Open a VR project and click the “Add to Device” button.
If your phone is already connected to your Yulio account, clicking the Add to Device button will send your content straight to your phone.
Open the Yulio Viewer app on your phone to view your VR project.
Device Lobby:
You can store up to 5 VR projects pre-downloaded in your lobby for offline viewing.
After you click Add to Device, select the “View Lobby” button. This is where you can manage your device content – add, delete and rearrange VR projects.
There are a couple ways to send and view a VR project on your phone:
1. Open a VR project link directly on your phone
2. Send a VR project link from your computer/tablet to your phone
Open a VR Project Link Directly on Your Phone:
First, start off by downloading the Yulio Viewer app.
The app is available for download from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and Oculus Go Store.
If you open a VR project link directly on your phone (e.g. from an email, text, social media, website, etc.) the VR project will open automatically in fishtank/browser mode, which allows you to experience the scene as an interactive 360 degree panoramic directly in your internet browser (no need for a VR headset).
To look around the scene, you can either drag your finger along the screen to change direction or physically move the phone around and the view in browser will follow.
To view the VR project in Virtual Reality with a VR headset, tap the Googles Icon.
If you pre-downloaded the Yulio Viewer app, the project will open automatically.
Otherwise, download the Yulio Viewer app now. The app is available for download from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and Oculus Go Store.
After installing and running the Yulio Viewer app, insert your phone into a VR headset to view in VR.
Tip: You only need to install the Yulio Viewer app once. After the app is installed, clicking on the Googles icon will directly launch the viewer app and show the selected VR project.
Send a VR Project from Your Computer/Tablet to Your Phone:
First open the VR project on your computer/tablet – this will display the VR project in fishtank/browser mode, which allows you to experience the scene as an interactive 360 degree panoramic directly in your internet browser.
To send it to your phone, click the Share button.
Select the country of the phone number, enter the phone number and then select Send.
If you can’t receive text messages on your device, you can share the VR project link on social media or via email.
Open the text message and click on the VR project link to view.
Follow the steps above, from the Open a VR Project Link Directly on Your Phone section,to view the VR project in browser/fishtank mode or in VR.
Once you have created your virtual reality project and added hotspots, you might need to replace one of the scenes. This could happen if your client requests to see different options/colors/finishes in the scene or, the project has simply evolved over time.
If you’ve already setup your hotspots and would like to retain them, you can simply replace the scene on the edit project page.
Start off by logging into Yulio and then select the VR project you would like to edit.
Next, find the scene and select the Replace icon.
Drag and drop your new scene into the upload box or click browse to select your new scene.
You have a couple options of what you can keep from your original scene to transfer over to your new scene: Keep Hotspots, Keep Scene Name, Keep Analytic Data.
Simply check the boxes if you want to keep the information or un-check to get rid of it.
Make sure that the new scene you are uploading also meets our Scene upload requirements.
Next, confirm that you would like to replace the scene – this is the last step before your scene is replaced. The action cannot be undone so make sure you are uploading the correct scene.
Click the blue Replace button if you would like to replace your scene. Or click Cancel if you changed your mind.
The scene will take a couple seconds to process and then you are good to go!
Project Markup is here! Project Markup allows you to stay right within the VR environment and record feedback about elements while your clients are actively looking at them. Draw directly on the project to highlight revisions and let your clients see them being applied in real time via a Collaborate session. With multiple pen and color options, providing feedback on design decisions is now easier than ever.
Project Markup is available now for all Professional and Enterprise licenses.
How do I mark up a scene in Yulio?
Anyone with a Yulio seat at your company has the ability to Mark Up a project scene. Markup is currently available in browser mode on any computer, tablet or touchscreen but can be viewed in browser mode or in VR.
Start off by selecting the VR project you would like to Mark Up from the VR Projects page.
On the edit project page, select the Settings tab to turn on Markup for that project.
Click the Allow Project Markup toggle to turn Markup on.
Next, click the View in 360 icon to begin marking up your project.
In browser mode, you will notice a new Markup icon in the top right hand corner, click that to begin. The Markup tab has multiple color and pen thickness options for you to explore.
Draw directly on the project with your mouse or stylus to Markup your project.
Click the icon when you want to erase, change the color of your pen, thickness of your pen, move around your project or delete your edits.
With no save button, your project is ready to go. Send the VR project to anyone on your team with a Yulio seat or share your edits with a client via a Collaborate Session.
When you want to delete your edits, click the Clear Scene icon within the VR project or the Clear All Markup button on the Settings page.
Or simply hide your edits by switching the Allow Project Markup toggle to off.
We’ve introduced another version of hotspot annotations, which allows you to add a still image to your scene. Use them to show alternatives to material, color or shape without having to render an additional scene, or get creative and show before/after shots and more. Image hotspots are another way to enhance your design, and tell your story in the context of the VR scene, without having to flip between VR and catalogs. Image hotspots are available for all Professional and Enterprise licenses. To create a custom plan that fits your business needs, call us at 1-844-310-3429 or email us anytime at hello@yulio.com.
How can I add image hotspots to my project?
First, you will need to add the still images to your VR project. Start off by selecting the VR project you would like to add the still image to, from the Projects page.
On your project page, go to the “Images” tab.
Drag and Drop your image into the upload box under the Images tab. Yulio supports any PNG or JPEG images, with no minimum resolution, up to 50 MB in size.
Make sure you are uploading your image under the “Images” tab to create an Image Hotspot. Image hotspots and VR scenes are uploaded under different tabs. You can upload a VR scene under the “Scenes” tab.
Now that you have uploaded your image you need to create the Image Hotspot in your VR project.
Click on the blue “Experience Editor” button in the top right corner.
Next, click on the Image tab to access the Image Hotspot editor.
All the still images you have uploaded will be available here to insert into your VR project.
Click the green + icon to add the Image to your VR project. You can also simply drag and drop the thumbnail into your VR project to place the image.
Once inserted, you can drag the Image Hotspot anywhere in your scene.
Click on the pencil icon above the hotspot to access the Image Properties panel. Here you can name and adjust the depth of the hotspot.
How Do Image Hotspots Appear in a Project?
You can see your Image Hotspot in both browser mode, or in a VR headset.
In the browser “fishtank” view, your Image Hotspot is triggered by clicking. It will open the image as an overlaid thumbnail.
A second click, will enlarge the Image Hotspot in the browser window.
In VR, images are triggered by gazing at the Image Hotspot.
Example
Click here for an example of a VR project with an Image Hotspot.
We’ve introduced a new kind of hotspot which allows you to add text information to your scene. You can use the hotspots to describe your design, products within the scene, or even communicate with your client by annotating changes to the design during iteration.
Text hotspots are available on all Professional and Enterprise licenses. To create a custom plan that fits your business needs, call us at 1-844-310-3429 or email us anytime at hello@yulio.com.
How can I add text hotspots to my project?
On the Projects page find the Add Hotspot button.
In the hotspot editor, select the text editor tab on the left navigation menu.
Click Create New Text Hotspot.
Enter your title and description. Each field allows up to 140 characters.
Click “Close” when finished.
What are Text Hotspot Properties?
Once the hotspot has been created in your scene, you can modify its location by clicking and dragging the hotspot itself around the scene.
There is also a depth slider on the Text Properties panel, which allows you to place the hotspot closer or further away in 3D space.
To edit a text hotspot, click on the pencil icon. Here you can change the title or description and adjust the depth of the hotspot.
How Do Text Hotspots Appear in a Project?
Text hotspots are triggered in browser mode by clicking on them and in VR by gazing at the hotspot. In Collaborate mode, hotspots are triggered by the presenter. Text hotspots will adjust for readability depending on the viewer’s screen resolution.
Example
Click here for an example of a virtual reality experience with an audio hotspot.
Floorplan navigation lets you create a navigation overlay layer in your project. You can hotspot all of your project’s scenes to a floorplan, a dollhouse view image, or an exterior rendering/photo. It helps to orient your viewers and lets them navigate to the area they are most interested in seeing, while still understanding how the elements fit together.
Floorplan navigation is available in all accounts. To create a custom plan that fits your business needs, call us at 1-844-310-3429 or email us anytime at hello@yulio.com.
How can I add Floorplan navigation to my project?
When logged in to Yulio, click on the project you would like to edit or select Create Project.
You’ll now have a third option under the Project Assets page, for Floorplans.
Upload any scene you’d like to use as a navigation tool for the project here – it could be a floorplan, dollhouse view, an exterior photograph, or any image that will aid navigation.
Here are the compatible formats for this asset:
PNG, JPEG
600 x 600 minimum resolution
Up to 50 MB
To Add Navigators to the Floorplan:
Click on Add Hotspot:
On the left, are the options for hotspot editor type, including navigation, audio, text and a new icon for Floorplan at the bottom. Click on that floorplan icon to open the floorplan hotspot editor.
Scenes from your VR Project will appear as thumbnails at the left. Click the green ‘+’ symbol to add a Floorplan Hotspot for that scene. Click and drag the hotspot to your desired location on the floorplan.
Use the Hotspot Properties menu to name the hotspot and change its size.
When finished, click Close to add your next hotspot.
Edit a hotspot or remove it by clicking the blue pencil icon for the scene you want to edit.
Viewing the Floorplan Layer in Browser Mode:
Your floorplan will not be the opening scene of your VR project.
You can open the Floorplan in browser mode using the new floorplan icon on the lower left of your screen. Clicking the icon will take you to the Floorplan view. From there, click on the navigator icons to navigate to your desired scene.
Viewing the Navigation Layer in VR:
Make sure you have the latest version of the Yulio app downloaded.
Find the Floorplan icon at the bottom of the scene and gaze at it to open the floorplan.
Gaze at any navigator icon to jump to that scene.
Example
Click here for an example of a VR project with floorplan, navigation, audio and text hotspots.
Yulio’s folder permissions allow you to set up VR project folders to match your workflow – you can create folders by user, by project, by client name, by type of project, etc.
You can set permissions to individual folders, to protect work from accidental edits or deletions and better satisfy your clients’ NDA or privacy requirements.
On the Projects page, you’ll see a list of folders on the left. The general folder that every user on your account with a Yulio seat has access to, is called “Team.” All of your projects are in this Team folder, until you decide what other folder structure you want to use. Or you can leave them as is and continue storing everything in the Team folder indefinitely.
The solid black folders are private folders to you or anyone you have given access to.
To create a new folder, hit the Create New Folder button.
Simply drag folders to move them.
VR projects can be created directly in the Team folder to appear on the home page. You can also now create sub folders under the Team folder. Everyone in your company with a Yulio seat will have access to the sub folders and VR projects under/in the Team folder.
This is a good way to opt out of using folder permissions (for customers who don’t necessarily need a permission model)
Setting Individual Folder Permissions:
Once you’ve created a new private folder, Admin users can adjust folder permissions, by picking from a drop down list of Yulio users and assigning a permission level. They can also provide access to all users.
To assign user permissions, highlight the folder you would like to edit and then click on the three dots next to the folder name.
Then select Permission.
Here you can manage folder access by adding users, adding all users and removing users.
Here are a couple of tips on Folder Permissions:
Administrators can grant user folder access in the folder settings page for a given folder
Administrators can add all users and remove all users or they can search and add users using the Add function
Administrators always have full access to all folders, regardless of login
Any time a new user is added that is an Author or Associate, they will have access to the Shared folder but, nothing else by default. An administrator must add the user to non-shared folders.
When a user is granted access to a folder, they get access to all its contents and the child folders within the folder.
Users can only see folders they have access to. Any folder they do not have access to will be hidden.
When a user’s permissions are removed from a folder, they also lose access to all the subfolders and content within.
The permissions to Create or Edit within a given folder is still determined based on their role. Ex. Author, Associate
Administrators also have the ability to Move folders
New plugins will be released which will allow CAD users to select the folder they would like to upload to
Only folders that they have access to will be exposed in the plugins (SketchUp, Rhino, CET)
Folder permissions will help you organize and control access to your projects, and are part of our commitment to making VR a simple and intuitive part of your workflow.
Collaborate is Yulio’s most used feature. Think of it like a presentation mode, which allows you to see what other people are seeing, guide them to a spotlighted area and have everyone meeting in the same virtual space. People you’re meeting with in-person will all be in the same session on headsets, and remote participants can join from anywhere, in headset or our browser-based fishtank mode.
Collaborate is available on all Professional and Enterprise licenses. To create a custom plan that fits your business needs, call us at 1-844-310-3429 or email us anytime at hello@yulio.com.
How do I launch a Collaborate Session?
To start a Collaborate session, make sure you’re signed in on yulio.com, select Tools from the top navigation bar and then click Collaborate.
A Collaborate session will immediately start, using the first project (the one at the top of the list) in your Device Lobby. If you’d like to change which project auto-launches, you can do so by re-ordering VR projects in your Device Lobby.
Or, choose the “Select Project” icon to see a list of your projects – your Device Lobby will appear first on the list, as these are likely your most used projects.
If a project does not auto-launch, hit the Start Collaborating button to select a VR project and begin Collaborating.
How to Join a Collaborate Session
In the Participant Panel on the left you will see a code for guests to join your collaborate session, go to live.yulio.com on your internet browser. Then enter your name and the provided 4 digit code.
To join in VR, go to live.yulio.com in your internet browser on your phone and then follow the same steps. Make sure you have the Yulio Viewer app downloaded on your device. The Yulio Viewer app is available for download from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and the Oculus Store.
When someone joins, you’ll see a change in the Participant count, and a ‘gaze indicator’ to see what they are looking at.
You can keep presenter control, or give presenter control to any participant to follow that person around the scene, get feedback and see what catches their attention.
To give presenter control to a participant click the Follow icon beside their name in the Participant Panel.
Collaborate In a VR Headset
Launching a Collaborate session from your Yulio account will automatically open the session in any headsets bound to your account, so make sure you know which project is being shown before turning the headset over. You’ll see a gazed indicator for the headset in Collaborate, as well, and know just where people are looking in the scene.
Collaborate Settings
Clicking the Gear icon at the left hand side of the Collaborate panel will open the settings available in Collaborate.
Host Experience:
Crosshair: is the center indicator on the scene and allows you to find the middle again if you become ‘lost’
Explore Mode Autoplay: Explore mode will automatically start panning around the current scene
Auto Load First Lobby Project: can be turned on or off according to your preference. It makes it easier to jump straight into collaborate, if you have ensured your lobby is reflecting the projects you want to show. You can always switch scenes using the icon on the top-right if it is not the correct one. Autoload is on by default for new accounts. If you turn this feature off, you will need to use your headset to gaze at the 4-digit collaborate code after you launch a session
Participant Experience:
Presenter Gaze: The circles which show the participants’ view of the scene
Audio Hotspots: Enabling audio for all participants will trigger an audio hotspot for each participant. It may get distracting, so we recommend leaving this off and having only the presenter trigger the audio
Text/Image Annotations: These can be triggered by anyone exploring the scene, or just the presenter
Floorplan: is the navigation overlay for the scene. If you have one in your project, this will allow you to leave it on for all participants, or only the presenter
Yulio’s Custom Branding allows you to add the logo of your company or organization to your VR projects. The Viewer Logo will appear each time a VR project created by your company or organization is viewed.
Example of logo displayed in VR:
Example of logo displayed in browser:
Custom Branding: How to Use It
This feature is available on all Professional and Enterprise licenses. Update your account today by following the steps below:
Log in to Yulio
Select your email in the right corner to open the menu
Select Company Settings
Click on the Custom Branding tab in the middle of your screen
Drag and drop your logo in the upload box or browse to upload your logo
6. Once uploaded logos will appear in company projects in both VR and in browser mode
Custom Branding: Logo Requirements
Viewer Logo Requirements:
File must be PNG
File size less than 75 KB
Resolution less than 1024×1024
Recommended height: 300 pixels
Custom Branding: FAQ
How do I remove a logo or upload a new one?
You can remove or change your logo at any time. To remove, select the red – button on your logo, on the Custom Branding page. To upload a new one, simply drag and drop the new logo or browse to upload.
Will logos be added to existing shared VR project links?
Yes. All existing and new VR projects created will display the logo. Once you enable this feature by uploading your files, your logo will be added to all VR projects for your company.
Can I choose which links have my logo and which don’t?
No. Once you enable this feature, all links and VR projects created will have your company logo.
Audio hotspots allow you to add audio to your VR project. This is helpful when you are describing design choices to your client or providing details on specific objects in the scene.
You now can upload audio files to Yulio and place audio hotspots into your scene. It’s a great way to provide additional context to your customer while they are immersed in your design.
Audio hotspots are available on all Professional and Enterprise licenses. To create a custom plan that fits your business needs, call us at 1-844-310-3429 or email us anytime at hello@yulio.com.
How to Uploaded Audio Files:
Start off by logging into your Yulio account and select the project you would like to edit.
On the project page, you can upload audio files under the Audio tab. Upload audio files to the drop box or browse to select your files.
Audio Hotspot File Types:
Yulio support almost any type of audio file as long as it is under 100 MB and under 2 minutes in length.
How to Add Audio Hotspots to Your VR Project
Now that you have uploaded your audio files, you want to edit your VR project to add your audio hotspots.
On the project page, click the blue Hotspot Editor button.
In the hotspot editor, select the Audio tab on the left navigation menu. Audio files that you uploaded to the VR project will appear there.
Drag the desired audio file from the left panel into the main scene window. Place it where you would like the hotspot to appear for your viewer. You can also click + from the left pane and an audio hotspot will be created in the main scene window.
Audio Hotspot Properties:
Hotspot Label:
Customize the name of your hotspot. By default, the label will appear as the name of your audio file. You can customize this to something more meaningful for your design and scene. This will appear in VR and preview modes and provide designers the ability to further build the narrative for their experience. Labels can have a maximum length of 140 characters.
You can also hide the label all together, by clicking on the Hide toggle.
Depth:
Change the depth of a hotspot so that you can provide additional spatial context in the VR project. Changing the depth will provide more context for viewing in VR. The depth slider doesn’t just make the icon larger or smaller, it is actually moving the hotspot closer/further away from the viewer.
Color:
Customize the color of a hotspot so you can make it stand out in your scene. You can choose between a white or black hotspot. Ensure important design details are not missed by making sure your hotspot is visible in every type of environment.
Example
Click here for an example of a virtual reality project with an audio hotspot.
Hotspots are a way to navigate your VR project through point to point navigation. All you have to do is gaze or click on a hotspot to move into another scene. Adding hotspots in your VR project is a great way to make your designs interactive.
How to Add Hotspots to Your VR Project:
In order to create navigational hotspots you need at least two scenes in your VR project.
Start off by logging into your Yulio account and then select the project you would like to edit.
On the project page, click on the blue “Hotspot Editor” button. This button will take you into the authoring tool that will allow you to add and edit navigational hotspots.
Once you’re in the Hotspot Editor, either click the green Add Hotspot button or click and drag the target scene from the left panel into the main scene window.
Drag the hotspot to position it where you would like it to appear for your viewer. Remember navigational hotspots transfer viewers from one scene to the next, so you should place the hotspot where the view will be transitioning to.
How to Edit a Hotspot:
Once the hotspot has been created in your scene, you can modify it’s location by clicking and dragging on the hotspot itself.
There are additional hotspot properties that appear in the left panel. To access the hotspot properties at anytime, click on the blue Edit arrow.
Hotspot Label:
Customize the name of your hotspot. By default, the label will appear as the name of your cube map. You can customize this to something more meaningful for your design and scene. This will appear in VR and preview modes and provide designers the ability to further build the narrative for their experience. Labels can have a maximum length of 140 characters.
You can also hide the label all together, by clicking on the Hide toggle.
Depth:
Change the depth of a hotspot so that you can provide additional spatial context in the VR project. Changing the depth will provide more context for viewing in VR. The depth slider doesn’t just make the icon larger or smaller it is actually moving the hotspot closer/further away from the viewer.
Color:
Customize the color of a hotspot so you can make it stand out in your scene. You can choose between a white or black hotspot. Ensure important design details are not missed by making sure your hotspot is visible in every type of environment.
Example:
Click here for an example of a virtual reality project with a navigation hotspot.
Explore Mode is a new presenter mode that is part of Yulio’s Collaborate feature. With Collaborate you have the ability to see what other people are seeing, guide them to a spotlighted area and have everyone meeting in the same virtual space. Now with Explore Mode, you can auto-pan throughout a scene and let all participants explore the full VR project at their own pace.
People you’re meeting with in-person will all be in the same session on headsets, and remote participants can join from anywhere, in headset or our browser-based fishtank mode.
Explore Mode is available on all Professional and Enterprise licenses as part of the Collaborate feature. To create a custom plan that fits your business needs, call us at 1-844-310-3429 or email us anytime at hello@yulio.com.
To launch Explore Mode, hit the Explore button at the top of the Participant Panel.
During explore mode, as the host of the Collaborate Session, your screen will pan throughout the selected scene. Don’t worry you can still interact with your screen at any time.
All other participants will have the ability to go off and explore the VR project you have selected for the Collaborate Session. They will be able to switch scenes and activate text/image/audio hotspots (if you have this ability turned on in Collaborate Settings).
To end explore mode and bring all participants back to the desired scene, click the Present button in the Participant Panel.
Collaborate Settings
Clicking the Gear icon at the left hand side of the Collaborate panel will open the settings available in Collaborate.
Host Experience:
Crosshair: is the center indicator on the scene and allows you to find the middle again if you become ‘lost’
Explore Mode Autoplay: Explore mode will automatically start panning around the current scene
Auto Load First Lobby Project: can be turned on or off according to your preference. It makes it easier to jump straight into collaborate, if you have ensured your lobby is reflecting the projects you want to show. You can always switch scenes using the icon on the top right if it is not the correct one. Auto load is on by default for new accounts. If you turn this feature off, you will need to use your headset to gaze at the 4-digit collaborate code after you launch a session
Participant Experience:
Presenter Gaze: The circles which show the participants’ view of the scene
Audio Hotspots: Enabling audio for all participants will trigger an audio hotspot for each participant. It may get distracting, so we recommend leaving this off and having only the presenter trigger the audio
Text/Image Annotations: These can be triggered by anyone exploring the scene, or just the presenter
Floorplan: is the navigation overlay for the scene. If you have one in your project, this will allow you to leave it on for all participants, or only the presenter
1. Download the Yulio Viewer app on your phone – the Yulio Viewer app is available for download in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and the Oculus Store.
2. Log in to Yulio and select Manage Device in the top navigation bar. This will take you to a page displaying all of your connected devices. Click Connect A Device to connect your new device.
3. You will need to get a 3 digit pairing code from the Yulio app to connect your device – open the Yulio Viewer app on your phone and place your phone in a headset.
4. In the app, look down to find the Connect icon. Gaze at the icon to get your pairing code.
5. Enter this code in the pairing code box on the Yulio website and then select the blue Enter button
If the pairing code is correct, your device will be connected.
If you have problems with the code, you can exit the Connect screen within the app and re-loa, it will generate a new code.
Your device will be given a generic name, but you can rename it by typing in the name box.
You can also remove any devices you’re not using, by clicking the red – button beside the device.
1. A current generation smartphone with one of 3 app stores – Google Play Store, Apple App Store, Oculus Store 2. A virtual reality headset that fits your particular phone
How it works:
– Make sure you download the Yulio Viewer app on your device – Your smartphone, running the Yulio Viewer app, displays the virtual reality scene, generating one image for your left eye and one for your right – this is what provides the ‘stereo’ effect that makes VR feel so real – Your phone also tracks your head motion, updating the display of the virtual scene to match the direction you are looking in the real world – The headset is very simple – it contains lenses that direct the two images to the corresponding eye in such a way that the scale and field of view accurately simulates the real world. With higher-end headsets like the Oculus Go , the experience is further improved through the addition of higher quality motion sensors and better lenses.
Right now, you’ll need an Oculus Go, Google Cardboard or Homido MINI to get the most out of your Yulio VR projects. In addition, you’ll need one of these smartphones:
Yulio’s Copy feature allows you to create an exact copy of any VR project for editing or sharing. The copy function will create an exact copy of your project and keep any scenes, navigational hotspots, image hotspots, text hotspots, audio hotspots, or floorplans you have already uploaded.
The copy feature is a great way to edit your project without effecting the original. You can also use the copy function to regulate and monitor sharing of your VR project. Let’s say you shared your project but you want to retract the link – simply copy your project and delete the original. When you copy your project it will generate a brand new URL link for sharing.
How to Copy a VR Project:
Start off by logging into your Yulio account.
From the projects page, find the project you would like to copy and click the 3 dots underneath the project thumbnail:
Then select Create Copy from the drop down menu:
A window will pop up to confirm you want to copy the project, hit the blue Copy button to begin.
Copying time will depend on the size of the project, but should only take a couple minutes even for the largest project.
The newly copied project will appear in the same folder as the original and have the word “Copy” in the project title.
You can now edit this project without affecting the original.
When you upload your scene or 360 photo to Yulio, the scene will open in Yulio based on the camera position you had set in you render, or what your 360 camera settings had dictated as ‘forward’. However, if you want to change that view to another part of the scene (or the beauty shot) when you’re presenting in VR, you can do so by setting your Default Staring View.
Setting this Default Starting View is available in all accounts. To create a custom plan that fits your business needs, call us at 1-844-310-3429 or email us anytime at hello@yulio.com.
How do I set the Default Starting View?
When logged in to Yulio, click on the project you would like to edit.
Then click on the blue Hotspot Editor button.
In the hotspot editor, you’ll find tabs on the left hand side for editing many aspects of your project like floorplans, hotspots and more. One of the tabs is called ‘Starting Direction.’
Click on the Starting Direction tab to adjust your Default Starting View.
Clicking the Starting Direction tab will open the Default Starting View editor.
Adjust the opening view by dragging the image left or right.
When you are happy with the scene location, click Apply. The thumbnail in the tool pane at the left will update to reflect your change.
If you prefer to return to the original view, click ‘Reset to Default’ on the left.
To adjust Default Starting View for the rest of your scenes click on either the Next Scene > at the bottom left or the Scenes icon at the top right so navigate to your next scene.
The next time you view your VR project in browser mode or in VR, the new Default Starting View will be adjusted for each scene.
Just be sure that you don’t select a view that is too disorienting to your viewer, or you may throw off the logical navigation of your scene!
For projects where you have uploaded a floorplan layer, we’ve introduced Forward Gaze Navigation. Forward Gaze Navigation means that when viewers navigate through your VR project using hotspot navigation – they will enter a scene facing the same direction that they came from. It creates a more natural walkthrough experience, that improves immersion in multiple scene projects.
For projects that were created before this feature was in place, or where you set your camera position to an ideal starting scene instead of due north, you can use Floorplan Calibration to create a relationship between your floorplan and scenes. Doing so will create an always forward gaze perspective that is always natural and forward.
This Calibration is only relevant to projects which have both a floorplan and navigational hotspots. If you use the ‘next scene’ indicator arrows to navigate instead of hotspots, your scene will always open on your chosen Default Starting View.
Floorplan navigation and Forward Gaze Navigation are available in all accounts. To get started with simple, mobile and affordable VR, call us at 1-844-310-3429 or email us anytime at hello@yulio.com.
How to Set Up Your Project:
Due North Camera Position
When you author cube maps, you likely render them with a camera position that is a ‘beauty shot’ or a compelling opening scene.
Since VR is a moving medium where your audience will explore in all directions, we recommend that instead, you set your camera positions facing due north.
If you do so, people exploring your scenes using hotspot navigation will always enter facing the way they will naturally expect, and you won’t need to calibrate your thumbnails and floorplan after the fact in Yulio.
Don’t worry, you can always set your beauty shot using Default Starting View in Yulio. That way when viewers use floorplan or arrow navigation, they will always open to the beauty shot.
What about my other projects that aren’t due north?
In projects where camera views were not set up to be due north during render time, you can create a relationship between your floorplan and the scene by simply dragging the cone shaped field of view to match the starting view.
Log into your Yulio account and the select the VR project you would like to edit – remember you must have a floorplan and scenes to calibrate.
Click on the Hotspot Editor button, then select the Floorplan icon.
If your cones do not show up by default on your floorplan, like in the image above, click on the settings icon and then toggle the Show Floorplan Hotspot Direction to on.
Now, go back to the floorplan editor by clicking on the Floorplan icon again – you’ll see that the cone shaped field of view indicators all face due north by default.
Using the thumbnail images on the left panel as your guide, click on the cone and drag so that the middle of the cone aligns with the middle of the thumbnail. The cone should be facing the same starting direction as the thumbnail image – no need for total precision.
That’s it – when you return to view your project, you’ll find that as you use hotspots to navigate the scene you land in the scene facing forward. The mini map is also there to show you exactly what direction you are looking while in fishtank view.
Remember – you only need to calibrate scenes you added to your floorplan, so if you have a link to something like “outside” or “upstairs” that aren’t on your floorplan, you won’t need to calibrate them.
Is a term we use at Yulio to describe a shareable collection of one or more scenes grouped together to create a virtual reality project for a user. This collection of scenes work together to tell a narrative or to explore a single space from multiple angles.
Yulio uses stereoscopic or monoscopic cubemaps to facilitate VR experiences. The easiest way to create the necessary source files is to use one of the provided Yulio CAD plugins for 3ds Max, Rhino, SketchUp or CET Designer. For all other CAD programs, as long as they have the ability to navitely create a cubemap compatible with Yulio, you are good to go. If you wish to provide your own cubemap source files they will need to be formatted in one of the following ways:
Yulio uses stereoscopic or monoscopic cubemaps to create an immersive VR projects. You can generate these cubemaps by using a combination of your existing CAD authoring program(s) and our Yulio CAD plugins for SketchUp, 3ds Max, CET Designer or Rhino.
You can also use Revit, CET Designer, A360, or any other CAD software that has the ability to natively produce cubemaps.
Once your cubemap is ready you can create a VR project when you are logged into your Yulio account. Click here for more information on creating your first VR project.
To create a VR project, you’ll need a method for creating cubemaps.
We recommend you use the available Yulio CAD plugins for SketchUp, 3DS Max, Rhino or CET Designer. You can also use other CAD tools such as Revit & A360 or any other CAD program that has the ability to natively produce cubemaps.
Click here for more information on cubemap format requirements.
When uploading your projects to Yulio, you probably want to have more than one scene within a VR project.With more than one scene you can show off different rooms, multiple points throughout the space, different lighting or material options or even before and after photos. The sky is the limit!
Yulio makes this possible by allowing you to upload multiple scenes within one VR project.
Note: There is no limit on the number of scenes (cubemaps) you can upload within a VR project.
You can add additional scenes to any VR project at any time.
Start off by logging into your Yulio account and then select the project you would like to edit.
Add additional scenes by dragging your cubemaps into the upload box or click browse to select your cubemaps.
You can change the order in which your scenes will appear in the VR project by clicking and dragging this icon:
Want to see your 360 photos in Yulio? You’ve come to the right place.
Why 360 photos?
Our clients are using our 360 photo capabilities to present a space without taking clients on-site, as well as to demonstrate a ‘before’ image before presenting a final rendering or photo.
Showing the before and after of a space can have a huge effect!
Taking the photo
If you’ve never taken a 360 photo before, we’ve got a few tips for getting it just right:
– Use the app associated with your 360 camera on your smartphone to trigger the photos remotely, and hide out of sight so you are not in the shot – Set the camera lens at the same height you plan on using for your cubemap renderings (we recommend approximately 5’6″ as a good compromise for the average North American male/female height) – No need to measure for that one, you know how tall you are so adjust the camera lense accordingly – Use a monopod or tripod and make sure the camera is still and level before shooting
Uploading and viewing the photo
Once you’ve taken your 360 photo, simply upload the .jpg file from your camera (or phone if you are using the companion app) to Yulio, just as you would a cubemap.
The Yulio for Rhino plugin is available for download on the Yulio Plug Ins page.
Below is some information on what you’ll need to start generating fixed point renders using Yulio for Rhino.
Step 1: Ensure your computer meets the software requirements for Yulio for Rhino
– Rhino 5 or Rhino 6 – Latest version of VRay – Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 x64 – Download vc_redist.x64.exe from the Microsoft website and ensure you select the x64 bit option – Yulio for Rhino plugin
Step 2: Install Yulio for Rhino via the Rhino Installer Package (.rhi)
Step 3: Open Rhino and locate the Yulio for Rhino plugin via the main toolbar or the Yulio icon
Step 4: Authorize Rhino to access your Yulio account
Once you provide authorization for Rhino to access your Yulio account, you will have the option to automatically upload content to Yulio once rendering is complete.
Simply enter the email address bound to your Yulio account. We will send you an email with an authorization link. Once you authorize via email, Rhino will have access to your Yulio account.
Step 5: Setup render and output configuration options
Select the views you’d like to render.
If you’d like to automatically upload to Yulio, select that option. If you do, the cubemaps (scenes) will be automatically uploaded to your Yulio account. Otherwise, the cubemaps will be saved on your computer at the output path defined.
Step 6: View in Yulio
Once the rendering and upload are complete, you’ll receive a confirmation message in Rhino. You’ll have the option to view the cubemap in the output location selected or View in Yulio if you opted to upload to automatically.
If you’re a 3DS Max® user looking for an easier way to render cubemaps for Yulio, our Yulio Plugin for 3DS Max® is a great solution.
You can find all our Yulio plugins available for download on yulio.com.
Note: you’ll need a Yulio account to access the plugins!
YULIO FOR 3DS MAX – VERSION 1.4.1
Works with 3DS Max 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Once you’ve installed the plugin, follow these steps:
– Open 3ds Max® – In the Command panel, go to the Utilities section (hammer icon) – In the Command panel, select the Configure Button Sets button
– This will open the Configure Button Sets dialog, which let you confirm Yulio for 3DS Max® as a button – First, select the button from the list at the right of the dialog which you’d like to configure to be the Yulio for 3DS Max® button
– Then, find Yulio for 3DS Max® in the list of Utilities – Double click Yulio for 3DS Max® and the button label will be automatically updated – Select OK
Yulio for 3DS Max® is now a button in your Utilities section!
Are you experiencing visible cubemap (scene) stitching in your Virtual Reality projects? Read on to find out why they occur, and how you can avoid them.
What are cube map seams?
The Yulio Viewer App dynamically assembles cubemaps from image strips on runtime. This means that the usual formats (12 x 1 and 6 x 2) are split into their 12 sides and assembled into their corresponding cube maps.
Assembled real time cubemaps
Sometimes, for any number of reasons, seams will become visible in the scene when previewing or viewing them in Virtual Reality. When we talk about seams, we’re referring to the lines that appear on the scene at the borders of the cube. If you’ve experienced them before, you’ll know that they can completely ruin the VR project.
Screenshot of scene with visible seams
If you’re creating cubeamps with our Yulio plugin or any other commercial plugins (such as V-Ray), you this won’t be an issue. These plugins make sure no seams are visible when rendering and positioning the cubemap sides, and assembling the final image.
The problem comes when trying to assemble the images manually using image editing software like Photoshop.
Reasons seams might appear
Here are a few reasons seams might appear if you’re assembling your cubemaps manually:
– Sides are offset and overlapping onto other sides – The individual images that make the sides were made in a incorrect aspect ratio (different from 1536*1536). Later on, when assembling the final image the sides won’t fit in their corresponding positions – The image was resized and the pixel filtering has bled between images – Some blending mode was applied on a layer during post production that caused a side to bleed onto its neighbor – Creating a final image from different base images can introduce variations on lighting that will be noticeable in the final image – Make sure the left eye images and right eye images are correctly positioned
How to avoid visible seams
– Don’t resize the final image at any point. Shrinking and/or enlarging can introduce seams – In post-production, take special care that no pixels “bleed” from one side to the other when applying blending modes or effects to the image
Written by: Pablo Vezzini, KiSP Technical Services
This guide explains how to generate cube maps from spherical maps with 3DS MAX. You can use these cube maps to make a cubemap or to view in virtual reality with Yulio.
Step 1: In 3ds Max, open the “Environments and Effects” dialog. (Rendering > Environment or shortcut 8)
Step 2: Click and add the spherical map you want to convert as the new “Environment Map”
Step 3: Create any object and make sure it’s positioned at the origin of the scene [ 0,0,0 ]
Step 4: Create a new Standard Material
Step 5: Add a Reflect/Refract Map to the diffuse channel
Step 6: Set up the following options for the Reflect/Refract Map:
– Source: From File – Size: 1536 or other – Use Environment Map: On – Blur: Off – Select Save Path
Step 7: Set up “Default Scanline Renderer” as the Production renderer in the Render Setup Dialog
Step 8: Select “Pick Object and Render Maps” and then click the object in the scene
Step 9: Now you have the maps to create the final image: filename_LEFT, filename_RIGHT, filename_TOP, filename_BOTTOM, filename_FRONT, filename_BACK
Step 10: Assemble the cubemaps in Photoshop in the following format to create a cubemap
Step 11: Assemble a cubemap in Photoshop by duplicating this cube map and stitching them together in the format below. You can view this scene in virtual reality by uploading this cubemap to Yulio.
Sign in to your account at www.yulio.com to create your VR project using this cubemap. Check out our article on creating VR projects for more information!
Written by: Pablo Vezzini, KiSP Technical Services
Cubemap Images
A cubemap is made up of six images which are stitched together to form an environment. The environment is projected onto the sides of a cube and stored as six separate square textures or as a single texture where all faces are unfolded. The six squares (textures) form the faces of a cube surrounding the viewer. Each face represents the view along the directions of the world axes. The coordinate system definition varies between software. For example, 3DS Max uses the following co-ordinate system:
These are the six images that form the cubemap texture. This cubemap can be used for creating fixed point renders by duplicating the cubemap for the left and right eye. One downside of using this approach is that the cubemap will be monoscopic. This means the at the viewer won’t have any sense of depth or perspective when looking at the image.
Stereoscopic images resolve this.
Stereoscopic Images
A stereoscopic image consists of two slightly different sets of images captured for left and right eyes (e.g. from two camera positions). This small offset is what gives the illusion of depth to an image. It provides the brain with spatial information which tricks it into believing and seeing depth in the images. Stereoscopic vision is the normal vision in humans and animals.
To create the Stereoscopic effect for virtual reality, you’ll need to render two slightly different cubemaps which will be used for each eye.
Stereoscopic images are made from two different cubemaps for each eye. Therefore, there are a total of 12 unique square textures required.
The most commonly used packaging for these 12 textures is the Side by Side format. This format consists of two cubemaps in the row format placed next to each other. This is one of the accepted fixed point render formats that can be uploaded to Yulio.
For more information on the accepted formats, check out our article on Cubemap requirements.
This guide explains how to create a cubemap directly from 3DS MAX. When you’re done, use the output to author Virtual Reality projects with Yulio!
Getting Started
Before you begin, review this checklist to make sure you’ve got everything you need to get started:
– 3DS MAX 2014 or higher – A project that has been authored using 3DS MAX – If using VRay, version 3.2 (adv) or higher – Yulio for 3DS MAX plugin installed
Step 1: Configure Yulio for 3ds Max button in Utilities menu
In the Utilities Menu, find the “Configure Button Sets” icon.
The Configure Button Sets dialog will open. On the right, choose which button you’d like to set and then find “Yulio for 3ds Max” in the list on the left side. Double click Yulio for 3ds Max and select OK.
You can use this button to launch the Yulio plugin.
Step 2: Author your scene in 3ds Max
Author and prepare your scene for rendering. Check in with the camera positioning and lighting to make sure that your scene is optimized for virtual reality.
Step 3: Render Configuration
Open the Render Setup dialog in 3ds Max and ensure that the desired Renderer is set. The plugin will use the renderer set to create cubemaps.
Step 4: Begin rendering with Yulio for 3ds Max plugin
Select the “Yulio for 3ds Max” button in the Utilities menu. Yulio for 3ds Max will expand within the panel.
Click “Generate” to start the rendering process and follow these steps:
– Select a folder to save cubemaps to once complete – Select scenes to render – Wait for processing to be complete
Step 5: Rendering is complete!
You’ll be notified once the processing is complete. You can then find the cubemap .jpg(s) in the folder location you selected previously. There will be one cubemap for each scene you selected.
Step 6: Author VR Projects in Yulio!
Sign in to your account at www.yulio.com to create your VR project using these cubemaps. Check out our article on creating VR projects for more information!
This guide outlines the steps you’ll need to follow to create a cubemap using Revit and Autodesk A360. Once completed, use the output to author Virtual Reality projects using Yulio!
Getting Started
Before you start, review this checklist to ensure you’ve got everything you need to get going:
– Autodesk Revit – Autodesk A360 Subscription – Autodesk A360 Cloud Credits – A scene that has been authored using Revit
Step 1: Author your scene in Revit
Author and prepare your scene for rendering. Check in with the camera positioning and lighting to ensure that your scene is optimized for virtual reality.
Step 2: Sign in to Autodesk A360
In Revit, sign in to your Autodesk A360 subscription account.
Step 3: Render in Cloud
In Revit, go to the View tab and select the Render in Cloud button. An Autodesk 360 dialog will appear.
Step 4: Configure Render in Cloud
Configure the output type and width in the Render in Cloud settings:
– Output Type = Stereo Panorama – Width = 1536
Step 5: Begin Rendering
In Revit, select the dropdown located beside your username. Select “Render Progress…” to begin the rendering.
Step 6: Download images
Once complete, locate the images in your Autodesk A360 account in the “MY RENDERINGS” section. Find the image for your scene, select the arrow located on the image and select the “Download Stereo-Pano as Zip” option.
This will download the zip folder which contains the render output. Once complete, find the image.png.
This is the output you can use to view on your headset.
Step 7: Author VR Projects in Yulio!
Sign in to your account at www.yulio.com to create your VR project using these cubemaps. See our article on creating VR projects for more information!
This guide outlines the steps you’ll need to follow create cubemaps from SketchUp. Once completed, use the output to author Virtual Reality projects using Yulio!
Getting Started
Before you begin, review this checklist to make sure you’ve got everything you need to get started:
– SketchUp 2015 or higher (64-bit version for Windows) – A scene that has been authored using SketchUp – If using VRay, version 2.00.26494 (adv) or higher – Note: VRay 3 for SketchUp 2017 is currently not supported – Download the Yulio for SketchUp plugin from the CAD Plugins page – Install Yulio for SketchUp plugin
Author your scene in SketchUp
Author and prepare your scene for rendering. Check in with the camera positioning and lighting to make sure that your scene is optimized for virtual reality.
Authorize SketchUp to Access your Yulio Account.
Select Yulio for SketchUp plugin from the toolbar.
Enter your email associated to your Yulio account.
Check your email and authorize SketchUp to access your Yulio account by selecting “Confirm Plugin Activation”.
Now you’re ready to begin rendering your scene for VR. Select Yulio plugin from the toolbar to get started.
Render and Upload Settings
Select your render engine, scenes and upload location. The will always save a copy of the cubemap to your computer. Alternatively, the plugin can upload cubemap(s) directly to your account. Select Upload to Yulio.
Once you’ve selected your options, hit the begin render button.
There is a known issue when running the Yulio for SketchUp plugin with VRay that causes the cubemap not to generate. The issue can happen when there is only 1 scene in the SketchUp project, which is caused by VRay not detecting the single scene.
To resolve this issue, please add another scene or make a copy of the existing scene and run the plugin again.
This guide outlines the steps you’ll need to follow to configure 3DS Max and VRay to generate a stereoscopic cubemaps (scenes). Once completed, use the output to author Virtual Reality projects using Yulio!
Getting Started
Before you begin, review this checklist to ensure you’ve got everything you need to get started.
– 3DS Max – VRay for 3DS Max – version 3.20.02 or higher – A scene that has been authored using 3DS Max and VRay
Step 1: Create VRay Stereoscopic helper
In 3DS Max, create the VRayStereoscopic ObjectType by following these steps:
– Go to Command Panel > Create > Helpers Category > VRay – Select VRaySterescopic and place it in the scene
Step 2: Configure VRay Stereoscopic helper
– Go to Command Panel > Modify > VRayStereoscopic – Make sure the ‘enabled’ and ‘adjust resolution’ checkboxes are selected
Step 3: Assign VRay render option
– Go to Render Setup Dialog > Common – Make sure ‘VRay Adv’ render option is selected
Step 4: Configure the render output size
– Go to Render Setup Dialog > Common > Common Parameters – Update the output size by setting the width to 9216 (1536 x 6) and height to 1536
Step 5: Configure the V-Ray camera
– Go to Render Setup Dialog > V-Ray > Camera – Update the camera type to Cube 6×1
Step 6: Begin rendering
You’re done! Now any camera is set up to be rendered in stereoscopic format. Begin the render process via the Render Setup Dialog or by pressing F9.
Step 7: Rendering complete
Once it’s done, save the render as a .JPG on your computer. Remember where it’s saved! You’ll need the location when you use Yulio to author your VR project.
Step 8: Author VR Projects in Yulio!
Log in to your account at www.yulio.com to create your VR project using these cubemaps. Review our article on creating VR projects for more information!
There is a known issue which causes the install of the Yulio for 3DS Max plugin to fail. This issue can happen when your computer is missing the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015.
When this occurs, you may encounter the following error during installation:
To resolve this error, please follow the steps below:
– Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=48145 – Select Download the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015 – Select the file you need based on your computer (x64 or x86). If you are not sure, you can download both. – Once the download is complete, open it to install. – Once installation is complete, install the Yulio for 3ds Max plugin
If the problem persists, please contact our support team at support@yulio.com.
Whether you’re authoring content or just viewing a VR project, your Yulio account uses a password-less sign in system so that you never have to remember your password.
This is especially great for mobile devices where entering secure passwords can be cumbersome and difficult. Because Yulio uses mobile devices for Virtual Reality, we made a secure login as easy as possible.
To Sign In to Yulio:
1. Click the Sign In button on any page or go to https://www.yulio.com/accounts/login/ 2. Enter your email address and password. Be sure to use the same email address you used to sign up. 3. IF you used password-less sign in, check your email. You should receive an email from Yulio with a secure login button to complete the sign in. 4. Click the button in the email and you’ll now be signed in to Yulio! You will remain signed in on that device for two weeks or until you sign out.
Tip: Do not share or forward your secure login email. This would be the same as sharing a password.
Troubleshooting
If you haven’t received an email to complete the sign-in process:
– Wait a few minutes. Sometimes the internet’s pipes get clogged. – Check your spam or junk folder. – Double-check that you’ve used the correct email address to sign in.
