Copyright: (C)2000 Sony Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Panorama Maker 4.1


Notes on Shooting Images for Panorama Use

Follow the points listed below when shooting images for combining into a panorama image.

->	Shoot images of the same size and same resolution.

->	Hold the camera horizontally or vertically.

->	Be sure that there is no difference in height between images.

->	Remain fixed in one spot and change only the angles of the shots.


Overview Features
Overview

You can use Panorama Maker to create panorama images by combining multiple slides seamlessly. You can also view panorama images as screen savers or Web pages.


Creating Panorama Images

You create a panorama image by joining two or more images. The images that comprise a panorama image are called “source images,” and the process of joining source images is called “stitching.”

To create a panorama image:

1	Select the source images in PictureGear™. Make sure all the sources images are the same size.

2	Select Panorama Maker from the Utilities menu to display the selected images in the PictureGear Panorama Maker Main Window.

Alternatively, click the Panorama Maker button.

3	Click [image] to open the Select Lens dialog box.

-> Select Lens

4	Edit the source images.

-> Editing Source Images

5	Click on

->Combining Panorama Images


Sort Source Images

Use Rearrange, Rotate, Flip, and Delete to sort the source images.

To Reverse the Image Order

Click on

Click this button to arrange the panorama images shot from right to left.

To Rotate Images

Click on

Click this button to join the images vertically.

To Flip Images Left to Right

Click on [image] to flip the selected sources images left to right.

To Flip Images Top to Bottom

Click on [image] to flip the selected sources images top to bottom.

To Shift Image Positions

Drag the source image and release the mouse button at the location you want to place it.

To Delete Unnecessary Images

Click an image to select it and press the Delete key.


Select Lens

In order to create and optimal panorama image, select the lens used to shoot the images.

1	Click on [image] in the Main window.

The Select Lens dialog box appears.

2	In the Select a focal length or camera list box, select the lens type used to shoot the images.

3	Click on OK.

If the lens you used is not in the list or if you are not sure

1	With the Select Lens dialog box displayed, click on Custom.

The Custom Lens Settings dialog box appears.

2	Set the lens type.

If you know the lens specifications

Set the film type, focal length. vertical field of vision, and horizontal field of vision.

If you don't know the lens specifications

Click on Fine-tune Settings. This will adjust the settings to the optimal lens type based on the source images.

 Hint

If the images were taken with a digital still camera, the optimal lens type will differ depending on the zoom rate when the images were shot, so you can create better panorama images by setting the lens type to Fine-tune Settings.

3	If necessary, click Save Settings to save the settings.

The Save New Lens Type dialog box appears, so input the name of the lens in Name the new lens, input any necessary information in Description, and click OK. The settings are saved and the dialog box closes.

 Note

You can save up to 60 different lens types in Panorama Maker.

4	Click on OK.

The settings are updated and the dialog box closes.


Adjusting Panorama Images
Combining Panorama Images

1	Click on [image] in the Main window.

The Stitch Options dialog box appears.

2	Set the stitching conditions.

You can set the following conditions. Click to put a check mark by the conditions you wish to set.

Use automatic alignment

Let Panorama Maker set the stitching method of the panorama image.

Full 360º panorama

Create a 360 degree panorama.

Disable warping

Don't bend the source images.

Disable blending

Smoothly correct the joins between images.

Automatically crop images

When black border lines appear in images read in from a scanner or saved on a CD-ROM, cut these unnecessary borders.

3	Click Preview Stitch to preview the panorama.

A low-resolution panorama preview with the source images joined is displayed.

If you want to change the viewpoint

Click on the Panorama menu and select Show Viewer. The Panorama Viewer screen appears, and you can move the viewpoint and view the image.

To return to the previous screen, click on the Panorama menu and click on Show Panorama.

4	If necessary, adjust the overlapping portions of the source images.

To make general adjustments

In the Main window, drag the source images to make adjustments.

To make fine adjustments

Double click on a source image and the Full Resolution Stitch Adjustment window appears. You can drag the source images to make adjustments.

Select the source images for fine adjusting by dragging the slider that appears at the bottom of the window.

5	Click on

The Stitch Options dialog box appears.

6	Click on Full Stitch to display the panorama.

To create the final panorama using full stitching, click on Show Viewer. The Stitched Result window appears, and you can change the viewpoint and view the image.

To change the viewpoint and view the image

Click on the Panorama menu and click on Show Viewer. The Stitched Result screen appears, and you can move the viewpoint and view the image.

To return to the previous screen, click on the Panorama menu and click on Show Panorama.

To change the form of the panorama

Click on the Panorama menu, place the pointer over Convert To, and click on the desired form. You can select from Sphere, Cube, or Cylinder.

To adjust the wrapper position

If you selected Full 360° panorama in step 2, you can adjust the position of the wrapper.  Click on the Panorama menu and click on Wrap Manually, and the Wraparound Adjustment dialog box appears.  You can drag the images to adjust them.

 Hint

It is recommended that before creating a final panorama using full stitching, you create a preview stitching, confirm the lens settings, and adjust the images.


Selecting Images

There are several ways to select images:

To select a single image, click the image.

To select multiple images, hold the Ctrl key while you click the images.

To select all the images between the first and second images, hold the Shift key while clicking the second image.

To deselect an image, hold the Ctrl key and click the image.


Opening Source Images

You can use the following file formats for source images: Bitmap format (.BMP ), JPEG format (.JPG), and GIF format (.GIF).

To open source images in the Panorama Maker:

1	In the PictureGear Panorama Maker window, select Open Source Images from the File menu.

The Open Source Images dialog appears and the Source Files list displays a list of the selected images.

2	Do any of the following:

Add a source image

Select the folder containing the source images from the Look in list.

Select one image at a time and click Add or click Add All to add all the images in the selected folder.

 Hint

You can perform the same operation by using PictureGear™ or Explorer to drag and drop images in Panorama Maker.

 Notes

Make sure that all of the sources images used to create a panorama image are the same size.

To use source images that are in a format other than Bitmap (file extension .BMP), JPEG (file extension .JPG), or GIF (file extension .GIF), select the images in the PictureGear display area and then start Panorama Maker.

Remove a source image

Select an image from the Source Files list and click Remove or click Remove All to remove all the images from the Source File list.

Sort the images by name

Click Sort to sort the images in the Source Files list by name.

Sort the images in reverse order

Click Reverse to sort the images in the Source Files list in reverse order.

3	Click OK to return to the PictureGear Panorama Maker Main window.

 Hints

If you want to see of an image title, hold the pointer over that image for a few seconds.

Black border lines may appear in images read in from a scanner or saved on a CD-ROM.  To trim these borders, check Automatically crop images.


Opening Panorama Images

To open an existing panorama image:

1	In the PictureGear Panorama Maker window, select Open Panorama from the File menu.

2	Select the panorama image you want to open and click Open.

3	When the Adjust Panorama Settings dialog box appears, select the Projection type setting.

4	If necessary, adjust the Vertical viewpoint and Horizontal viewpoint figures.

5	Click OK to display the panorama with the specified projection type and viewpoint angles.

 Hints

You can select Cube as the projection type in step 3 only when the aspect ratio is 1:6 (i.e., the height is six times the width).

You can also adjust the Projection type, Vertical viewpoint, and Horizontal viewpoint by selecting Adjust Settings from the Panorama menu.


Changing the Viewpoint

You can change the viewpoint when viewing a panorama in the Stitched Result screen.

To change the viewpoint:

1	In the Panorama Viewer window, select Show Viewer from the Panorama Menu.

The Stitch Preview screen appears.

2	Change the viewpoint and view the panorama.

To enlarge or reduce the image

Use the Shift Key or A key to enlarge and the Ctrl key or the Z key to reduce.

To change the viewpoint up and down or left and right

You can change the viewpoint in any direction by dragging on top of the panorama image.

You can also do this with the arrow keys.

3	To return to the Panorama Viewer window, select Show Panorama from the Panorama Menu.

4	To close the Panorama Viewer window, select Close from the File menu.


Saving Panorama Images

You can save the panorama images you create in Bitmap format (file extension .BMP), JPEG format (file extension .JPG), or FlashPix format (file extension .FPX).

Panorama Maker automatically saves files in IVR format. These files are panorama setting files and can be displayed in the panorama viewer as panorama images.

To save a panorama image:

1	In the Panorama Viewer window, select Save As from the File menu.

The Save Panorama dialog box appears.

2	Select the image format from the drop down list.

To save the image

Select either JPEG (.JPG) or FlashPix (.FPX). format.

The Compression Options dialog box appears.

Select a compression format.

Click OK.

To correct the image

Select Bitmap format (.BMP).  Bitmap format offers a large image size and high image quality for editing. Correct the image and then resave the image in a different format.

3	To change the folder where the image is saved, select the folder in the Save in list.

4	Enter the File name.

5	Click Save.

This saves the file and automatically creates an IVR file.

The confirmation dialog box appears.

6	Click OK.

Save Panorama Image with the Same File Name (Overwrite)

1	Select Save As in the Panorama Viewer window file menu.

The Save Panorama dialog box appears.

2	Click on the file name that you want to overwrite from the drop down list.

The selected file name will appear in the File name text box.

3	Click on Save

The Overwrite? confirmation dialog box appears.

4	Click on Yes.

If you save the image in either JPEG or FlashPix, the Compression Options dialog box will appear. Select a compression format and click OK.

The image file is overwritten and the Overwrite? confirmation dialog box closes.

5	Click on Yes.

The panorama settings file is overwritten and the dialog box closes.

 Note

Be sure to overwrite the panorama settings file.


Saving Panorama Image in HTML Format

To save a panorama image in HTML format:

1	In the Panorama Viewer window, select Save As from the File menu.

The Save Panorama dialog box appears.

2	Select JPEG (.JPG), or FlashPix (.FPX) format from the drop down list.

If you select JPEG, the Compression Options dialog box appears. Select a compression format and click OK.

3	To change the folder where the image is saved, select the folder in the Save in list.

4	Enter the file name.

5	Select For Plug-In from the Export to HTML list.

6	If you are going to view the panorama with a web browser, check the Web preview.

7	Click Save.

This saves the file and the confirmation dialog box appears.

8	Click OK.

 Hint

You can preview the panorama by selecting Show in Web Browser from the Panorama Menu.

Viewing a Panorama Image Saved in HTML Format on Another Computer

To view a panorama image saved in HTML format on a computer without PictureGear™ 4.0, you need to install the Panorama Viewer Plug-In Module on that computer.

To install the Panorama View Plug-In Module:

1	Copy PG4PanoramaPlugin1.exe and PG4PanoramaPlugin2.exe, found in the C:\Program Files\Sony\PictureGear\panorama folder, onto the hard disk of the PC on which you want to install the Plug-In module.

2	Run PG4PanoramaPlugin1.exe and PG4PanoramaPlugin2.exe in that order to install the Panorama Viewer Plug-In Module.  You can then view panorama images saved in HTML format on that computer with a WWW browser.

You can then view panorama images saved in HTML format on that computer with a web browser.

 Note

You may redistribute PanoramaPlugin1.exe and PanoramaPlugin2.exe for personal use only.  Please refrain from general or widespread distribution.

Using a WWW Browser

When you click on [image], [image], [image], [image], and [image] appear.  You can display or hide them by clicking.  ( [image] and [image] are not used.)  You can use these buttons to enlarge or reduce an image or move the perspective and view an image.

To reduce or enlarge an image

Click on [image] to switch between enlarge and reduce mode.  By clicking on the panorama image, you can enlarge or reduce the image.

You can also use the Shift Key or A key to enlarge and the Ctrl key or the Z key to reduce.

To move the viewpoint up and down or left and right

Click on [image] to change the viewpoint move mode. You can move the viewpoint in any direction by dragging on top of the panorama image.

You can also do this with the arrow keys.


Printing Panorama Images

You can print a panorama image as well as a preview image.

To print a panorama image:

1	In the Panorama Viewer window, select Print View from the File menu.

The Print dialog box appears.

2	Click OK.

The panorama image prints.


Creating a Screen Saver with a Panorama Image

You can save a panorama image as a screen saver with a perspective that moves automatically.

To create a panorama screen saver:

1	In the Panorama Viewer, select Save As Screen Saver from the File menu.

The Add to Screen Saver dialog box appears.

2	Enter the panorama name in the Name this panorama text box.

3	Select the Add to playback selection check box.

Uncheck this option if you don’t want to add the panorama to the screen saver.

4	Click OK.

This saves the panorama image as a screen saver and the dialog box closes.

To View a Panorama Screen Saver:

1	Click the Windows Start button.

2	Point to Settings and click Control Panel to open the Control Panel.

3	Launch the Display icon to open the Display Properties dialog.

4	Click the Screen Saver tab , and select PictureGear Panorama Saver from the drop down list.

5	Select the time until the screen saver activates in the Wait drop down list.

6	Click Settings.

The PictureGear Panorama Saver dialog box appears.

7	Select the panorama image file you want to view from the list.

 Hints

If you select more than one file, after the time you entered in the Delay text box passes, the files display in succession.

If necessary, you can set the speed, size, screen ratio, effect, and stop method.

8	Click OK.

The dialog box closes, and you return to Screen Properties.

9	Click OK.

This saves the settings and the Screen Properties closes.

If the computer is inactive for the specified time period, the screen saver activates and the panorama image you selected appears.


Main Window

This window displays source images and stitching procedures.

Reverses the order of the displayed source images.

Rotates all the source images 90° counterclockwise.

Inverts the selected image left to right.

Inverts the selected image top to bottom.

Opens the Select Lens dialog box.

Displays the Stitch Options dialog box where you stitch images to create a panorama image.

Scrolls the display left and right or up and down.


Stitch Preview window
Panorama Viewer window

This window displays the stitching preview and results.

To switch to the Panorama Viewer

Click on the Panorama menu and click on Show Viewer.

To return to the previous screen, click on the Panorama menu and click on Show Panorama.

 Hints

By dragging the dotted lines that appear above and below the image, you can set the top and bottom range where the Panorama Viewer will be displayed.  (You cannot make this setting, however, when the viewer is displayed.)

If you click on the Panorama menu, click on Crop Symmetrically, and click on the menu items, you can move the dotted lines by the same distance by dragging either the top or the bottom line.

To view a panorama image with a WWW browser

Click on the Panorama menu and click Show in Web Browser.

-> Save Panorama Image in HTML Format

To change the viewpoint

Click on the Panorama menu and click Adjust Settings, and the Adjust Panorama Settings dialog box appears.  You can enter the viewpoint angle here.


Panorama Viewer

You can move the viewpoint and view panorama images in the window where the stitching preview and results appear.

You can also save images within the frame as files and add images saved in the frame to panorama images.

To save a frame

Click on the File menu and click Export Frame to save the displayed frame as a file in bitmap format (file extension .BMP).

To read in a saved frame

Click on the File menu and click Import Frame.

By doing this, you can touch up the saved frame using a Paint or other tool and return it to the panorama image.

 Hint

When saving a frame, in addition to bitmap format (file extension .BMP), a PVE format file (file extension .PVE) is also created as a frame settings file.  When you delete unnecessary frame, you Explorer or a similar tool to also delete these settings files.

 Note

Do not change the size of saved frame images.  If you change the size, the frame cannot be imported.

Switching to the Panorama Viewer window

Click on the Panorama menu and click on Show Viewer.  The Panorama Viewer screen appears, and you can move the viewpoint and view the image.

To return to the previous screen, click on the Panorama menu in the Panorama Viewer window and click on Show Viewer.

To view a panorama image with a WWW browser

Click on the Panorama menu and click Show in Web Browser.

-> Save Panorama Image in HTML Format

To change the viewpoint

Click on the Panorama menu and click Adjust Settings, and the Adjust Panorama Settings dialog box appears.  You can select the panorama form enter the viewpoint angle here.