How to Customize Your Capture Environment

Customizing the environment of your Polycam captures can improve how your 3D models are displayed. You can choose from options like a solid color, a specific hue, or a 360-degree environment to fit your needs or preferences. This guide will walk you through the available options for adjusting your environment settings.

Availability

Environment customization is available across multiple plans and platforms:

How to Change the Environment

1Navigate to Your Capture

Open the Polycam app and select the capture you want to customize.

2Access the Environment Options

Within the Capture Editor, select the Environment button.

3Select an Environment Color

Tap the Environment button to open the environment options.

• You can choose from the default colors provided or create a custom color. To select a default color, simply tap on one of the available options.
• To choose a custom color, tap the plus icon (+). This will open a color picker where you can select your desired color.

How to Use 360 Captures as an Environment

360 environments allow you to place your 3D model within an immersive photographic environment. Polycam offers two distinct presentation styles for 360 environments:

Skybox Environment

A skybox environment surrounds your 3D model with a 360-degree photograph that extends infinitely in all directions. This creates the illusion that your model exists within the captured space. The skybox provides realistic lighting and reflections based on the environment.

1Select a Skybox Environment

Follow the same steps to access the Environment button in the bottom navigation bar.

• Choose the option for 360 environments and select Skybox.

Sphere Environment

A sphere environment displays your 360-degree photograph mapped onto a visible sphere that surrounds your model, creating a "snow globe" effect. Unlike the skybox where the environment appears infinite, the sphere boundary is visible, giving your model a contained, showcase-style presentation.

2Select a Sphere Environment

Access the Environment button in the bottom navigation bar.

• Choose the option for 360 environments and select Sphere.

Removing a 360 Environment

If you wish to remove the 360 environment and revert to a solid color, tap the red Remove 360 button. This will clear the 360 environment and return you to the default environment options.

Scene Lights Toggle

Within the Environment settings, you'll find a Scene Lights toggle. This feature allows you to enable or disable the baked-in lighting of your capture, giving you additional control over how your 3D model is illuminated and displayed.