How to Create a Panoramic Photo - Making Awesome Images with Photoshop Lesson

November 14, 2008

Nowadays, special cameras are no longer needed to create awesome panoramic photographs. One only needs to use the Photoshop program, using the Photomerge process. Photomerge is a separate program present in Photoshop CS created especially for panoramic photography. Although the results of the merge will be heavily dependent on the layout and quality of the image source, the process itself is not difficult. The feature permits the selection of images intended for panoramic setting, and it also allows manual arrangement.

Since the quality of the source image is important, it is necessary to note some tips when shooting scenic photographs

-Shoot pictures using manual exposure. Blending the pictures later on will be difficult when different exposures per shot is used

-Try to keep the camera in one place when shooting. If possible, use tripod. It will be harder to merge photos afterwards when the focus is in parallax.

-Establish a distance between the camera and the subject, especially when working with landscapes. The chances for parallax is greater when objects are so close to the camera.

Here is the simple step-by-step instruction on how to come up with panoramic images using Photoshop:

1. Download several images of a single scenery. For this instance, three images will be used.

2. Open Photoshop CS. Go to the File option, the select Automate, and then go to Photomerge.

3. The photoshop dialog box will be opened. Check to see that the three images selected appear in the dialog box, then check the Attempt to Automatically Arrange Source Images box, then select Ok. The program will then automatically select images one by one, afterwards, a window will open showing the images that are going to be merged in the interface for photomerge.

Note: It is possible that an error may occur in case the program cannot merge the images automatically. This should not be a source for panic since one can arrange the images manually.

4. If an errors occurs, integrate the images that was not merged by pulling the said image from the top window into the panorama, arranging it to its desired position.

5. Photoshop then will integrate the image into the panorama automatically. However, some clear lines that separate the images into the panorama may appear. It is possible to blend those lines so it will disappear. Select the Advance Blending option located at the right of the photomerge window, then select Preview. Inconsistencies in color will be calculated by the program. At this point, the images will blend together.

6. One can actually distort the pictures so that the scene will like it is in perspective. Select the Perspective option on the bottom of Settings. This can also be done by choosing Set Vanishing Point in the photomerge window, then click to an area in the panorama.

Remember that Photoshop will combine all the individual images into a single one on one layer. One can simply select the Keep as Layers option and click it to be able to edit each image individually.

Cylindrical mapping can also be utilized, where images are projected into a cylinder. It can improve the mapping of the perspective.

It is often recommended that Perspective should be used often instead of the Normal mode. Normal setting usually does not match the images seamlessly, and Perpective does that in a more accurate manner.

Creating panoramic photos does not need to be complicated. Using Photoshop will make the task a breeze for just about anyone.

Utilizing the program can make anyone producing inspiring and professional-looking images without the hassle.

Written by admin · Filed Under Photoshop Lessons