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Panoramas and Photomerge
Photomerge and CS3
Photomerge is Photoshop’s function for blending images into panoramas. The CS3 version has features which make it more successful than its predecessor in CS2.
- It is more convenient to have all the images which are to be merged in the same folder.
- Any images that happen to be open will also be included, so they should be closed first.
In Photoshop, go to File > Automate > Photomerge.
- Under Use, choose Folder.
- Click on Browse and find the folder of images for merging. OK.
The images in the folder will be listed.
- In the first instant, use the default Layout of Auto.
- Start by having the Advanced Blending box checked, because often it works well. OK.
CS2 had a more elaborate Photomerge interactive layout dialogue box but the CS3 Align system is a big improvement.
Advanced Blending can be pretty smart.
Each image is put on a separate layer.
A sophisticated mask is created for each layer.
The Advanced Blending option is illustrated here.
If Advanced Blending is unchecked, the masks and blending are more basic and are likely to required some manual attention.
This is one of the images with a advanced blending mask applied.
Photoshop In A Day
has a more extensive coverage of Photomerge.
Photomerge and CS2
For people using CS2, there are a number of differences and the method is outlined below.
If necessary, prepare the images first by correcting the worst of any rotation.
Number the images in the correct order from left to right.
Place them all in the same folder.
The order can be rearranged later but a neat beginning is more convenient.
- Any images that happen to be open will also be included, so they should be closed first.
- In Photoshop, go to File > Automate > Photomerge.
- Under Use, choose Folder.
- Click on Browse and find the folder with the landscapes.
The images in the folder will be listed.
- Often the Attempt to Automatically Arrange box can be checked - sometimes it works.
In order to have a better understanding of what is going on, leave this box unchecked. OK.
The images will be opened and if they are in 16 bit they will be converted to 8 bit.
They will appear as thumbnails in the top bar, referred to as the Lightbox.
- Drag the left-most image into the main panel, the Work area, with the Select Image Tool.
- The Snap To Image box on the right should be checked.
Newly added images will then jump into place when common features are lined up. - Drag the new left-most image into the main panel.
Move the second image over the first and note how its opacity is lowered.
It can be lined up with matching objects in the first image.
Release the cursor and the second image snaps into place. - Drag the other images into position on the main panel.
The success here largely depends on the accuracy of the original photographs.
The size of the new image display can be adjusted with the Navigation window.
The Zoom Tool will also adjust size:
click to zoom in; Alt + click to zoom out.
- Images can be rearranged in the Lightbox with the Select Image Tool.
- An image can be removed from the composition in the main Work area and put back into the Lightbox.
- Double-clicking on an image in the Lightbox will also add it to the composition.
- Click OK and the images will be merged as a panorama.
Tip
File sizes should be borne in mind at the start. A file of 25Mb might be normal but 9 of them in a row gets BIG. Processing time will become very slow. If the final image width is going to be 24" or 600mm, then the file sizes can be reduced before starting.
Back to the top
Making panoramas
The Nodal Point
Tripod heads for panoramas
Software for panoramas
Panoramic cameras
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