Panoramic Earth - FAQ

Help and FAQ

Some of the common questions asked about Panoramic Earth are listed below. If these do not provided the answer then please contact us. If enough people are asking the same questions then we will add the relevant information here.

Every website has it's own terminology, there are a couple of things that you need to remember when reading through some of the answers here. Don't worry it is not hard.

• Destination - A city, town, island or resort. This is an area in which a cluster of images can be found.
• Location - Each individual panoramic image represents a separate location.

The Questions:

1. How can I add a panoramic image to a tour?
2. How can I add a comment to a page?
3. How can I add a description to a tour?
4. How will the collection continue to grow?
5. How can I be updated about the site?
6. How can I register with Panoramic Earth?
7. How do I benefit from adding panoramas??
8. Why can't I see the image and / or map??

1. Why do you only accept cylindrical panoramic images?
2. What is a cylindrical panoramic image
3. How can I create panoramic images?
4. Are there plans to allow other types of panoramic images?

1. How can I use the tour in my own site?
2. Who can I find someone to take a panoramic image for me?
3. How can I get my facility displayed on a tour?
4. How do I link to a tour?

1. Why do you use advertising on the site?

The Answers:

1. How can I add a panoramic image to a tour?
   You first need to register with Panoramic Earth. In your profile select the Add a New Location and follow the process through. This process is explained on the Panorama Upload Help page . Please read our image Terms and Conditions relating to the panoramas you upload to Panoramic Earth (opens a new widow).
2. How can I add a comment to a page?
   You first need to register with Panoramic Earth. After that in your profile page you will find instructions about adding content to the site. Please read our General Terms and Conditions.
3. How can I add a location description to a tour?
   You first need to register with Panoramic Earth. After that in your profile page you will find instructions about adding content to the site. Only people who have added a location photograph (and site administrators) can alter the description that accompanies that location. You can however add comments.
4. How will the collection continue to grow?
   Panoramic Earth is set up so that anyone who takes cylindrical panoramas can add them to the site. The site is run by panoramic photographers, but also has a growing number of registered contributors around the world who are continually uploading new images.
5. How can I be updated about the site?
   We intend to develop several means by which you will be able to keep up to date with what is happening on Panoramic Earth. These will include:
   
   • RSS feeds for:
     
     • The whole site from the Home page;
     • Individual Countries and Destination feeds;
     • Contributor feeds to follow a particular photographer;
     • Website Blog
   • Website Blog which will have updates on the developments and changes within Panoramic Earth.
   • Opt in news letters sent by email
6. How can I register with Panoramic Earth?
   You can register here to become a general member of Panoramic Earth. This will give you access to all the basic member functions.
7. How do I benefit from adding panoramas?
   Your name appears above each of your images and this links to your profile. This helps promote you and the images you produce. As the photographer, you retain all copyright to your images. In addition there are further promotional opprotunites and benefits for regular contributors. See the About Photographers page for more information.
8. Why can't I see the image and / or map?
   Panoramic Earth pins the panoramas to Google Maps, which are served by Google. Some older browsers may not be able to support Google Maps, and sometimes even Google has problems with the servers. Check that your browser can support Google Maps and refresh your page. If the map comes up without a panorama then try one of the other pins on the map. There is sometimes a glitch that affects the image loading process, this is often cleared by selecting another panorama and then re-selecting the first one. If this problem persists, then please contact us and let us know the title of the location causing problems.

1. Why do you only accept cylindrical panoramic images?
   The cylindrical panoramas on Panoramic Earth are simple jpeg images. These panoramas are fairly easy to create with the right tools which means that more people are able to add them to the site. It also means that there is no need for extra plugins in order to view them and that these images load fairly quickly, allowing the site to function smoothly. Most of the panoramas found on Panoramic Earth were taken out of doors, and there is little benefit to looking up into the sky or down at the ground.
2. What is a cylindrical panoramic image?
   This describes the manner in which the image is presented. Imagine that the panorama is printed out on a long sheet of paper. Wrap the paper in a cylinder with the image on the inside. Then place yourself at the centre. This a cylindrical panoramic image.
3. How can I create panoramic images?
   Please go to our Panoramic Advice pages to find out more.
4. Are there plans to allow other types of panoramic images?
   The other main types of panoramas are 'spherical' and 'cubic' formats. It may be possible in the future to submit these panoramic images to Panoramic Earth.

1. How can I use the tour in my own site?
   Anyone who has registered with Panoramic Earth may select and use our tours in their own website. We have a several version of the tours available. Simply login and, from your account profile, select the Embedded Tours option. After this select the opening location for the tour and provide your domain name. You will be provided with the required code for using that specific tour in the domain you have provided. The tour key, provided as part of the tour code, must be used in full for the tour to work. You can see a working example of this on our Embed Tour Sample Page
2. Who can I find someone to take a panoramic image for me?
   Panoramic Earth displays the work of panoramic photographers. Why not select one whose work is located on this site found near you? Simply go to the photographers profile to find out more. We will be developing a directory listing all the contributors to Panoramic Earth soon.
3. How can I get my facility / hotel / museum displayed on a tour?
   The answers to this are covered in detail on our Add Your Location Page. To see what this will provide you with, we have put together an Example Location which shows a working example and describes the features of the pacakage.
4. How do I link to a destination tour or individual location?
   Above each panora is the image title bar. At the far left is a Permalink button (). Simply copy the URL that this button represents. Please note that due to the way the images are displayed in Panoramic Earth, the URL shown in the top of your browser may not relate to the current location being viewed. Thus if you have come to the London tour then the main London URL shown in your browser will remain the same while you look at the different locations.

1. Why do you use advertising on the site?
   For several reasons. We cover the costs of site development and hosting. And the team that continues to work on Panoramic Earth need to eat. We are also developing ways in which the contributors of individual images can benefit from their work.