Nano Banana Prompt for Spherical Lat/Long Image
Generate an equirectangular (2:1 aspect ratio, lat/long projection) 360-degree image of [scene description, detailed -- e.g. "a modern living room with large windows, wood flooring, and afternoon sunlight"], with consistent lighting and perspective across the full 360-degree field of view, no visible seams where the left and right edges of the image should wrap together, and correctly compressed/stretched content at the top and bottom poles (zenith and nadir) as equirectangular projection requires. Output at [resolution, e.g. "4096x2048"] if the tool supports specifying resolution.
Turning a normal image into a spherical (equirectangular / lat-long) format needs one specific technical instruction most people leave out: the 2:1 aspect ratio and “equirectangular projection” terminology. Without it, Gemini/Nano Banana tends to just stretch or crop the image instead of actually mapping it for 360 viewers.
What this produces
A single equirectangular (2:1 aspect ratio) image generated or converted from your input, structured so it displays correctly when loaded into a 360-degree panorama viewer, VR headset, or used as a skybox texture.
Variations
Two ready-to-copy versions depending on your starting point.
Generate an equirectangular (2:1 aspect ratio, lat/long projection) 360-degree panorama of [scene description, with specific detail on what should be visible in each general direction — e.g. “a sunlit forest clearing, with a stream to one side and dense trees surrounding the rest”], suitable for use in a 360 photo viewer or as a VR skybox. Ensure the horizon line stays level and consistent across the full wraparound, and that the image is seamless where the left and right edges meet.
Convert this image into an equirectangular (2:1 aspect ratio, lat/long projection) 360-degree panorama, extending the scene naturally in all directions to fill the spherical format while keeping the main subject centered and undistorted. Extrapolate plausible content for the areas outside the original photo’s frame based on the existing lighting, style, and environment, and ensure the top (zenith) and bottom (nadir) areas are filled with plausible sky/ceiling and ground/floor content rather than left blank or stretched.
Related: try Gemini Prompts for Men or AI Prompt for Women for a different angle on this.
FAQ
What does “equirectangular” mean?
It’s the standard flat-image format for representing a full 360-degree sphere — a 2:1 wide rectangle where the top and bottom edges represent straight up and straight down, used by most 360 photo viewers and VR tools.
Will this work as a real VR skybox?
It can work as a starting point — results vary in seam quality at the edges and poles, so test it in your actual VR/game engine and touch up any visible seams if needed.
Do I need a special camera or app to view the result?
No — any standard 360 photo viewer, many of which are free browser-based tools, can open a correctly formatted equirectangular image.
