Using a standard digital camera and inexpensive photo "stitching" software,
YOU can create your own RCPix virtual tours. etc. Impress your sellers! Wow your buyers!
You simply shoot a series of still photos as you rotate your camera. Then stitch the
photos together in a panorama.
What You Need
- Digital camera with exposure control
- Panorama stitching software
- Software to size your panorama
- Tripod
Exposure Control is necessary for consistent exposure from one photo to the next.
For example, if a set of photos begins with a kitchen, then pans past a
bright window, your camera's "point and shoot" features will reduce the exposure for the bright
window.
Consequently, the walls and curtains around the window may appear almost black, as shown here.
These photos will NOT produce a pleasant panorama. The correct exposure is the exposure that
shows the interior of the house nicely. Over-exposed windows simply "go with the territory."
Exposure control generally takes one of two forms: (1) manual control of exposure through menu
settings, or (2) press the "shutter button" partially while pointing at the kitchen, then
while continuing to partially press the button, pan to the window, and THEN press the button
completely (this procedure locks the exposure to the kitchen lighting).
Panorama Stitching Software is inexpensive and easy-to-use.
Download a Free Trail of MGI's PhotoVista Panorama.
Software to Size Your Panorama may already be present on your computer. Most digital
camera kits include a basic image editing software package that can size your photos. The important
point is that your finished panorama must 240 pixels high.
A Tripod is necessary to ensure an even pan from one photo to the next. The tripod's pan
head must be horizontal relative to the tripod's center stem, rather than relative to
the ground. Naturally, it's easiest just to be certain that everything is horizontal relative to
level ground; however,
you can feel free to tip the entire tripod if you wish.
Notes on Panning
A panorama is created by stitching together a group of horizontally panned still photos.
For best results, the stills should overlap each other significantly. 20-25% overlap
generally gives good results. In general, it is best to shoot across a room, rather than
standing in the middle of the room.
Non-Smooth Color Gradients
Sometimes, color gradients will contain unexpected color steps or rings. These steps can be
minimized by (a) shooting and working with large and high quality stills, and
(b) reducing still photo size prior
to stitching. Note that the final jpeg quality should always be as low as is reasonable,
since low quality reduces both file size and download time.
The ultimate solution to this problem is to increase your monitor's color setting to
32-bit (older systems may not support 32-bit color). On a Windows system, go to
>Start >Settings >Control-Panel >Display >Settings >Color
and set the color to 32-bit. (Note: this same message is displayed to your website's
visitors.)
Notes on MGI's PhotoVista Panorama
If you stitch a panorama using MGI's PhotoVista Panorama, an options window will appear.
For best results, select the options as
shown here. (Feel free to test other options to see what happens.)
"The Walls Appear to be Distorted"
When you first begin stitching panoramas, you may think that "things look 'funny'" from time
to time. In particular, straight walls may appear bent or bowed.
However, appearances aren't always what they seem. Consider Figure 1.a. Points A and C are
farther from the camera than point B. Consequently, an object at point A or C will appear
smaller than the same object at point B. (Objects appear smaller when they are far away.)
This also means that the wall will appear shorter at points A and C than at point B.
This relationship is shown in Figure 1.b, where the top and bottom edges of the wall appear
rounded rather than straight.
If you move the camera far back from the wall, the distance to all 3 points will be approximately
the same, and so the top and bottom edges will appear straight. However, the closer you move, the
more pronounced the apparent bowing. To see this effect with you own eyes, try standing
near a wall and then move your head quickly to look from one end of the wall to the other.
If you ignore your knowledge that the wall's edges are actually straight, then you will
see that the top and bottom edges appear bowed.
The implication here is simply that appearances and pre-existing assumptions are often deceiving.
The apparent distortion is actually "true" perception.
"Strange" Corners
Where two walls form a corner, try to orient the stills such
that (a) the corner appears in only one still (exclude the corner from overlap), or
(b) the corner appears at the edge of two adjacent stills. If the result still appears a bit
odd, you can often use photo editing software to stretch the wall vertically on both sides of
the corner.
Download Free Trial of Panorama Stitching Software
