When is it Useful to Display a Product With 360° Rotation?

Mouse Rotation of 360° - Start Rotation.

While 360° rotations are very useful, their application is not always justified for every product. Additionally, fewer products require a spherical/hemispherical rotation. The question in such situations is whether it is beneficial for the customer. Not every product provides additional information through a 360° display. For example, with a mouse or any flat object, rotation does not add any extra value. Two or three photos of the product are sufficient to provide all the necessary information.

A product display with two photos is enough to provide information about a mouse. However, most three-dimensional objects benefit from a 360° display, but it’s important to assess whether additional effort is needed for showcasing the product. Can we provide extra information through rotation? To help you navigate this, we have categorized these additional details:

Shape Display

The most common goal of applying 360° rotation is to provide a detailed view of the shape. A few photos of the product alone might not convey the shape of the product, so almost every three-dimensional item benefits. However, for most complex products (e.g., spare parts, electronic components, sports equipment), a spherical/hemispherical rotation is much more useful.

Material Feel

Customers cannot touch the product, but they can experience its feel, which is greatly aided by product rotation or video animation. This is particularly applicable for fashion products, where the structure, touch, and feel of the material are very important. This includes watches, bags, shoes, fashion accessories, clothing, and even furniture and electronic devices. The play of light during product rotation creates highlights, shadows, and emphasizes the material's texture. The human brain will do the rest, recalling past experiences when touching similar products and feeling their texture.

Product Features

Look at how many details you can reveal through rotation and zooming of the product display. Each more complex product, such as electronic, household, or sports devices, benefits from a 360° display. However, it is also worth considering the use of virtual tours for showcasing products, which can highlight important details individually and allow the user to explore the product on their own.

On the other hand, for example, electronic components might have details that one would not think to photograph separately. However, a specialist looking for that exact part will contact customer support to find out if the switch is on the product, in the right place. For more complex parts or components, showing the product with a 360° rotation is a good idea.