Table of contents
Preparation
PTGui and Autopano
Fine-tuning with PTGui
The zenith-image
Assembling the images
Creating the QTVR

Go here if you look for an updated tutorial for PTGui V5 and above!

Part 5: Assembling the Images

Without the zenith-image this step would be very easy: Set "TIFF" as "File Format", use "Enable Enblend" ("Plug-in Menu") and there we go. Unfortunately there is no automated way to use Enblend for inserting the zenith image flawlessly.

We have to use the DOS shell to assemble images in a controlled way...

Go to the tab "Create Panorama".
Hopefully, we have set "File Format" to "Multi-image TIFF".

Creating Fullscreen VRs I recommend an output size of at least 4000x2000 as a good compromise between details and file size. Perhaps this recommendation will not fit your needs - especially if you use a camera with less than 4MP resolution.

ptgui15.jpg (40064 Byte)

After some calculation time you should get 5 TIFF-images. Each one has your output name plus a 4 digit suffix.

We will now use Enblend to blend the images. To simplify the workflow, you should download this little batch file into the directory of Enblend (right click and "Save as"). This batch file will allow drag and drop operation with Enblend.

Drag the first 4 images (the horizontal row) over the Batch file.
While running, the program will see something like this:
enblend01.jpg (37160 Byte)
After some calculation time you will get back a blended image with the suffix "_blended".

You can also blend your images without the use of the batch file:
  • Go back to the tab "Panorama Settings" and use "TIFF" as output type. Be sure to "Enable Enblend" in the "Plug-in"-menu.
    In the "Create Panorama" tab of PTGui, in the box "include images" only select the first 4 images. Generate the Panorama.
  • Go back to the tab "Panorama Settings" change output type to "Multi-image TIFF".
    Return to "Create Panorama" to the "include images" box. Only select the last image. Generate the Panorama. A warning will appear the the image already exists but you can safely ignore this message.

This only works with the most recent version of PTGui (3.7).

Finally we have to add the zenith-image.

Open your favorite image-editor (has to be able to use layers, e.g. Photoshop). Create a new image with the size of your final panorama. Load the blended image, copy it and paste it to the new, empty image. Reduce the image to the background layer. This will help you to get rid of the, now superfluous, blending mask which would cause some problems in the final step.

Now paste the zenith image over the panorama. Add a layer-mask (mask all). Now you can paste the required parts of the zenith to your panorama (use a white brush!).

Again reduce to background layer. Now is a good time to adjust Brightness, Contrast etc. and eventually Sharpness.
As final step, save the panorama as uncompressed TIFF.

There is also a very elegant way to blend the zenith image with the help of Enblend. You have to do some manipulations of the alpha mask which I have described here!


The final Step 6: Creating the QTVR