Polycam launches AI-Based 360 app for smartphones

Polycam, the popular 3D scanning app for iOS, web, and Android, announced the launch and implementation of their new feature, 360 Capture. With the launch of 360 Capture, Polycam users will be able to take 360 images directly on their iPhon. Users can view and share the 360 images by themselves, or set them as the background of a 3D model.

This new feature is possible because of generative artificial intelligence technology. This AI, powered by Stable Diffusion, is being used to complete unseen areas in the 360 image, allowing the app to generate what normal panoramas can’t capture – above and below. This enables a much more natural user experience for capturing 360 photos that is similar to how people already capture panoramas.

360 Capture is an additional capture mode that exists alongside LiDAR, PHOTO, and ROOM features already available on the Polycam app. This new feature will be supported on all iPhones starting from iPhone 11 and newer. Any existing Polycam users with these supporting phone models can utilize unlimited 360 Capture for free beginning June 1. A small watermark on the 360 photos can be removed by upgrading to Polycam Pro., the company said.

“Up until now, 360 photos were a specialty – something exclusive to people with expensive cameras and equipment,” says Chris Heinrich, CEO of Polycam. “With our new 360 Capture, we’re democratizing 360 capture by bringing it to everyone with an iPhone.”