Creating Facebook 360 videos and photos through Virtual Reality (VR) content refers to a simulated 3D environment that has a greater degree of immersion and interactivity than 360 video content. However, VR native content does not live on the Facebook News Feed and requires special hardware to view, such as VR headsets. On mobile, you can view and explore the 360 photos or video from different angles by tilting or turning your phone or dragging the image with your finger. When you hold up your phone, the 360 content will follow you as you turn, allowing you to look around and experience things from all over the world like never before. On the web, you can view different perspectives by clicking and dragging the mouse cursor.
Once you’ve uploaded your 360 photos or video onto Facebook, the content will also be viewable with the Gear VR and Oculus Rift headsets (specialized virtual reality headsets that provide an even more immersive visual and audio experience). You can use the Oculus 360 Photos app for photos or the Cast app for 360 videos. For example, this 360 photo of the peak of Machu Picchu can transport your audience to the amazing scenery atop Peru’s famous mountain, allowing them to enjoy the same views even if they’re thousands of miles away. 360 videos are best for interaction and exploration. 360 videos give content creators a stunning and captivating way to share stories through the power of sights and motion. Your audience can watch a scene come alive and then explore it by turning their devices or dragging their fingers to move around within the video. If it is, you may consider working with a media production agency.
iPhone
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- Hardware: iPhone 5s or newer
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- Operating System: iOS v8 or newer
- App: Facebook iOS app (latest version, v57)
Android
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- Hardware: Devices from 2013 or newer
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- Operating System: Android OS version 4.4 or newer
- App: Facebook Android app (latest version, v80)
On the web
- Browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari
From your smartphone, take a panoramic photo
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- iPhone (best supported)
- Samsung Galaxy phone
- Use your smartphone with a 360 app, such as Street View, Google Camera, or Cardboard Camera
From a dedicated 360 camera, such as:
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- Samsung Gear 360
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- RICOH THETA S
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- 360Fly
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- Giroptic 360 Cam
- ALLie Camera
The photo will automatically be converted to a 360 photo* and can be experienced from different angles by tilting your phone or dragging the picture. The 360 photos will also be viewable on Oculus Rift and Gear VR in the Facebook 360 Photos app. If the photo was taken with a 360 or spherical camera that automatically adds the 360 metadata, then the process will be the same as uploading a regular photo. If the 360 photos was captured on a camera that doesn’t, then you’ll need to attach 360 metadata for it to render correctly.
See the Facebook Guide Editing 360 Photos & Injecting Metadata for more detailed information on how to embed metadata.
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- There are two audio options for 360 video:
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- Traditional stereo audio, which uses the basic left and right channels, and doesn’t change when users with VR headsets turn their heads.
- Ambisonic audio, also known as spatial audio, the audio equivalent of 360 videos. The sound is directional and changes depending on where a user with a VR headset is facing.
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- There are two audio options for 360 video:
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- To create 360 audio recordings, you can use any of the following microphones:
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- Zoom H2n
- Core Sound Tetramic
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- To create 360 audio recordings, you can use any of the following microphones:
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- You can then use Facebook’s Spatial Workstation tools to embed spatial audio within your video.
- Think about what you want your audience to see or hear.
CREATING FACEBOOK 360 VIDEOS AND PHOTOS
Create a 360 video
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- Samsung Gear 360
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- RICOH THETA S
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- 360Fly
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- Giroptic 360 Cam
- ALLie Camera
Recommended upload specs
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- File type: MP4 container
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- File size: 1.75 GB
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- File length: 30 minutes maximum
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- Video Codec: H.264 Video
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- Resolution: As high as possible with max 4k input (4096 x 2048)
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- Dimensions: 2:1 Display Aspect Ratio
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- Frame Rate: Up to 60 FPS
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- Pixel Format: yuv420p
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- Depth: Monoscopic
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- Audio Codec: MP3 or AAC audio
- Projection Format: Equirectangular
Guide:
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- Click the 360 Controls tab in the Upload Video window.
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- Select the Enable Guide check box.
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- As you play your video, identify the points of interest that you want your audience to see.
- Pause at scenes where you want to highlight and click on + Add Point to insert a new Guide.
To see your Heatmap for a specific video, there will need to be a minimum number of interactions from viewers. When your eligibility bar reaches 100%, you will be able to see the Heatmap for your video.
To access the Heatmap:
- Go to Publishing Tools on your Page.
Starting a Live 360 broadcast
Live 360 videos can be streamed to Facebook by using a 360 camera with native Facebook integration (i.e., Live 360-Ready camera), or any 360 cameras using the Live API integration. Cameras that are not Live 360-Ready require a custom technical process to integrate, either via the Live API or Publishing Tools. This is recommended for experienced technical users or video production companies.
Starting a Live 360 broadcast Completed
To start a Live 360, you can use any of the following Live 360-Ready cameras:
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- Samsung Gear 360 v2 (2017)
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- Giroptic IO
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- Insta360 Nano/Air
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- Nokia Ozo
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- ALLie Camera
- Z Cam S1
CREATING FACEBOOK 360 VIDEOS AND PHOTOS
Use a photoshop template to create 360 photos that engage and surprise your followers https://www.dropbox.com/sh/70mwlh8k0y4rg0g/AACVNV7hvRZtjEKj4DoJMhCba?dl=0
Whether you use a selfie stick, a tripod or the side of a car, secure the camera so that it doesn’t shake, drift, or roll.
Pro tips for Live 360
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- Ensure you have a strong network connection to support the necessary streaming requirements for your moment (4 Mbps)
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- Can’t see things far way: only about 20-30 feet maximum
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- Include a host to act as a narrator for the experience, providing real-time guidance to your audience on where to look and how to engage with the 360 degrees view
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- Add spatial audio to your Live 360 stream for greater immersion and more authentic experience for viewers.
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- Overlay graphics, text, and 2D video onto the video where possible to provide additional context on the scene, or provide multiple points of view at an event.
- Utilize Guide feature (edit video flow for pages) after Live 360 video is over to indicate points of interest on the video to viewers.
CREATING FACEBOOK 360 VIDEOS AND PHOTOS: