Why a Partial Panorama Looks Stretched
Fix a stretched partial panorama by identifying its coverage, choosing a suitable projection, and avoiding forced 360 metadata.
Confirm that the capture is partial
A full 360 panorama contains a continuous horizontal view, while a partial panorama stops before completing the loop. If the scene has visible side edges or lacks the coverage expected by a spherical viewer, treat it as partial until proven otherwise.
Look at recognizable shapes such as people, doorways, and circles. If they are normal in a flat export but stretched only inside a 360 viewer, the viewer is applying spherical interpretation to an unsuitable file.
- No matching first and last views: the panorama is not a complete loop.
- Verticals lean or circles widen at the edges: projection may be wrong.
- Flat version looks normal: check upload metadata and viewer mode.
Choose a projection for the real field of view
For a partial scene intended as a normal image, use a rectilinear or other projection that preserves familiar perspective. A wide crop can still be panoramic without being equirectangular.
If a platform explicitly supports partial spherical content, follow its required metadata and field-of-view settings. Do not guess a full-sphere canvas size or pad the image until it reaches a familiar ratio.
Correct the file without hiding the issue
Remove incorrect 360 metadata from a flat derivative when the destination uses that metadata to select a viewer. Then export with proportional dimensions and inspect architectural lines at both edges.
If the source itself is stretched, return to the stitch project and test projection and lens settings. Cropping a distorted result only makes the error less obvious; it does not correct the geometry.
- Keep projection changes reversible in the stitch project.
- Use straight lines and circles as geometry checks.
- Export a separate flat file rather than overwriting the spherical master.
Common mistakes and a final checklist
The common error is equating a wide aspect ratio with a complete 360. Another is relying on a viewer to infer the intended field of view from an ordinary wide JPEG.
Before publishing, confirm:
- The source coverage is identified as partial or full.
- The chosen projection matches the delivery.
- Dimensions are resized proportionally.
- Metadata matches the actual image.
- The result is checked in flat and destination views.