Panorama software (Which do you use)

mark.thomas.7 DeleteThis @gmail.com wrote:
> On Jan 4, 8:55 am, Father McKenzie <father_mcken... DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the results.
>> Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3 doesn't stitch
>> at all especially when it comes to water movement and waves. It does the
>> dark WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line. Autopano seems to curve the horizon and
>> won't let you level it out.
>> After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
>> Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo
>> looking flat.
>>
>> About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
>> things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.
>
> I also use PTGUI and am very impressed, even though I haven't yet
> added Enblend/Smartblend (which does the not-cut-in-half thing).
>
> It's ability to automatically straighten, handle very large images and
> its excellent exposure/color blending won me over from the pain and
> suffering I was getting from other pano programs..
>

One of the things that impressed me with PTG is how quick it saves an
image over autopano (not sure if it has changed in the latest one).
PTG saves a huge image in around 10 seconds where AP can take several
minutes to render it to a save location
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

Father McKenzie wrote:
> Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the
> results. Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3
> doesn't stitch at all especially when it comes to water movement and
> waves. It does
> the dark WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line. Autopano seems to curve the
> horizon and won't let you level it out.
> After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
> Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo
> looking flat.
>
> About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
> things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.

I've only ever managed to get one decent stitch job out of Photoshops
photomerge tool.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swampy_bogtrotter/1909329806

I've had far better, and more satisfactory results from manually merging and
stitching the images together. It takes time, but I prefer the results
because I have more control over them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swampy_bogtrotter/1233966661

I'm going to have a look into the other applications you mentioned, as I'm
really not satisfied with how photoshop attempts to auto-stitch composite
images.
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

On Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:55:54 +1100, Father McKenzie wrote:

> Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the results.
> Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3 doesn't stitch
> at all especially when it comes to water movement and waves. It does the
> dark WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line. Autopano seems to curve the horizon and
> won't let you level it out.
> After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
> Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo
> looking flat.
>
> About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
> things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.

I have used panotools in the past - hugin and enblend and all that. I have
found that the pandora plugin in GIMP is much faster and generally does
all I need or want. It's main limitation is that it will only take one
series of shots from left to right - i.e. won't handle a matrix of photos
and must be properly ordered.
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

On Jan 4, 9:05 am, mark.thoma... RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote:
> On Jan 4, 8:55 am, Father McKenzie <father_mcken... RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the results.
> > Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3 doesn't stitch
> > at all especially when it comes to water movement and waves. It does the
> > dark WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line.  Autopano seems to curve the horizon and
> > won't let you level it out.
> > After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
> > Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo
> > looking flat.
>
> > About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
> > things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.
>
> I also use PTGUI and am very impressed, even though I haven't yet
> added Enblend/Smartblend (which does the not-cut-in-half thing).
>

You gotta get them Mark.
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

On Jan 3, 1:12 pm, PixelPix <m....TakeThisOut@pixelpix.com.au> wrote:
> On Jan 4, 9:05 am, mark.thoma....TakeThisOut@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jan 4, 8:55 am, Father McKenzie <father_mcken....TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the results.
> > > Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3 doesn't stitch
> > > at all especially when it comes to water movement and waves. It does the
> > > dark WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line.  Autopano seems to curve the horizon and
> > > won't let you level it out.
> > > After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
> > > Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo
> > > looking flat.
>
> > > About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
> > > things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.
>
> > I also use PTGUI and am very impressed, even though I haven't yet
> > added Enblend/Smartblend (which does the not-cut-in-half thing).
>
> You gotta get them Mark.

I agree, Smartblend is a must have plugin, Endblend does not see to
work as well.

Scott
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

On Jan 4, 11:42 am, Paul Furman <pa... RemoveThis @-edgehill.net> wrote:
> mark.thoma... RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote:
> > On Jan 4, 8:55 am, Father McKenzie <father_mcken... RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the results.
> >> Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3 doesn't stitch
> >> at all especially when it comes to water movement and waves. It does the
> >> dark WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line. Autopano seems to curve the horizon and
> >> won't let you level it out.
> >> After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
> >> Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo
> >> looking flat.
>
> >> About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
> >> things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.
>
> > I also use PTGUI and am very impressed,
>
> I believe that's also a good one for de-fishing fisheye lenses, no?

Well, I can report it certainly handles stitching up a pile of very
casually handheld shots taken at 28mm equiv, with lots of bent/curved/
tilted buildings and other problems... Example here (note the 'half-
bus' - yes, I must get that Smartblend thingy..) (~1Mb):
http://www.marktphoto.com/examples/pano2_small.jpg
That was a quick/dirty, default settings, no-user-intervention stitch
of six (I think?) images (non-DSLR). Only adjustments were a quick
levels change to fix underexposure, and a resize to about 40% of
actual size. I was testing out this location for when I come back to
do it more seriously later. The original images were badly
underexposed (about 2.5 stops - stoopid operator error!), and the
shots really were randomly tilted and distorted. Yet PTGUI sailed
through it, with only a couple of very minor seam issues (mainly due
to my lack of intervention!).

OK, it's hardly fisheye correction, but it bodes well...

> Any other programs good for this?
If PTGUI doesn't do what you want, try PTLens maybe? I don't use it
for de-fish-eyeing, but it handles pincushion/barrel/CA etc very well.
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

I agree regarding the PS stitch tool - it sucks. I have more success
using the tool provided with Canon s/w. One would think that Adobe
would get it right.

On 2008-01-03 14:55:54 -0800, Father McKenzie <father_mckenzie.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> said:

> Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the results.
> Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3 doesn't stitch
> at all especially when it comes to water movement and waves. It does
> the dark WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line. Autopano seems to curve the horizon
> and won't let you level it out.
> After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
> Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo
> looking flat.
>
> About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
> things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

On Jan 3, 8:19 pm, AxisOfBeagles <m....TakeThisOut@donotreply.com> wrote:
> I agree regarding the PS stitch tool - it sucks. I have more success
> using the tool provided with Canon s/w. One would think that Adobe
> would get it right.

That "PS stitch tool" you refer to is called PhotoMerge and it works
quite well in CS3.
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

On Jan 4, 9:58 am, Scott W <biph....TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 3, 1:12 pm, PixelPix <m....TakeThisOut@pixelpix.com.au> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jan 4, 9:05 am, mark.thoma....TakeThisOut@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > > On Jan 4, 8:55 am, Father McKenzie <father_mcken....TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the results.
> > > > Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3 doesn't stitch
> > > > at all especially when it comes to water movement and waves. It does the
> > > > dark WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line. Autopano seems to curve the horizon and
> > > > won't let you level it out.
> > > > After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
> > > > Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo
> > > > looking flat.
>
> > > > About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
> > > > things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.
>
> > > I also use PTGUI and am very impressed, even though I haven't yet
> > > added Enblend/Smartblend (which does the not-cut-in-half thing).
>
> > You gotta get them Mark.
>
> I agree, Smartblend is a must have plugin, Endblend does not see to
> work as well.
>
> Scott

ok, alright, I give in!! Have just installed smartblend, and..

Hey, it works! (O; I've only done a couple of test runs, but it has
done a remarkably good job - eg the half-bus vanished perfectly in my
example, and it seems to have cleaned up a couple of other tiny seam
errors. T

There'll be nothing left for me to do, at this rate....
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

mark.thomas.7.DeleteThis@gmail.com wrote:
> On Jan 4, 8:55 am, Father McKenzie <father_mcken....DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the results.
>> Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3 doesn't stitch
>> at all especially when it comes to water movement and waves. It does the
>> dark WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line. Autopano seems to curve the horizon and
>> won't let you level it out.
>> After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
>> Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo
>> looking flat.
>>
>> About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
>> things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.
>
> I also use PTGUI and am very impressed,

I believe that's also a good one for de-fishing fisheye lenses, no?
Any other programs good for this?

> even though I haven't yet
> added Enblend/Smartblend (which does the not-cut-in-half thing).
>
> It's ability to automatically straighten, handle very large images and
> its excellent exposure/color blending won me over from the pain and
> suffering I was getting from other pano programs..
>
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

"Father McKenzie" <father_mckenzie DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:5u57fuF1g6utpU1@mid.individual.net...
> Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the
> results.
> Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3 doesn't stitch at
> all especially when it comes to water movement and waves. It does the dark
> WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line. Autopano seems to curve the horizon and won't
> let you level it out.
> After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
> Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo looking
> flat.
>
> About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
> things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.


There are two versions of PTGUI. The "Pro" version is in My opinion, the
only one worth having.

Having said that... I use Corel PhotoPaint to manually assemble my complex
panoramas. Many of which are opportunistic in that I didn't take a tripod or
pano head with me and later decided the photos needed to be destined for big
prints. Photo Paint gives me much more control in fixing errors like wave
mismatches that no automatic program can ever hope to do.

Here are some examples of a simple and 2 complex panoramas I assembled by
hand using Corel Photo Paint which is way easier to use for this task than
Photoshop.

Parts from the bottom example have been posted and commented on before. The
only person in these groups who has actually seen a print of it is Colin D
from New Zealand whom I sent a print of the right hand portion. About 3 feet
wide as I recall.

I guess the trolls dogging my every post and accusing everyone from the Dali
Lama to the drover's dog of being me will take this opportunity to rag me
again. with taunts "Bullshit it can't be done" and "Oh look, I found an
artefact".

The difference between them and me is that I do it for a living, they just
dream about doing it.

So father...
By all means use Ptgui. It's a toy program good enough for many people. Keep
in mind that if you can't fix the nodal point of the lens or you shoot
moving objects (waves, birds, cars etc) as part of a pano, you won't get
much joy from any automated program.

Serious stuff needs rolled up sleeves and requires you to get down and dirty
with a program you can add bits and pieces of images sometimes not related
to the finished work ...when you get serious about it. I also use a GWS Fuji
panorama camera when I can be bothered with film!

Douglas
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

On Jan 4, 11:46 am, "D-Mac" <o... RemoveThis @the.groups> wrote:
> "Father McKenzie" <father_mcken... RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:5u57fuF1g6utpU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> > Recently started using PTGui and have been very impressed with the
> > results.
> > Taking lake/beach panorama's I have found photoshop CS3 doesn't stitch at
> > all especially when it comes to water movement and waves. It does the dark
> > WE CAN'T JOIN HERE line.  Autopano seems to curve the horizon and won't
> > let you level it out.
> > After a couple of tests with PTGui it seems to be more manual than
> > Autopano. Seems to blend a lot better and doesn't leave the photo looking
> > flat.
>
> > About to get the latest Autopano pro (1.4?)which they say doesn't cut
> > things in half if it is a moving object, will see how it goes.
>
> There are two versions of PTGUI. The  "Pro" version is in My opinion, the
> only one worth having.
>
> Having said that... I use Corel PhotoPaint to manually assemble my complex
> panoramas. Many of which are opportunistic in that I didn't take a tripod or
> pano head with me and later decided the photos needed to be destined for big
> prints. Photo Paint gives me much more control in fixing errors like wave
> mismatches that no automatic program can ever hope to do.
>
> Here are some examples of a simple and 2 complex panoramas I assembled by
> hand using Corel Photo Paint which is way easier to use for this task than
> Photoshop.
>
> Parts from the bottom example have been posted and commented on before. The
> only person in these groups who has actually seen a print of it is Colin D
> from New Zealand whom I sent a print of the right hand portion. About 3 feet
> wide as I recall.
>
> I guess the trolls dogging my every post and accusing everyone from the Dali
> Lama to the drover's dog of being me will take this opportunity to rag me
> again. with taunts "Bullshit it can't be done" and "Oh look, I found an
> artefact".
>
> The difference between them and me is that I do it for a living, they just
> dream about doing it.
>
> So father...
> By all means use Ptgui. It's a toy program good enough for many people. Keep
> in mind that if you can't fix the nodal point of the lens or you shoot
> moving objects (waves, birds, cars etc) as part of a pano, you won't get
> much joy from any automated program.
>
> Serious stuff needs rolled up sleeves and requires you to get down and dirty
> with a program you can add bits and pieces of images sometimes not related
> to the finished work ...when you get serious about it. I also use a GWS Fuji
> panorama camera when I can be bothered with film!
>
> Douglas

Based on those examples.... I'm convinced!! lol
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use) 

On Jan 4, 11:46 am, "D-Mac" <o....RemoveThis@the.groups> wrote:
> There are two versions of PTGUI. The "Pro" version is in My opinion, the
> only one worth having.
The Pro version supports HDR merge/stitch, vignette correction, and
global exposure/colour correction, iirc. Other than that they are
identical. I've not used any of those functions yet so can't comment.

> Here are some examples of a simple and 2 complex panoramas I assembled by
> hand using Corel Photo Paint which is way easier to use for this task than
> Photoshop.
>
> Parts from the bottom example...

???? Mmm. Those 'examples' are proof positive!

Hint to Doug, if he still hasn't got it - SOMEONE FORGOT TO POST THE
LINK.

> The
> only person in these groups who has actually seen a print of it is Colin D
> from New Zealand whom I sent a print of the right hand portion. About 3 feet
> wide as I recall.

How positively strange. Here:
http://groups.google.com.au/group/aus.photo/browse_frm/thread/40e6244692d7982a
Douglas refers to the print he sent Colin in the following (typically
enraged and somewhat incomprehensible) way:

> Almost as bad as someone claiming they can enlarge pictures in the face
> of a few wankers who say it can't be done and that someone sending a
> certain NewZealand Ex-Pro a sample to prove it can... Followed by
> months of silence from him, isn't it?

In other words, Douglas was claiming that image was a straight
enlargement demonstration. There is no mention whatsoever of it being
a stitched panorama. If it was a stitched image, it is hard to see
how that wouldn't be cheating...

Or, to give him the benefit of the doubt, is he talking about
*another* image? I'm sure he can clarify this...

Perhaps Colin D would like to comment.

> I guess the trolls dogging my every post and accusing everyone from the Dali
> Lama to the drover's dog of being me will take this opportunity to rag me
> again. with taunts "Bullshit it can't be done" and "Oh look, I found an
> artefact".

Only the bullshit parts. Your comments about PTGUI are fine. We'll
just wait for the examples, shall we?

> The difference between them and me is that I do it for a living, they just
> dream about doing it.

Sorry, what was the name of that chain of stores again? Or the
'Global Print Centre'? So many folk are clamouring to try them
out... Yet you and your website are both silent on the matter.

> So father...
> By all means use Ptgui. It's a toy program good enough for many people. Keep
> in mind that if you can't fix the nodal point of the lens or you shoot
> moving objects (waves, birds, cars etc) as part of a pano, you won't get
> much joy from any automated program.

Certainly shooting at the nodal point is very useful when you have
foreground objects, but there are programs that can help handle these
issues quite well - Smartblend being one of them..
 >> Stay informed about: Panorama software (Which do you use)