Web URL Image IFX

You can use a Web URL Image IFX to display an image from the internet in a Session. You can display any JPG or PNG image that's publicly accessible and for which you have the URL. You can choose from a variety of frame styles, orientations, and functionality. For more information about the available options, see Types of Web URL Image IFX.

An example Web URL Image IFX (Image: The Orrery by Joseph Wright; public domain)

Use of Web URL Image IFX can cause performance issues on devices such as phones, tablets, and stand-alone VR headsets. This depends on the number of IFX and the size of the images.

To add a Web URL Image IFX, complete the following steps:

1. Open your menu or tablet, and then select IFX .
2. In the search field, enter url image, and then select the search icon ().
3. Select the IFX that you want to use.

4. In the Enter URL window, enter the URL of the image file, and then select Enter.

5. Place the IFX in the environment.

Types of Web URL Image IFX

The different functionality that's available in Web URL Image IFX is indicated by keywords in their titles. These are described in the following table:

Keyword	Description
360 2D	The image is projected onto a sphere. For use with 2D 360° images – specifically, monoscopic equirectangular panoramic images.
Unlit	No lighting settings are applied to the image, and so it's displayed with maximum brightness.
Lit	The lighting from the environment is applied to the image. The image will appear as an integrated part of the environment but may be difficult to see in dark environments.
Transparent	For use with PNG images that include transparency.

A comparison of unlit (top) and lit (bottom) images in a dark environment

Finding the URL of an image

You can use the web browser in ENGAGE to find the URL of an image, but you must browse directly to the image file. For example, on the Wikimedia Commons website, select one of the preview sizes that are listed underneath the image. You can then copy the image URL from the address bar. The URL must end with .png, .jpg, or .jpeg.

To copy the URL from the address bar on a VR headset, use the shortcut options on the virtual keyboard to first Select All, and then Copy. For more information, see Using shortcuts on the virtual keyboard.

Direct links to images on the Wikimedia Commons website

If you use a web browser outside of the ENGAGE app, you can obtain the URL of most images on the internet. For example, on a desktop device, right-click the image, and then select Copy image address, Copy image link, or a similar option. You can store image URLs as weblinks, and then copy them to the clipboard in the ENGAGE app when you need them. For more information, see Managing web links.

If the Web URL Image IFX displays a red question mark, then ENGAGE couldn’t retrieve the image. You may have copied the address of a webpage that displays the image, the image may be protected behind a log-in, or the server that hosts the image may prevent direct access to images – which is referred to as hotlinking.

A red question mark indicates that ENGAGE couldn’t access the image