Hi,

I am trying to eval PTGUI VS AutoPano and I was hoping that a kindly PTGUI user out there might be kind enough to help me with initial settings so I can evaluate the program prior to purchase.

I downloaded V 7.1 and was surprised how different the setup was in comparison to AutoPano.

I am using a simple set of 6 .JPG files as a test and would like to create a panorama at highest quality. I was wondering if PTGUI had an auto-crop function like AutoPano and which other setup setting, such as the number of reference points etc. I should use to make a fair best-quality panorama.

I made one attempt but the result was obviously inferior to the AutoPano test and from what I had read PTGUI is usually considered if not better... then at least equal.

Here are my settings, most came from Joe Holmes I'm sure he doesn't mind me sharing them with you, a few are my preferences

Download enblend,smartblend and ptstitcher

tools/options/panorama tool load ptstitcher
tools/options/plugins load enblend and smartblend

In project assistant:
1. Load images

2. Align images (cylindrical and centered for single row panos)
then use the optimizer, Heavy + lens shift, Optimize using panorama tools optimizer

3. Create Panorama
first create a small sized pano to verify blending then if it looks good create a full rez pano,
a. select output file location
b. select stitch using ptgui (but warp using panorama tools)
c. select blend using smartblend plugin
d. check use fast transform
e. select interpolator sinc 256

It took about a week to get comfortable and as you see things you don't like you dig into it and find the solutions like manually selecting control points etc.

Marc

Marc,

Have you used AutoPano Pro? It also seems like a program with a lot of potential...

Thanks for the GUI tips...

Cheers,

Rich

No I haven't I was using panorama factory (only a little) when Joe sold me on the virtues of PTGui. There is such a learning curve to each one I hesitate to learn a new stitching program. I just upgraded to CS3 so that stitcher will be my next one to get familiar with.
Marc

This one was hand held, program mode, auto white balance and hypoxic (14,000')
everything done wrong. But PTGui made a silk purse out of it!
Click to view attachment

Marc... just for a hoot download AutoPano Pro (free demo) and try it on the same images and see how it does. AutoPano Pro is actually very simple and like CS3 automatic.

I used to be in the astronomy biz... I actually stood underneath the Big Keck main mirror assembly at Kitt peak's optical shop before it was shipped to Hawaii....

Rich

Autopano is excellent, it will even stitch polarised 17mm handheld shots.

However, CS3 has PhotoMerge (Autoalign and Autoblend) which works quite superbly. make a selection in Bridge, hit Tools / Photoshop / Photomerge and sit back. If you have CS3, try it, you may be surprised.

If you think it does a better job I'll give it a try
Mauna Kea is one of my favorite places this shot was driving down the access road
Marc

Click to view attachment

this tree was at about 9000' in a cloud coming down from the observatories

Click to view attachment

Marc,

It's actually high enough to cause health problems for some of the observers.....

Rich