Facebook’s 3D Photos Have Arrived

Facebook announced today that it has begun rolling out 3D photos. Viewable both in the News Feed and with virtual reality headsets, 3D photos bring a scene to life by adding the facets of depth and movement.

After capturing a photo using the Portrait mode on a compatible smartphone, you can share that 3D photo on Facebook to allow viewers to scroll, pan, and tilt while looking at it. It’s “like you’re looking through a window,” Facebook says.

The technology uses the depth map data stored in Portrait mode photos captured with the iPhone 7+, 8+, X and XS. There’s no mention of support for Google’s dual-pixel Portrait mode photos captured with the Pixel line.

Here’s a quick video on creating 3D photos for Facebook:

This feature is also less advanced than the 3D world reconstructions teased by Facebook back in May 2018. There’s no word yet regarding if or when we’ll see that available through Facebook.

3D photos are viewable online and in VR starting today, and the ability to create and share them will be rolled out to all users over the coming days.