Best number of images for a 360 spin
A common question we hear from clients planning their first 360 spin photo shoot is:
How many images are best for a 360 degree spin?
This important consideration has a big impact on the user experience. Picking the best number for your needs will help you get the photo-shoot right first time. Let's look at some examples, then summarise the results.
Comparison
The best way to decide is to visualise the difference. The following examples contain 8, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 72 images. Rotate them to feel the experience...
Summary
The key considerations are:
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer images | Faster download time Lower photography cost |
Jerky Mediocre experience |
| More images | Smooth Shows more of the product Sophisticated experience |
Longer download time Higher photography cost / time |
File size matters
The number of images for a 360 spin should not be your only consideration. Loading time also depends on image dimensions, image compression and a hosting platform able to serve your images fast, such as Sirv. Be sure to check these 5 things to make your images load faster.
You have immediate control over image size and compression in your Sirv control panel (no manually resizing of images yourself), so you can quickly find the optimal balance for your site.
The total file size of the original images used in the '72 images' example is a whopping 40.4 MB. Sirv dramatically compresses these 72 images to just 1.1 MB and they still look beautiful.
Conclusion
The best number of images for a 360 spin depends on your goals. If you're selling luxury goods or need to make a high impact, 72 images may be ideal. You might use even more - some Sirv users create ultra-smooth spins from 3D renderings with 200+ images.
In general, we recommend 36 images. The rotation feels smooth and the images download at an acceptable speed.
Note: Download time was calculated based on a 4 MB connection with a 30% overhead.
Credit: Thanks to Swivel UK for the gorgeous images of the Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair.
