A Matterport virtual tour is an interactive online experience; a MatterPak is a downloadable package of spatial assets; an E57 file contains scan-based point-cloud data; and a BIM file contains modeled building elements used for design and documentation. They may originate from the same property capture, but they serve different purposes.
Choosing the right deliverable can save time, reduce unnecessary processing, and help your team avoid ordering something that does not fit its software or project requirements.
At Invision Studio, our Matterport 3D Tour Photographers recommend starting with one question: Do you need to view a space, download spatial assets, work with scan data, or design using modeled building elements?This guide explains the differences and when each option makes sense.
Key Takeaways
- Matterport virtual tours help people explore properties remotely.
- MatterPaks provide downloadable assets for visualization and certain spatial workflows.
- E57 files provide point-cloud data for compatible scanning, CAD, and BIM applications.
- BIM files contain modeled building components—not simply captured points or photographs.
- These deliverables are not interchangeable, and availability depends on the capture, account, service, and ordering requirements.
- No deliverable automatically guarantees survey-grade accuracy or complete documentation of concealed conditions.
Table of Contents
- Quick Comparison of the Four Deliverables
- What Is a Matterport Virtual Tour?
- What Is a MatterPak?
- What Is a Matterport E57 File?
- What Is a BIM File?
- Which Deliverable Should You Choose?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Comparison of the Four Deliverables
| Deliverable | What it provides | Typical uses | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matterport virtual tour | An interactive, hosted representation of a captured space | Marketing, remote walkthroughs, visual documentation | Not a native CAD or BIM model |
| MatterPak | Downloadable assets such as a mesh, textures, and point-cloud data | Visualization and compatible design workflows | Does not contain parametric building elements |
| E57 file | Scan-based point-cloud data in an industry exchange format | Existing-condition modeling and point-cloud coordination | Usually requires compatible processing software |
| BIM file | Modeled building components with associated properties | Design, documentation, renovation planning, coordination | Requires defined modeling scope and verification |
| The simplest distinction is experience versus assets versus measurements versus modeled elements. |
What Is a Matterport Virtual Tour?
A Matterport virtual tour lets someone explore a property through a web-based viewer. Depending on the capture and enabled features, users can move between viewpoints, view a dollhouse representation, and access labels or informational tags.Virtual tours are useful for:
- Residential and commercial property marketing.
- Hospitality and venue previews.
- Remote stakeholder walkthroughs.
- Visual records of accessible building conditions.
- Helping project teams understand room relationships.
The tour is primarily a viewing and communication tool. Although supported viewers may offer measurement features, the tour is not equivalent to a downloadable point cloud or an editable architectural model.
Our Matterport 3D Tour Photographers recommend choosing a virtual tour when your main objective is helping people understand a space without visiting it.Also consider hosting: continued access to the online experience depends on the applicable hosting arrangement.
What Is a MatterPak?
A MatterPak is a downloadable bundle of technical assets generated from an eligible Matterport space.A typical MatterPak includes:
- A colorized XYZ point cloud.
- An OBJ mesh with associated texture files.
- Floor-plan and reflected-ceiling-plan images.
Confirm the current package contents and eligibility before ordering.The OBJ mesh represents captured surfaces using connected polygons. The XYZ point cloud represents spatial locations as individual points, with color information.These assets can support visualization, background references, and workflows in software that accepts their formats.
However, a mesh is not a BIM model. A wall-shaped surface in an OBJ file does not automatically behave like a Revit wall with editable thickness, materials, and constraints.
At Invision Studio, our Matterport 3D Tour Photographers recommend a MatterPak when a designer needs downloadable spatial assets but does not specifically require E57 scan data or a completed BIM deliverable.
What Is a Matterport E57 File?
An E57 file uses a standardized format for exchanging three-dimensional scan data. A Matterport E57 export provides point-cloud information for use in compatible processing and modeling applications.Unlike a virtual tour, an E57 file is intended for technical workflows rather than browser-based property exploration.Architects and other project teams may use it to:
- Reference visible existing building geometry.
- Develop existing-condition models.
- Review spatial relationships.
- Compare captured conditions with proposed designs.
- Support coordination in point-cloud-compatible software.
E57 and MatterPak XYZ are not identical deliverables. Both can contain point data, but they differ in format and potentially in organization and included information. Confirm which format your receiving application and project team require.For Autodesk Revit, the standard workflow is to import and index the E57 in Autodesk ReCap, then link the resulting RCP or RCS data into Revit.
An E57 file does not automatically create walls, doors, or floors. It also should not be assumed to contain established survey coordinates.
What Is a BIM File?
Building Information Modeling, or BIM, represents a building using modeled components and associated information.In this context, a BIM deliverable might be a native Revit RVT file or an IFC exchange file, depending on the agreed workflow.Unlike a point cloud, a BIM model can contain identifiable elements such as:
- Walls and floors.
- Doors and windows.
- Roofs and ceilings.
- Structural components.
- Selected building systems, where included in scope.
Those elements can support drawings, schedules, coordination, and other design tasks.However, BIM describes a modeling approach, not one universal file format or guaranteed level of detail. A basic existing-condition model and a detailed multidisciplinary model are substantially different deliverables.
Our Matterport 3D Tour Photographers recommend defining the required software version, modeled elements, accuracy expectations, and exclusions before commissioning scan-to-BIM work.A BIM file should never be assumed to be included with a virtual tour, MatterPak, or E57 purchase.
Which Deliverable Should You Choose?
Match your purchase to your intended outcome:
- Choose a virtual tour for online viewing, marketing, and remote visual access.
- Choose a MatterPak for downloadable mesh, texture, and point-cloud assets.
- Choose E57 when your technical workflow specifically requires compatible scan data.
- Choose BIM when your team needs modeled building elements for design or documentation.
Some projects benefit from multiple deliverables. An architect might use a virtual tour for visual context, an E57 point cloud for geometric reference, and a BIM model for drawings.
At Invision Studio, our Matterport 3D Tour Photographers recommend confirming the final deliverables before capture. Coverage requirements, access restrictions, and intended tolerances can affect whether the resulting data is suitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Matterport virtual tour include a MatterPak, E57, and BIM file?
No. These are separate deliverables or services. Confirm availability, eligibility, pricing, and scope for the specific project.
Can a MatterPak replace a BIM model?No. MatterPak assets can support modeling workflows, but they do not provide native, parametric building components.Is E57 more accurate than BIM?
They represent different things. E57 contains captured point data; BIM contains interpreted geometry. Accuracy depends on capture conditions, processing, modeling decisions, and verification.
What should I ask Invision Studio before booking?
Explain your intended use, required formats, receiving software, critical dimensions, and deadline. The right deliverable is the one your team can actually use—not simply the largest file package.
