What is IPIX?

An IPIX virtual tour is an interactive, spherical image that offers users a complete field of view. Full 360-degree horizontal rotation, up to 180-degree vertical viewing and everything in between.

It replicates more fully than other virtual tour format, the experience one would gain by standing inside the view. Image movement is not restricted to a flat horizontal pan.

How Is An IPIX created?

An IPIX virtual tour image is typically created from two opposing hemisphere photographs that have been captured using a fisheye lens and other special camera equipment. Patented technology remaps the separate images and seams them into an immersive whole.

Where can IPIX images be displayed?

'IPIX' is the virtual tour format most widely used by the New Media industry in new websites and website makeovers. IPIX virtual tours can also be distributed on self-opening CDs.

How Do I View An IPIX?

To immerse yourself in an IPIX virtual tour, you first need appropriate software installed and enabled on your PC or Mac. You can use a Java-based system or the IPIX Plug-In.

‘Java’ is a hardware-independent software platform that has been incorporated into a wide range of devices like PCs, Macs, mobile phones, cameras and more. It is the foundation for thousands of business and personal interest applications which have been written on one software platform and viewable on others. Java downloads an environment ‘shell’ to your computer into which java applets specifically designed to run an application - in this case, an IPIX image - attach. This arrangement enables small-sized Java applets to be used with specific applications making them fast to download and activate via the Internet.

Normally, Java should have been included when your computer was built. Check your Internet Browser to see whether the Java environment has been installed. If it is not present or you are unsure, go to http://www.java.com/en/download/ and follow the installation procedure.

The IPIX Plug-In is a small program that has to be installed on your computer to permit the viewer to operate. The IPIX Viewer Plug-In is available free from this website.

For examples of IPIX images see our Gallery page