In this article:
Watch the video or follow the steps below to learn how to take 360° photos in the Encircle Mobile App.
Supported Hardware
Encircle 360° photo capture is powered by an integration with Ricoh Theta cameras. Below is a list of supported cameras:
- THETA X
- THETA Z1
- THETA V
- THETA SC
- THETA S (firmware version 01.62 or later required)
Connecting to the THETA Camera
In order to take 360° photos you must be connected to the Ricoh THETA's WiFi network.
*Syncing from the Encircle app will be temporarily paused while you are connected to the THETA's network. Encircle data created during that time will be saved in your sync queue in the app. When you're done taking 360° photos, make sure you reconnect to your previous network and the app will start syncing again.
Make sure the camera is powered on, then go into your phone's WiFi settings. The network name will match the camera’s serial number which can be found on the bottom of the device.
The network password will be the digits from the serial number/network name. Once you have connected for the first time, your phone should remember the network and you can easily switch to the THETA's network when using the camera with Encircle.
Taking 360° Photos
Once you're connected to the network, return to Encircle and follow these steps to take 360° photos. These can be taken as room photos or as part of a note.
To add as a room photo:
- Tap the red + button.
- Select Add Photos & Videos.
- Select the 360° option.
- If your phone isn't connected to the camera, you'll be prompted to connect.
- Select a capture mode.
Time Shift Mode is recommended for medium to large spaces. Tap the white capture button. The camera will take the photo in two steps; first the front lens and then the back. Stand behind the back lens as the first image is captured. There will be a delay for you to move to the other side of the camera, and the second image will be captured.
The camera will then process the two images into a single 360° photo. You can preview the image and retake it if necessary. Otherwise, tap Save.
Single Shot Mode is recommended for small rooms and spaces like closets, small exam rooms etc. Tap the white capture button. The camera will take the entire 360° photo from both the front and back lens in one shot. It captures everything in the scene, so try to leave the room or move out of the camera's view before snapping the image.
Preview the image and retake it if necessary, or tap Save.
To add as part of a note:
- Tap the red + button.
- Select Add Room Note.
- Tap the
camera icon.
- Select the 360° option and proceed to capture your 360° photo(s).
360° Camera Settings
Tap the ⚙ gear icon at the top right corner of the page to open the 360° camera. Up top you'll see the battery level and photo capacity left on the camera.
If you want a longer delay before / in between snaps so that you have more time to move out of the shot, you can extend it for both capture modes.
Updated