Assembling Panoramic Photos: A Designer's Notebook

6.3. Stage 3

6.3.1. Calibration

I dragged the second image of the central building next to the first one and matched them as best I could, using the image rotation function (Display→Rotation).

Before I assembled these first two images (by clicking the Stitch icon), the program calculated focal length and corrected optical distortion for all the pictures in the project. This makes an assembly much easier when a short focal length has been used, and in this case, it was essential.

I then chose Tools→High Distortion→Calibrate, and notedthe settings for this focal length with Tools→High Distortion→Register the Lens Parameters. You can reuse these settings any time you use your lens at that focal length, or when you need to redo the assembly.

6.3.2. Alignment

Straightening the horizon line is much easier if you do it at this stage than if you have a complete row of pictures. Just press the A key. Later, if some of the buildings are out of kilter, you can straighten them out with the Align the Panorama command.

6.3.3. Stitching

I assembled the rest of the photos the same way. To avoid having to rotate each picture as I added it, I applied the Tools→Go Back to Defined Horizon command (Command-H) before dragging the new picture into the workspace. The central photograph—the one that showed all of the main building—wasn't needed for the assembly, so I omitted it.