Facebook’s 3D Photo Feature a Visual Storytelling Game-Changer
October 23, 2018
You’ve experienced films in their three-dimensional glory through the power of 3D glasses, but with Facebook’s latest photo feature, those glasses won’t be necessary. The social media giant is fully rolling out its 3D photo experience, simulating depth and movement where users can scroll, pan and tilt photos to see the visual content in realistic 3D.
While the technology behind it is a little more complicated, users can share 3D photos to their feed simply by taking a “portrait mode” photo using a compatible, dual-lens iPhone and sharing it through Facebook’s 3D photo option. According to The Verge, a number of other phones feature dual cameras such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and LG V35 ThinQ, but Facebook will be adding support for more devices in the future. Essentially, the technology works by capturing the distance between the subject in the foreground and background, which is why a dual-lens camera is needed.
Facebook’s 3D photo feature was first announced in May during its “F8” event. Currently, everyone can now view 3D photos on their desktop or mobile Facebook news feed, or in virtual reality through Oculus Go’s browser or Firefox on Oculus Rift.
The ability to create these 3D photos will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.
Through this new feature, Facebook has given people and brands a unique way to improve visual storytelling and challenge creativity through the use of this advanced technology. 3D photos have the ability to provide a more immersive experience for Facebook users following the pages of their favorite brands, products, people and services. For example, 3D photos can provide for a more realistic online shopping experience, making objects such as cars and furniture pop off the news feed and allow viewers to more realistically picture the product in their home.
Not to mention, this technology amps up the way brands show off event-based experiences and behind-the-scenes, providing a whole new way to connect with followers on a more intimate level. Whether someone wants to capture a more interactive shot at an amusement park, a museum or a celebration, viewers are one step closer to feeling as though their visual experience is reality.
