Create an explorable world

Last updated: October 12, 2026

Generate an explorable 3D world from a description, concept art or a short video, walk through it in the browser, and download it whole or as separate parts. Use it for level blockouts, environment exploration, and for framing shots and key art inside a place before anyone builds it.

Before you start

Start from a prompt, from images (a single photo or panorama, or a few views around the same scene), or from one short video.
The Create world button shows the cost before you run it; see Creative Units for how it is charged.

Steps

In a session, open Create world from the tools in the side panel.
Check the model at the top of the form. The default world model generates whole scenes; pick another from the list if your workspace offers one for a different job.
Describe the place in the prompt: what it is, what it is made of, the light and the mood. To build from art instead, add it under Reference image, or add a clip under Source video.
Select Create world. The world builds on the board; a world takes longer than an image.
When it is done, open it. The world viewer loads it in place.
Explore it. In Orbit, drag to circle the scene. Switch Navigation to Walk to move through it at eye height: drag to look around and hold W to walk.
To take it into another tool, select Download as... and choose what to download.

Result

The world lands on the session board and in your library as one file. It holds several parts, each of which you can download on its own from Download as...:

Full world (.zip): the world's manifest and every part in one zip, which you can upload to Layer again as the same world.
Splat (.spz): the scene as gaussian splats, at each level of detail the world has. Opens in splat viewers and in engines with splat support.
Collider mesh (.glb): coarse, untextured geometry for physics and walking, not for rendering.
Panorama (.png): an equirectangular 360° image, for a skybox or an environment map.

Capture views

A world is also a set you can shoot. With the world open, pick a frame under Capture (16:9, 1:1 or 9:16), move to the view you want and select Capture view. The view is saved as an image on the board (or in your library when you opened the world there), and its thumbnail under the capture button takes you back to that exact viewpoint. Use captures as backgrounds, as the start frame of a video, or as references for the art team.

Production tips

Draft first. Turn on Draft in the form for a quicker, cheaper version to judge the layout. When one works, right-click its tile and choose Complete draft to build it at full quality. A draft can be completed only for a limited time.
Give it concept art. A painted key frame or a panorama of the location holds the look far better than a prompt alone. Several views of the same place help it understand the space behind the camera.
Describe a place, not a shot. Name the materials, the layout and the light ("narrow stone passages opening onto a flooded hall, lit by glowing pools"). Characters and action do not belong in a world prompt; add them later in the captures.
Use the panorama as a skybox. The panorama part drops into an engine as a 360° background or reflection source while the level itself is built.
Block out with the collider. The collider mesh gives a level designer the walkable shape of the space to measure and block out against; rebuild the final geometry in your engine.
Switch the detail level. The world viewer's Detail control trades sharpness for speed (Fast, Balanced, Full detail). Use Fast on a slower machine and Full detail before you capture a view.

If something goes wrong

The world is slow or blurry while you move. Splats are drawn on your graphics card. Set Detail to Fast, close other heavy tabs, and let it settle before you capture.
Walking goes through walls or falls through the floor. Walking follows the collider mesh, which is coarse. Switch back to Orbit to frame the view.
The generation was refused. See Your prompt or image was blocked.
The generation failed or is stuck. See Fix a failed or stuck generation.

Learn more about the world model from its maker, World Labs.