| Stitching errors are a common problem in | | | | another area where there are big differences |
| panoramic photography, where the photo stitching | | | | between different software packages. Sadly, |
| software made a mistake in lining up the images | | | | some of them just aren't very good at this job. |
| when it stitched them together. After stitching | | | | If you're constantly having trouble with panorama |
| your panorama you might see some places | | | | stitching errors, the first thing you must do is to |
| where objects have been distorted, misaligned or | | | | make sure you are allowing plenty of overlap |
| cut in half during the panorama stitching process. | | | | between frames (an overlap of one third is good). |
| Here are the six most common causes of | | | | Many cameras have a feature that allows you to |
| stitching errors. | | | | overlay the viewfinder with a grid that divides the |
| 1. Not enough overlap between frames. If you | | | | frame into three parts horizontally and vertically. |
| don't allow enough overlap between frames when | | | | This makes working out your overlaps easy. |
| shooting, your software may not be able to stitch | | | | By allowing plenty of overlap, you also reduce |
| the frames together properly. | | | | problems with distortion. This is because lenses |
| 2. Distortion. If there's a lot of distortion in the | | | | distort the picture more around the very edges |
| original images, it can make the images much | | | | of the frame -- especially wide angle lenses. |
| harder for the software to stitch together. | | | | If your stitching problems are caused by parallax |
| Distortion can be caused by a poor quality lens, | | | | error, you'll need to take more care when |
| by using an extra wide angle lens, or by having | | | | shooting to try and rotate your camera around |
| very close objects in the overlap zone. | | | | its nodal point. |
| 3. Parallax Error. This is a problem where close | | | | The best way to do this is using a tripod with a |
| objects seem to change position between frames | | | | panoramic head attachment. But even an ordinary |
| because the camera has changed position, due to | | | | tripod may help, and if you have to shoot |
| not being rotated around the 'no parallax point' of | | | | hand-held, make sure you follow the rules for |
| the lens (also variously referred to as the entry | | | | hand-held shooting (stand with your feet apart, |
| pupil or nodal point of the lens). | | | | hold the camera firmly with two hands, keep the |
| 4. Lack of visible features. To automatically stitch | | | | camera horizontal, etc). |
| the frames together, the photo stitching software | | | | Stitching problems caused by a lack of visible |
| relies on being able to match up features in each | | | | features, or by highly repetitive features, can |
| pair of images. If your subject has large areas | | | | usually be solved by manually adjusting the |
| without many obvious features (like a blank wall | | | | stitching points. Most panorama software has a |
| or clear blue sky), this can make it hard to stitch. | | | | feature that allows you to view and adjust the |
| 5. Highly repetitive features. Sometimes, the | | | | stitch points. If you can master this trick, you'll |
| panorama stitching software can become | | | | soon be able to tackle even the most difficult |
| confused if your images contain a lot of almost | | | | panoramas with ease. |
| identical features repeated throughout the image. | | | | Finally, if you've allowed plenty of overlap and |
| An example of this might be an empty football | | | | your software is still giving you stitching problems, |
| stadium, with row after row of seats forming | | | | get rid of it! It's hard enough creating great |
| repetitive patterns across large portions of the | | | | panoramas without putting up with dud software. |
| image. | | | | Thanks for reading, and good luck with your |
| 6. Bad software. Automatic stitching of images is | | | | panoramas. |