The basics

220 ADVANCED PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 5.0 FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
MAKING BETTER PANORAMAS
Photomerge
tools
The technology behind the ‘Image Stitching’ idea is simple. Shoot a range of images whilst
gradually rotating a standard camera so that each photograph overlaps the next. Next,
import the pictures into Elements and then Photomerge and proceed to stitch the images
together to form a wide, no make that very wide, panoramic picture.
Tips for great
panoramas:
1. Panoramas are
fi rst and foremost
a photographic
exercise.
Composition, lighting and point
of view are all critical, although
they have to be dealt with
differently to traditional
photography.
2. Elements is your friend. Use it
to fi x problem areas in your
fi nished panorama.
3. If possible use a special
panorama head to capture your
pictures. If you can’t afford a
commercial model search the net
for plans of a DIY version for your
camera and lens combination.
Scroll
bar
Layout and
preview area
Book resources at: www.adv-elements.com
From here the photo could be printed, or if the original series
of images covered the full 360˚ of the scene with the fi rst and
last pictures overlapping, a special ‘wrap-around view’, called
virtual reality (VR) panorama, could be produced. Programs
like Apple’s QuickTime use these 360˚ panoramas and allow
the viewer to stand in the middle of the action and spin the
image around. It is like you are actually there.
Despite the comparative ease with which Photomerge stitches
images together the best quality panoramas are made when
attention is paid to every step of the capture, stitch and print
process. The following techniques go beyond the basic steps
needed to create a panorama and will help you produce the best
pictures possible with the Photomerge system.
Unmatched
pictures
Light box
area
Photomerge >> The Photomerge
feature in Elements is specially
designed to stitch together a
series of overlapping pictures to
form a panorama.
Navigator
preview
Zoom slider
Perspective
settings
Map to cylinder
Advanced
blending
Snap match
source images
Produce
panorama
in layers