Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is 360 Hextile?

360 Hextile is a tool that processes 360-degree images using hexagonal tiles and AI enhancement. It breaks your panoramic image into hexagon-shaped pieces, enhances each piece with Stable Diffusion, and seamlessly combines them back together.

Is it free?

Yes, 360 Hextile is free and open-source for personal use. [License details]

What hardware do I need?

Minimum: - NVIDIA GPU with 6GB+ VRAM - 16GB system RAM - Windows 10+ or Ubuntu 20.04+

Recommended: - NVIDIA RTX 3060 or better (8GB+ VRAM) - 32GB system RAM - SSD storage

Do I need internet connection?

Only for: - Initial model downloads (~4GB) - Software updates (optional)

Once models are downloaded, you can process offline.

Processing Questions

How long does processing take?

Depends on template and GPU:

• 20_2K: ~2 minutes (RTX 4090)
• 32_3K: ~3 minutes (RTX 4090)
• 44_4K: ~4 minutes (RTX 4090)

Can I process videos?

Not yet. Currently only still images. Video support is planned for a future release.

What image formats are supported?

Input: JPG, PNG Output: JPG, PNG

Images must be equirectangular (2:1 aspect ratio).

What is the maximum image size?

• Input: Up to 8192×4096 (8K)
• Output: Limited by GPU VRAM
• File size: 100MB default limit

Can I batch process multiple images?

Yes, the application supports queuing and processing multiple jobs.

Technical Questions

Why does it use hexagonal tiles?

Hexagons provide: - Better sphere coverage - Fewer visible seams - More natural distribution - Mathematical elegance

Compared to square tiles, hexagons create more seamless results.

What is Stable Diffusion?

Stable Diffusion is an AI model that can generate or modify images based on text prompts. 360 Hextile uses it to enhance each tile according to your instructions.

Can I use my own AI models?

Currently, no. The system uses Stable Diffusion v1.5 inpainting model. Custom model support may come in the future.

Does it work with AMD GPUs?

Not currently. The system requires CUDA, which is NVIDIA-only. AMD GPU support (via ROCm) is being considered.

Can I run it on Mac?

Theoretically yes on Intel Macs with eGPU, but: - Not officially supported - Requires NVIDIA GPU via eGPU - Performance may vary

M1/M2 Macs are not supported (no CUDA).

Usage Questions

How do I make seamless results?

Tips: - Use appropriate template (32_3K recommended) - Keep strength moderate (0.3-0.5) - Use consistent prompts - Ensure good input quality - Let processing complete fully

My results have visible seams. Why?

Common causes: - Strength too high (>0.7) - Inconsistent prompts across tiles - Template corrupted or incomplete - Processing interrupted

What's the best template to use?

For most users: Hextile_32_3K

• Testing: 20_2K
• Production: 32_3K
• Maximum quality: 44_4K

Can I create custom templates?

Yes! See the TILEGEN Guide. Requires Blender and some technical knowledge.

What prompts work best?

Good prompts are: - Specific and descriptive - Consistent in style - Realistic for your content - Not overly complex

Examples: - "photorealistic, enhanced details" - "vibrant colors, high contrast" - "oil painting style, impressionist"

Troubleshooting

Why is processing so slow?

Check: - GPU temperature (thermal throttling?) - Other applications using GPU - Using appropriate template - Sufficient VRAM available

"CUDA out of memory" error?

Solutions: - Use smaller template (20_2K) - Switch to Sequential mode - Close other applications - Reduce batch size

Upload fails?

Verify: - File is JPG or PNG - Image is equirectangular (2:1 ratio) - File size < 100MB - API server is running

Results look worse than input?

Try: - Lower strength (0.3 instead of 0.7) - More diffusion steps (40-50) - Better prompt - Higher quality input

Comparison Questions

How is this different from Photoshop?

360 Hextile: - Specifically designed for 360° images - Uses AI enhancement - Seamless tiling - Batch processing

Photoshop: - General image editor - Manual editing required - Not optimized for 360°

How does it compare to other 360° tools?

Advantages: - AI-powered enhancement - Seamless processing - Customizable templates - Open source

Trade-offs: - Requires powerful GPU - Processing takes time - Learning curve

Is it better than manual stitching?

Different purposes: - 360 Hextile: Enhances existing 360° images - Stitching software: Creates 360° from multiple photos

They solve different problems and can be used together.

Licensing & Usage

Can I use it commercially?

[Specify your commercial use policy]

Can I modify the code?

Yes, it's open source. [Specify license terms]

Can I sell processed images?

[Specify your usage terms]

Do I need to credit 360 Hextile?

[Specify attribution requirements]

Future Features

Will there be video support?

Yes, it's on the roadmap for a future release.

Will you support AMD GPUs?

Possibly. AMD support (via ROCm) is under consideration.

Can I request features?

Yes! Submit feature requests on GitHub or Discord.

Will there be a cloud version?

Under consideration. Cloud processing would allow: - No local GPU needed - Faster processing (powerful cloud GPUs) - Mobile app support

Didn't find your answer? Try searching the docs or ask in the [community Discord]