How do I fix blurry or distorted panoramas?

A distorted panorama is almost always a source problem, not a platform problem. The usual signs are a stretched horizon, a pinched ceiling or a soft, smeared image that looks blurry on a large screen.

Check the source file first

1. Open the file on your computer and confirm it is an equirectangular 2:1 image.
2. Look at the horizon: it must be a straight line, not a curve.
3. Open the original at full size and check whether the detail is present.

The platform checks two things before it accepts a panorama: the equirectangular 2:1 ratio and the resolution. A file that is not exactly two to one is rejected, because a stretched image cannot be repaired afterwards without cropping the picture. A file that is too small is accepted but looks soft on a large screen, so the check covers the format and leaves the quality to you.

Fix the common causes

• A horizon that curves is a projection error — re-stitch it in equirectangular mode.
• A pinched pole means the stitcher zoomed in; shoot level and keep the tripod centred.
• Soft images come from motion blur, a dirty lens or heavy JPEG compression.
• Low resolution looks blurry on a desktop and fine on a phone; re-shoot or use a larger file.

Replace the file

Upload the corrected panorama as a new scene, place the same hotspots again and delete the old scene. A published version keeps the old image, so publish a new version when the fix is ready.