At the request of some of its clients, Swiftspin, the UK's 360 product photography specialists, have just added a full zoom feature to their popular rotating image software.

The new feature allows users to zoom in to any angle of a 360 spin to inspect a product in minute detail. It joins a growing line-up of functions which includes single zoom, magnify, hotspots and bespoke animation features.

Matt Pope, Swiftspin's technical director, says, "The full zoom feature is perfect for products which have areas of interest all the way around, such as clothing and collectables. It allows users to zoom in at the click of a mouse and continue to rotate the product whilst zoomed in."

There were a number of factors which the development team at Swiftspin had to bear in mind when creating the new feature, such as keeping file size to a minimum so that it downloads quickly, and making the file 'self-contained' so that it doesn't rely on externally hosted images.

Based near the beautiful city of Bath in the UK, Swiftspin are one of the longest established specialist 360-degree spin companies. They offer their services to online retailers and web designers as well as their software to other photographers. They have rotated a huge variety of items online including shoes, bicycles, toys, furniture, lingerie, figurines and handbags.

Swiftspin's website can be found at http://www.swiftspin.co.uk. It is packed full of useful information including a free downloadable guide to 360-degree product photography aimed at helping retailers implement 360 spins onto their websites.

Download Press Release

When 360 degree product photography company Swiftspin need a new turntable for their studio near Bath they don’t approach high-tech engineering companies. Instead, directors Terry Mapstone and Pete Gallop call in the big guns... their retired dads Bob and Alan.

As one of the UK's leading 360 degree product photography companies, Swiftspin are constantly developing new turntables on which to photograph clients' products so that they can be displayed on-line in 3D. Each new product throws up a different challenge but the dads are always on hand with a practical solution. "If we need something done properly then we always turn to our dads first" says Terry, Swiftspin's founder. "Not only are they enthusiastic, they both have an eye for a bargain, which is useful in the current financial climate".

Bob (68) is a keen mechanic and when he's not building turntables he's restoring old Hillman Imps, whereas carpenter Alan (66) partakes in woodturning during his spare time. Together, the two men have created turntables on which their sons have photographed shoes, handbags, watches, bicycles, jewellery and even gas masks for some of the countries leading retailers. "It's fun working with our dads" says Pete who heads up the photography studio at Swiftspin. "We're reaping the benefits of the older generation's work ethics whilst providing them with challenges which they love to solve".

As directors of a high-tech company the two sons may know the ins and outs of actionscript, f-stops and image retouching but they admit to being completely stumped by some of the requests they get from clients, for example, how to spin a floating bicycle in mid-air without showing any supports. Before Terry and Pete have finished scratching their heads Bob and Alan have usually rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in to finding a practical solution.

Swiftspin are one of many companies making use of the skills and experience of the retired generation and are proving that reliable, hardworking staff are readily available, they just looked a little closer to home in order to find them.

Download Press Release

You’d have thought that the fashion business, a traditionally tactile industry, would shy away from interactive on-screen technology to help sell their wares, but retailers are rapidly embracing a new technology which may change the way online shoppers make their decisions in the future.

Tipped to be one of the fastest growing product display systems on the internet, 360 degree product photography threatens to leave traditional product photography in its wake as internet shoppers demand more and more from their online shopping experiences.

360 degree product photography is a process whereby multiple photographs are taken of a product as it revolves on a turntable. These images are then merged in a computer program to create a Swiftspin which allows them to be viewed very quickly one after another to create the illusion of movement, a digital end-of-pier peepshow if you like. Simply by clicking and dragging on the image, the website visitor can recreate the rotation and is able to see all around the item including zooming in to see detail.

The technology is relatively new but is rapidly being embraced by online retailers, especially those in the fashion industry, where buyers like to see products all the way around. Shoppers want to inspect a product in detail before they contemplate purchasing it, and by being able to rotate an item on-screen and see it from all angles, it is the closest they will get to physically seeing a product in-store. Another reason shoppers are demanding 360 degree product photography is because it means retailers can’t cheat in their photography. There’s no chance to pin excess fabric or hide an untidy seam, with rotational photography what you see really is what you get. The use of live models add a human element which shoppers prefer to computer generated images as well.

In a recent survey, Swiftspin, one of the UK’s leading 360 degree product photography providers found that 97% of all retailers they asked said they believed it was an improvement on what they were using at present. You may think that today’s uncertain financial climate is the worst possible time to invest in such a new idea, but it seems not. While many retailers cut back on their spending canny marketeers are taking advantage of the low introductory prices on offer for 360 degree product photography, with some suppliers providing rotations for less than a traditional flat shot. When you realise that the images used to make up the rotations are able to be used in print too you can see the thinking behind the investment.

But it’s not just the large high street retailers who are introducing 360 degree product photography to their websites, the smaller independents are finding that it is affordable for them too and they’re making the most of being able to compete with the ‘big boys’.

It just goes to show, if your customers demand change then you’d better join the revolution, if not you may find yourself going round in circles.

Download Press Release

Swiftspin have announced plans to deliver the most cost-effective 3D product photography solution on the market following a redevelopment of their studio near Bath. Their 360 degree product photography service allows retailers to display their products as Swiftspins so that consumers can rotate, zoom, and thoroughly inspect items online as if they were browsing in a physical store.

For the past year Swiftspin have been researching the market and have been perfecting a service which they believe is kind on retailers' pockets. They can now deliver high quality Swiftspins that cost as little as £20 each.

"There are plenty of companies offering 360 product photography" says Swiftspin founder Terry Mapstone' "but some of the prices being quoted are putting retailers off using what is proven to be a brilliant sales tool. In the past even the large retailers could only afford to create 3D rotations for their flagship products, but with our prices they can afford to create them for every product, and small independent retailers can afford to join the party too!".

Swiftspin has refined their studio processes to create their Swiftspins faster, easier, and more economically than most. Retailers send their products to Swiftspin, and the company rapidly returns 3D images in a format which can be uploaded immediately to the retailers website.

They may be new kids on the block but Swiftspin are developing rapidly and online retailers who are taking early advantage of their service are already benefitting from a fixed pricing structure, free new feature updates and a referral scheme offering up to 15% discounts.

"We find that clients who try us out with a few products come straight back to us with their full collection, which is great and proves that our Swiftspins work" says Terry. "We don't want to be another company who pop up and then disappear just as quickly. We genuinely want to offer a great service at an affordable price and want to reward our clients for their loyalty."

Download Press Release

A local photography company are putting the fashion industry in a spin with its revolutionary rotational photography service.

Swiftspin, based in Keynsham, create interactive images which users can rotate on screen to see the detail all around the product.

It has created quite a stir in the fashion industry and the team have already secured work from retailers including a number of London boutiques.

"We've spent the last eight months researching the industry", says Swiftspin founder Terry Mapstone. "We've learnt that retailers want a different, but affordable, way in which to display their products and allowing customers to spin them certainly fits the bill".

It seems Swiftspin are starting their own fashion revolution right in the heart of Keynsham.

Download Press Release