This function provides an even more immersive and realistic viewing experience for virtual tour spectators, which can be very beneficial in sectors such as tourism, marketing, architecture, education, and real estate sales.

If you want to know more about this new function, we invite you to read our specialized article, where we show an example, we detail its benefits, possibilities and how to use it..

But there is much more. Here is the complete list of novelties:

•  Support for Stereo 360 Video (upgrade)

Added a new Stereo Mode option in the 360 Video Settings panel. The maximum value for these videos is 5760x5760px.

• Support for partial 360 Video changing the hfov value (Upgrade)
  

Now you can use 180º videos in Stereo mode. The maximum value for these videos is 8192×4096px.

• Support for 360 Videos greater than 4K (Upgrade)

We have increased the allowed resolution in 360 videos up to 8K (8192×4096px for mono videos and 5760x5760px for stereo). This way, they can be viewed with higher quality on new VR devices, and above all, Stereo 360 Videos can be played back at optimal qualities.

• Support for 360 Videos with a different codec than H264 in the editor (Upgrade)

View your 360 videos in the program editor regardless of the original format. This is particularly useful when adding and animating hotspots in 360 videos.

• Added WebP and AVIF support (Upgrade)

Now you can choose JPEG+PNG, WEBP, or AVIF in the "Image Output" option in the Global Settings Panel. Reduce the size of your published tours with the new export formats. Decrease load times for your visitors and save money on your hosting.

• Added 360 Video as a radar in a Floorplan (Upgrade)
  

Not only panoramas can have a "radar" in your floor plans. Now you can use your 360 videos in the same way.

• Added "Motion Blur" effect in 3D Model/FX (Upgrade)
  

Add an extra touch of realism when interacting with your 3D elements, which will have a slight blur in their movements, similar to how conventional cameras capture them.

• Added "Tool Tip" text in Hotspots for 3D Model (Upgrade) (DEVELOPMENT SPONSORED by Philippe)
  

Now 3D model hotspots also include the possibility of adding tooltips.

• Added "Hide Gaze Pointer" option in the VR Settings (Upgrade) (DEVELOPMENT SPONSORED by Simone)
  

Adjust the time it takes for the gaze pointer to completely disappear if it is not on a hotspot, or undefined if you do not want it to hide.

• Added "Private Viewer" in the Project/Global Settings panel
  

You can use a custom viewer using a different email than your VTPro license.

Want to try it?

This is an update available to all 3DVista users, although some of the features will require a valid Upgrade plan (what's that?).

Not a 3DVista user yet? Try our free 30-day trial (no credit card required) of the desktop software VT PRO to design and create your own virtual tours. You don't have any 360º content to work with yet? No problem. Just download our demo tours and use them in the software to play around with.

We are very excited to introduce the biggest upgrade since the launch of VT PRO over a decade ago:

3DVista Virtual Tours now support 3D models!

3DVista has always been at the forefront of the industry, bringing some unique features that we like to believe have made the difference between our software and others. Today's announcement brings yet another, if not the biggest, milestone to the table. Finally, we can announce that our tours are now in 3D. With the latest VT PRO upgrade you will be able to add and use 3D models in GLB and GLTF format and offer your visitors an experience as realistic as it gets.

We have worked very hard to create a 3D model editor as complete and powerful as possible. It was never just about importing an object and turning it around, but about being able to create an interactive space inside and out – integrating it with the options you already know from VT PRO. Therefore, every feature that VT PRO already had and that you know from your 360º media can now also be applied to 3d models: Interactive hotspots on the model, actions that control the model from skin elements, seamless integration with the rest of the media to allow "walking" through the space etc.

But that's not all… We also added an editor that lets you control the environment of the model (whether 360º or fixed background), the lights and shadows it casts, animations, textures and much more.

We prepared the following two demos that encompass a large part of the new possibilities that are offered, in order to give you an idea of the options you now have. Together with their respective video tutorials you'll be able to see step by step how these tours have been built. Click on them to open. (We will be adding new demos and more specific tutorials progressively).

Unlocking the Power of Digital Twins

The use of 3D models in virtual tours is often referred to as "digital twin" technology. By incorporating detailed, accurate 3D models of real-world objects and environments into virtual tours, users are able to experience a level of realism and interactivity that was previously impossible. This has wide-ranging benefits across a variety of industries, from architecture and real estate to manufacturing and education.

One of the key advantages of using 3D models in virtual tours is the ability to showcase properties, products, or other assets in a much more realistic and compelling way. For example, architects can create virtual tours of their designs that allow clients to explore and experience the buildings as if they were already built. Or create alternative variants so that the user can customize to suit them. Real estate agents can create virtual tours that give prospective buyers an accurate sense of the layout, features, and finishes of a home before they ever set foot inside. And manufacturers can create virtual tours that allow customers to explore their products and see all the details, such as materials and internal components, before making a purchase.

Another advantage of 3D models in virtual tours is the ability to create interactive and immersive experiences that engage users on a deeper level. For example, educators can create virtual tours of scientific or historical sites that allow students to explore, learn, and interact with the environment in a way that traditional textbooks or lectures cannot match. And researchers can create virtual tours of archaeological sites that allow them to study and analyze the data in a more intuitive and efficient way.

Obtaining 3D models for virtual tours is becoming easier and more accessible than ever before. The GLB format, which stands for GL Transmission Format, is a file format for 3D models that is based on the glTF standard and is supported by a wide range of 3D modeling and animation software. With the growing popularity of 3D scanning, photogrammetry and CAD (computer-aided design) tools, it is now possible to create detailed, accurate 3D models of real-world objects and environments with relative ease.

3DVista is excited to introduce this powerful new feature to our VT Pro software, and we believe it has the potential to revolutionise the way we use virtual tours in a variety of industries. Whether you're an architect, real estate agent, educator, marketing/advertising agency, multimedia artist, industry managers, for researchers, etc., the ability to seamlessly incorporate 3D models into your virtual experiences will help you to showcase your work, communicate your ideas, and engage your audience in new and exciting ways.

If you're interested in exploring the full capabilities of this feature, don’t hesitate to contact us, we’ll gladly assist you in creating the perfect virtual tour for you.

Some of the noteworthy enhancements include:

Introduction of 3D Models as a new media type, which supports GLTF and GLB formats (upgrade). 

This novel media type features multiple tabs for customization, namely:

• Settings: For modifying basic settings.
• Hotspots: For adding image hotspots.
• Panoramas: For linking panoramas to the model and creating hotspots and Open Panorama actions automatically.
• Environment: For adding a floor and different backgrounds (color, image, or panorama).
• Lights: For adding directional and ambient lights.
• Camera: For configuring the initial view, field of view, speed, and camera limits. Also, it allows users to add spots and sequences for actions and pathways.
• Animations: For configuring sequential animation in the model if autoplay is enabled.
• Objects: For hiding objects in the model at startup or adding actions to them.
• Variants:For selecting a different variant in the model.
• FX:For adding vignette and ambient occlusion effects.

•  Added new 3D Model actions (Upgrade).
          – Open 3D Model
          – Show View
          – Sequence
          – Animation
          – Light
          – Change Environment
          – Change Material
          – Show/Hide Objects
          – Measurement

• Added "From 3D Model (fix)" option to the "Open Panorama" action (Upgrade).
  This will load the 3D model and play a 3D Animation transition towards the panorama. The panorama must previously be linked with a 3D Model in the 3D / Panoramas tab.

Another important additions:

• Added a new "Screenshot" icon in the thumbnail which lets you capture the current image in the preview to save it as a thumbnail (Upgrade).
• Added "Fullscreen at startup" option in the Standalone publication (DEVELOPMENT SPONSORED by David) (Upgrade).
• Added "Use a Kiosk App" option in the Standalone publication (DEVELOPMENT SPONSORED by David) (Upgrade). So that users cannot close the tour. Useful for museums, fairs, events, etc.
• Added "On Start" event in Audio actions.
• Added "Unload When Hidden" option in the WebFrame component for the Skin Editor.
• Added "Show Hotspots" and "Hide Hotspots" in the "Media Control" action.
• Added "Toggle Skin Component" option in the "Text To Speech" action.
• Added "Padding" and "Height" options as percentage in the Loading / Global Settings / Edit Progress Bar.
• Added "Padding" and "Height" options as percentage in the Project / Video Settings / Edit Playback Bar.
• Added "Force Play at the beginning" option in the Audio action.
• Added "Include Current 3D Model Measurements" in the Social Share action.
• Added "Make Window Closable" option in the E-Learning/Finish action.
• Added new {{tour.name}} and {{tour.description}} variables in the Skin Editor to show Tour information.
• Added new {{photo.title}} and {{photo.description}} variables in the Skin Editor to show individual Photo information for an Album.
• Added new {{viewer.VIEWER_NAME.VAR}} variable prefix for {{title}}, {{subtitle}}, {{photo.title}} and {{photo.description}} variables. These variables take the information from the Main Viewer by default. Using this prefix, you can show the information from a different viewer. For example: {{viewer.floorplanviewer.title}}. The VIEWER_NAME shouldn't contain dot characters; spaces are valid.
• Added new "Actions Group" action to add several actions where only 1 action is possible (for example E-Learning Question event, close popup event…) (Upgrade).
• Added "Enable Camera Movement", "Disable Camera Movement" and "Toggle Camera Movement" in "Media Control" action, applied to Panoramas and 3D Models.
• Added the "Help / Tools / Restore Panoramas from Published Tour" menu. You can recover lost panoramas using the tiles published by VTPro (DEVELOPMENT SPONSORED by Vinicius) (Upgrade).
• Reduced the script size and loading times in the published tour.
• You can insert several tags using the "+" character as separator.

Want to try it?

This is an update available to all 3DVista users, although some of the features will require a valid Upgrade plan (what's that?).

Not a 3DVista user yet? Try our free 30-day trial (no credit card required) of the desktop software VT PRO to design and create your own virtual tours. You don't have any 360º content to work with yet? No problem. Just download our demo tours and use them in the software to play around with.

The most important additions are:

New functionalities for E-Learning:

We have completely redesigned the E-learning screen. Now, on the Right panel you will have the old options of e-learning, Scores, Report, etc. without having to open new screens. And above all, we have dedicated the entire left-hand section to adding new and useful options for managing questions and editing styles. We detail them below:

For a more detailed explanation of this part, check out our video tutorial.

•  Question list and Count to Score list in the "E-Learning" tab.
  For a better management of e-learning we have added two new modules that will be of great help to you. You can find a list with the questions of the quiz cards, and a list of the actions "count to score". That will allow you to see in one sight the questions and score points directly from there, without having to go looking for them on the tour.
  In addition, we show the complete sum of Question cards, Count to Score Actions and the maximum score that the user can get.

• Added a real time Score/Question/Report preview in the "E-Learning" tab.
  With this new preview, you will be able to see how your e-learning screens will look at all times without having to click on preview. Edit what will or will not be shown in the score, and preview it in real time to see how it looks. And above all, with the following style change function, you will be able to see how your designs look with each change you apply.

• Added several options to change the E-Learning style (Upgrade).
  Customize the design of your e-learning screens, being able to edit almost all the elements that compose them. Now you can change the fonts, sizes, colors, opacity, etc, of the texts, panels, buttons…

• Added E-learning Themes to the library. You can save/load/export them (Upgrade).
  Just as you can save your skin elements, with this new option you will be able to save, load and export the designs of the e-learning screens. Through the library, you can manage and classify these designs for later reuse in future tours.

• New "E-Learning Timer" action where you can pause and resume the timer (Upgrade).
  With this new action you will have a more precise control of the e-learning time. Now you can pause it and resume it by applying this action where you need. The most common example would be to pause time while a question is open (so the user can read it and think about it carefully without the time limit counting down)

Another important additions:

• Added "Right Click Options" in the Global Settings panel (Upgrade).
  You can exclude the standards fullscreen, mute and rotation options, and add new custom options as well with your own actions.

• Added a settings button in the "Show VR Menu" option to edit the VR Menu name and styles (Upgrade).

  You will now be able to customize the style of the Media menu when you are in VR mode. Change its name, VR distance, font, and colors of the various states.

• Added in the VR Menu Settings the option to show the play list, custom media or custom items with your own actions (Upgrade).
  Expands the possibilities regarding the content to display in the VR menu: Playlist, Custom Media and Custom items (with the latter you can create custom menus and hierarchies with items and sub-items with the actions you decide)

• Added Tags in the Audio action. (Upgrade).
  You can play/pause/stop several audio in a single action using tags

• Added "Minimum Display Time" in the Loading tab when the initialization is "On Ready". (Upgrade).
  It will display the loading page in the indicated time at least.

• Added "When Video Finished" value in the Initialization option in the Loading tab.
  In this way you can create home screens with a video and ensure that the user will see it until the end and automatically close and start the tour.

• Added a play button in the Loading if the "Enable Audio/Video" option is set to "Play Button".
  The video will be paused if the sound can't be played, waiting to the user to click on it and start playing the video with audio.

• Added "Follow Mouse" in the Tool Tip settings.
  Check this new option if you want the tooltip to move next to the mouse cursor, as if it were stuck to it, following its movement.

• Removed the "Author" option in the Global Settings panel because it is configurable in the new "Right Click Options" popup.

Want to try it?

This is an update available to all 3DVista users, although some of the features will require a valid Upgrade plan (what's that?).

Not a 3DVista user yet? Try our free 30-day trial (no credit card required) of the desktop software VT PRO to design and create your own virtual tours. You don't have any 360º content to work with yet? No problem. Just download our demo tours and use them in the software to play around with.

A new feature of 3DVista Cloud

Keep your clients or partners updated about the statistics of their tours

With the new feature "Share report", you can share a link so that anyone can see all the specific analytics of a specific tour. Thus, in an extremely easy way, any client or project partner will be able to see the performance of a tour autonomously whenever they want, without having to ask you for reports from time to time.

Users will be able to choose between seeing the data of all the accumulated time, the data of the last year, month, week… or even custom date ranges and their evolution through graphs.

The analytics will display the number of visits, users, average time, origin… and those of each Media in particular: Most viewed averages and most clicked Hotspots, Heatmaps in panoramas and 360 videos, average times of display, etc…

All this on a web page that is kept up to date at all times and will always offer you data in real time:

Of course, users who want to see this report do not need to have a 3DVista or Cloud account. Anyone can access it, you will only share a simple url. And it can be viewed on any device, desktop, tablet, mobile… with a design adapted to each of them.

In short, a powerful tool that will be highly appreciated by your customers and a new added value as part of your services.

Share your Analytics

It couldn't be easier. Just log in to your 3DVista Cloud account, go to the Analytics menu, choose the tour you prefer and click the "share report" button.

Then press "copy" so that the link with the url is copied to the clipboard and thus be able to paste it (ctrl+V) anywhere to share it (in the browser, in an email, social networks, etc…)

And that's it. The shared page will look something like this:

Finally, we have the option to reset the link, which will generate a new url and invalidate the old one.