How to Use Virtual Walkthrough

Virtual Walkthrough allows you to view your original images laid out in your 3D capture.

Availability and Requirements

Plan Access

Virtual Walkthrough availability varies by platform and subscription plan.

iOS Web Android Notes
Free ✅ ✅ ❌ Up to 10 frames on mobile only. Images cannot be synced to other devices (e.g. Polycam web)
Basic ✅ ✅ ❌ Up to 10 frames on mobile only. Images cannot be synced to other devices (e.g. Polycam web)
ProLEGACY ✅ ✅ ❌ Up to 10 frames on mobile only. Images cannot be synced to other devices (e.g. Polycam web)
Business ✅ ✅ ❌ No restriction
Enterprise ✅ ✅ ❌ No restriction

Device and Capture Requirements

  • Available for: Space mode and Gaussian splat scans taken after February 2025
  • Device requirement: Only available for iOS devices with a built in LiDAR sensor.
  • Compatibility check: Original capture data must still be present on the capturing device. If the "reprocess" button appears greyed out on your capture, the original raw photos are likely no longer available

How to Use Virtual Walkthrough

1Accessing Virtual Walkthrough

  • Complete your Space mode or Gaussian splat scan
  • Check that your model is uploaded and synced (including raw images for full functionality)
  • Click the walk icon located in the top right corner of your interface
  • Your scan will switch to the Virtual Walkthrough view
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2Navigation Controls

Navigate forward and backward through your original capture sequence by tapping or clicking the left and right arrows to move along the capture path.

Camera Path Navigation

Both web and mobile versions display your camera path, showing the exact route you took during capture.

  • Camera Path Viewer: See the complete path you walked during the original scan
  • Frame selection: Click on any of the diamond markers along the path
  • Jump to specific images: Each diamond represents a captured frame - clicking takes you directly to that specific image

Playback Controls

Additional controls provide more ways to navigate and view your Virtual Walkthrough experience:

  • Left and right arrows: Navigate to the previous or the next image in the sequence
  • Eye icon: Hide the selected image to view the underlying mesh model instead
Navigation Tip: Virtual Walkthrough mode retraces your exact capture path, allowing you to see your space from the same perspectives and sequence as when you originally scanned it. Use the diamond markers to jump directly to any point in your capture sequence, or use the play button for an automated tour.

Viewing on Other Devices

To use Virtual Walkthrough on devices other than the original capture device, tap the Sync button on your mobile device. This will sync both the 3D model and the original capture images in one step.

Model Editing with Virtual Walkthroughs

Crop and Rotate Limitations

If you transform your model by cropping or rotating it, the system will prompt you to reset these changes before using Virtual Walkthrough again. This is because transformations affect the walk path alignment with the original images.

Walkthrough_Mode_Reset_Alignment.png

Extended Captures

Virtual Walkthrough supports extended captures by automatically transitioning from the end of your first capture session to the beginning of your extended capture session.

Creating Comments in Virtual Walkthrough

The comments tool integrates seamlessly with Virtual Walkthrough, allowing you to create location-specific annotations directly within your capture and overlaid photos.

Adding Comments to Walkthrough Mode.gif

Creating Comments

  • Enable Virtual Walkthrough on your capture
  • Click on the comments tool
  • Create a comment at any specific frame in your walkthrough

Viewing Comments

When you view a comment later, it will automatically bring you to that specific image in Virtual Walkthrough, providing the exact context where the comment was created.

Additional Information

Data Persistence

  • If you've deleted and redownloaded the original capture app, you will lose access to the raw images needed for Virtual Walkthrough
  • Always check that important captures are fully synced before removing apps or changing devices
Data Loss Warning: Deleting and reinstalling the capture app will permanently remove access to the original raw images required for Virtual Walkthrough functionality.

Troubleshooting

Access and Permissions

Not Logged In

If users are not logged in, they cannot access Virtual Walkthrough because view mode toggles are disabled. You must be logged into your account to use Virtual Walkthrough features.

Viewing a Shared Capture

If a Business or Enterprise user shares a capture with someone outside their workspace:

  • You can access Virtual Walkthrough and view all walkthrough frames as long as you are signed into a Polycam account
  • Users without a Polycam account cannot view the walkthrough images

Missing Walkthrough Mode

If Virtual Walkthrough isn't available:

  1. Verify your scan was taken after February 2025
  2. Check that the "reprocess" button isn't greyed out
  3. Check that you're on the original capture device or have completed both sync steps
Walkthrough_Mode_Older_Scan.jpeg

Images Not Displaying

If Virtual Walkthrough works but images aren't showing:

  1. Confirm raw images were synced (not just the model)
  2. Look for the notification indicating missing raw image data
  3. Return to the original device to complete the raw image sync
Walkthrough_Images_Not_Available.png