For professional 360 photographers, understanding the Street View Publish API provides insight into how Google processes panoramic imagery. When you upload a series of indoor 360 photos, Google's cloud infrastructure evaluates spatial proximity, compass heading angles, and visual feature matches to generate connected blue-line paths. In this guide, we break down the Street View Publish API workflow and how PanoPublish automates complex API requests.
1. 1. Core API Endpoints & Request Flow
The Street View Publish API exposes endpoints for photo creation, batch updating, and connection building:
- photo.create: Registers raw equirectangular image bytes on Google storage servers.
- photo.update: Modifies metadata, compass headings, and Place ID bindings.
- photo.batchUpdate: Updates connection vectors across multiple nodes simultaneously.
PanoPublish handles all endpoint requests automatically, giving photographers a simple drag-and-drop web dashboard.
- Photo Creation Endpoint: Streaming image binary data securely to Google servers.
- Batch Connection Endpoint: Submitting directional node graphs in single API calls.
- Automated Error Handling: Retrying failed API network requests automatically.
2. 2. Preserving XMP Metadata Tags
Google's API requires specific XMP header tags embedded inside equirectangular JPEGs: - GPano:UsePanoramaViewer = True - GPano:PoseHeadingDegrees = Compass yaw angle relative to true North - GPano:FullPanoWidthPixels & FullPanoHeightPixels = 2:1 aspect ratio parameters
PanoPublish automatically verifies and injects missing XMP headers prior to API submission.
- XMP Header Audit: Ensuring GPano tags comply with Google spherical standards.
- Compass Heading Precision: Calibrating yaw degrees to prevent rotational jumps.
- Aspect Ratio Check: Enforcing 2:1 equirectangular image dimensions.
Common Questions & Answers
Why do some software tools charge $14.99 per export for Google Street View?
Legacy platforms like Matterport charge add-on export fees as a monetization markup. PanoPublish provides unlimited Google Street View uploads under flat INR plans.
Can I publish Street View tours for clients using their own Google account?
Yes. PanoPublish allows OAuth2 login with any client Google account or agency account.
Related Articles
Google Street View
Google Street View Publishing: The Complete 2026 Masterclass for Photographers & Agencies
Read moreGoogle Street View
How to Publish to Google Street View: Complete Photographer's Guide
Read more
Google Street View
Google Street View API: Automated Cloud Publishing Infrastructure
Read more