How to convert Enscape to VR using Meta Quest? [2023]

Enscape3D is one of the most widely used tools in the AEC industry for real-time rendering. With a simple and quick rendering engine, Architecture & Design professionals have found an easy way to share photo-realistic renders and videos with clients. As Enscape integrates with 3D modeling software like Revit & SketchUp directly via plugins, adding Virtual Reality to the mix of visualization tools has been a feature available on PC-tethered headsets

With the takeoff of wireless VR headsets like (Oculus) Meta Quest 2 & Pro, a lot of users have been searching and asking for ways to get the Enscape visualization experience on standalone VR. In this article, we will share our learnings from a deep dive into how to view Enscape models in VR using the Oculus Quest 2 headset. So, let's get started with some of the frequently asked questions:

The short answer is No. As of July 2023 - there is no official app that you can download for viewing Enscape designs on the Oculus Quest 2. This does not mean that there is no way to view your design, but officially Enscape supports PC-tethered headsets only. Check their official VR headsets supported by Enscape page for more details.

The workaround in order to view Enscape models on Oculus Quest is by using Airlink - a wireless way to play PC VR experiences on the Quest. Since this works primarily for PC VR experiences, you need to make sure that you fulfill the hardware requirements for these experiences. Here's the checklist:

If your system meets the requirements, you need to install the latest Oculus runtime on your PC.

Next, you need to enable apps from Unknown Sources from Settings --> General --> Unknown Sources

From the Settings --> Beta tab, enable Air Link option to connect your PC to the Quest wirelessly.

Once Air Link is ON, open Enscape & click on the VR icon.

On clicking on the VR icon, you will see the model pop-up inside the VR headset and you can navigate using the Enscape VR menu & settings. Also, you will be able to see the VR view on your PC in this mode.

While this process does help you get an Enscape model in Oculus Quest, you need to be aware of a few limitations to using this in your presentation workflow:

Yes, there is a cloud-based and wireless VR workflow that allows you to view Enscape designs on the Oculus Quest without the need for a direct connection to a computer. This requires exporting selected renders from your designs as 360 panoramas and then using a cloud-based viewer for sharing on the web and Meta Quest headsets.

With SENTIO VR, you can test this workflow in a matter of minutes enabling clients and other stakeholders to view your Enscape designs without requiring tethered PC-based VR setups.

Enscape easily allows you to create 360 panoramas from your designs. They can be an extremely valuable and easy method to enable your VR workflow on the Meta Quest - without losing portability and cloud-based collaboration. To enable this workflow, you need to first learn how to create 360 panoramas from your Enscape design. This knowledge base article from Enscape is a very good resource. In fact, the process is extremely intuitive as you need to follow these steps:

Create a Mono or Stereo panorama

Click on the 360 Icon and choose Mono or Stereo panorama options. For VR presentations, we recommend the Stereo option as they provide a sense of depth when viewed immersively. For sharing on PC/mobile devices, the mono format will work just fine.

Source: Enscape 3D

Download panoramas to your PC

You have the option to upload the panorama to your Enscape account or download it to your PC. Click the "Upload Management" section in the Enscape Toolbar to view your panoramas. In the same window, you will find an option to download a 360 panorama to your PC. For Oculus Quest presentations, we recommend downloading the file.

1. Export panoramas to your desktop

Panorama created in Enscape can be exported locally to your PC either one or several at a time with adjusted settings such as max lighting, refinement, motion blur, and frame rate. Here is a guide for available file formats, resolutions, and modes for exporting panoramas locally:

2. Drag and drop to your SENTIO VR account

Click on "Create Tour", add your panorama images in the right order to create a 360 virtual tour

Drag and drop 360 panoramas

3. Add hotspots, floor plans, notes, audio, and video

Customize your virtual tour by adding floor plans, hotspots, notes, audio and video to make an interactive experience.

4. View 360 tours in the SENTIOVR app for Meta Quest

Download the SENTIO VR App for Quest and enter your unique 6-digit access code to view your panoramas in VR. Once the virtual tour is created, there is no need to connect the PC to the headset and the experience can be shared via cloud to any client or stakeholder.

Sentio VR on Meta Quest App

5. Join remote collaboration meetings in VR with clients and stakeholders

The VR tours are available not just for individual presentations but also for collaborative meetings where multiple people can remotely join and review the designs together.

Remote collaboration with clients and external stakeholders
 

SENTIO VR and Enscape are both powerful tools used in architectural visualization that can be used in a complementary fashion to enable powerful real-time visualization as well as cloud-based immersive collaboration. With 360 panoramas-based workflows from Enscape to Sentio, users can create powerful virtual tours that can be shared on any device including wireless VR headsets without requiring high-end PCs and enabling a swift design review process.

At SENTIO VR, we believe that the future of VR presentations in the Architecture & Design industry is going to be dominated by cloud-based experiences on standalone VR headsets like Oculus Quest 2. With a few workarounds, you can view your Enscape 3D designs on the Oculus Quest 2. In addition, with an easy workflow to create and edit 360 panoramas exported from Enscape, you can prepare client presentations that are immersive, cloud-based & do not require high-end PCs connected to the headset as an option for enriching your VR workflows.

If you’re interested in trying out Sentio for cloud-based visualization & collaboration of 3D designs in VR, you can get started here.