Marianne Martinez
Creating a 360-degree panorama image involves capturing a complete field of view, often requiring multiple images to be stitched together. To cover the foot of a 360-degree panorama, or the nadir (straight down) shot, specific techniques and equipment are necessary. This is a crucial aspect of spherical panoramic photography, ensuring a seamless and immersive viewing experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 2:1 |
| Minimum number of images | 4 |
| Camera | Any camera will do, but a high-resolution camera is preferable |
| Lens | 18-55 kit lens, Samyang 8mm f/3.5, Vivitar 7mm, Opteka 6.5, 8mm Rokinon, Bower, Phoenix, Pro Optic, fisheye lens |
| Software | PTGui, Hugin, Photoshop, Gimp, Pano2VR, Affinity Photo, PanoramaStudio 3 Pro, Panoweaver, PhotoShop, PanoramaGL for Android, Panoweaver |
| File format | QuicktimeVR Cubic, JPEG, RAW |
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What You'll Learn
Using a tripod and panohead to capture nadir shots
Capturing the nadir shot (a shot taken straight down) is one of the trickiest parts of shooting a 360º panorama. The camera is almost never in the same place as for the other shots, which can cause parallax errors and differences in the image scale.
To capture the nadir shot using a tripod and panohead, you can try the following:
First, if you have a tripod where the vertical column can be converted into a horizontal column, such as the Manfrotto 055XPRO, you can extend the horizontal column out and offset the tripod. This will allow you to take the nadir photo on the tripod without the tripod getting in the way. Stand behind the arm of the panohead to ensure your feet aren't in the shot.
Next, take a nadir shot with the camera still mounted on the panohead before you move the tripod. This will serve as a "clean plate" to help you erase the tripod from the final image.
After you've shot everything, take the camera off the tripod or move and tilt the tripod to get a "clean plate" area where the tripod was. You can then use this to patch over the tripod in the final panorama.
Finally, use software like PTGui to stitch together your images and erase the tripod. PTGui allows you to specify mask areas before stitching to help eliminate the tripod and any potential ghosts or clones. You can also use other software like Pano2VR or Hugin, or adjust the pitch to put the "hole-in-the-floor" in the center of the pano, and then use Photoshop or Gimp cloning tools to erase the tripod.
Remember that capturing nadir shots with a tripod and panohead can be complicated, and you may need to experiment with different techniques to find what works best for your specific setup.
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Editing with PTGui
PTGui is image stitching software that allows users to stitch together photographs into a seamless 360-degree spherical or gigapixel panoramic image. It is one of the best software for stitching 360-degree pano photos, although it is not free. PTGui Pro is an upgraded version of the software that offers additional features such as the Mask Tool, which can be used to hide or show parts of source images in the blended panorama.
PTGui offers a range of editing capabilities, including the ability to create HDR (High Dynamic Range) panoramas, add a handheld nadir image using the viewpoint correction feature, and correct vignetting (light fall off). It also provides a Patch Tool that can be used to erase objects from the panorama, such as a tripod. The software includes a feature called "stereographic down," which allows users to create a ""tiny planet" projection from their 360-degree images.
To use PTGui effectively, it is recommended to have a camera with a lens, a tripod, and a panohead to rotate the lens and reduce stitching errors. When shooting, it is essential to have enough overlap between images to ensure seamless stitching. PTGui also allows users to specify mask areas before stitching to eliminate unwanted objects or potential ghosts/clones.
In terms of hardware requirements, PTGui does not require the full processing power of high-end computers and can run effectively with less than 100% CPU load during stitching. However, memory usage can be configured to utilize more RAM for faster processing of larger panoramas. PTGui also offers a range of video tutorials to help users get started with the software, covering topics such as calibration, control points, editing, and viewing spherical panoramas.
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Using a fisheye lens
When shooting 360-degree panoramas with a fisheye lens, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, ensure you have the right equipment and setup. Use a lightweight, high-performing camera equipped with a fisheye lens. Examples of fisheye zoom lenses include the Canon 8-15, Nikon 8-15, and Tokina 10-17. For a lower-cost option, consider the Samyang 8mm f/3.5 or its variants, such as Vivitar 7mm or Opteka 6.5.
The number of shots you take will depend on the desired resolution and field of view. For instance, a circular fisheye lens will require four shots for a lower-resolution panorama. On the other hand, a cropped fisheye lens will provide a higher resolution with four shots, and you can further enhance the quality by shooting four images around and one zenith image for clear coverage above. If you opt for a diagonal fisheye lens, eight shots will yield an even higher resolution.
When shooting, ensure your camera is in portrait mode to capture more vertical coverage. Additionally, consider taking multiple rows of images to achieve the desired height. For instance, two or more rows of exposures will help attain a 2:1 ratio when shooting for a full 360 degrees. If you're aiming for a spherical panorama, you'll need to cover the entire sphere, so plan to shoot multiple rows, as well as a zenith (straight up) and nadir (straight down) shot.
After capturing your images, you can use panorama software to stitch them together. Options include Autopano Pro, PTGui, Microsoft ICE, Hugin, and PanoramaStudio 3 Pro. These programs allow you to import and stitch the images, often providing a direct stitching feature for convenience. Remember to refer to the specific software instructions for optimal results.
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Stitching with Panoweaver
To cover the foot in a 360-degree panorama, you can use a variety of techniques and software. One method is to use a "clean plate" technique, where you shoot two nadir (straight down) shots 180 degrees apart, allowing you to use masks and layers to erase the tripod or any unwanted objects in the frame. This can be done using software like PTGui, which offers a viewpoint correction tool and allows you to specify mask areas before stitching.
Another popular software for stitching 360-degree panoramas is Panoweaver. Panoweaver is a powerful tool that allows users to stitch all types of images into 360-degree panoramic images. It supports batch stitching and publishing, as well as spherical and cubic conversions. One of the benefits of Panoweaver is its ability to handle raw and HDR images, resulting in ideal panoramas with perfect visual quality. It also offers an easy-to-use publish feature, enabling users to stitch and view panoramas in 2D mode and create immersive 3D tours that can be viewed on various devices, such as phones and tablets.
To achieve the best results with Panoweaver, there are several important considerations. Firstly, ensure that your images are properly focused and have the same orientation, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance. It is recommended to use a camera in Manual (M) mode to maintain consistent settings across all images. Additionally, avoid stitching raw images directly; instead, process them with a RAW converter to 16 Bit .tif format before stitching.
Another technique to cover the foot in a 360-degree panorama is to use a nadir shot that does not include the tripod. This can be achieved by moving the tripod backward and inclining the horizontal axis to shoot the artificial floor. You can then use the mask function in Panoweaver to manually choose the parts of the image you want to keep or discard.
Other software options for stitching 360-degree panoramas include PTGui Pro, Hugin, and PanoramaStudio 3 Pro. While PTGui is a paid software, Hugin is a free, open-source alternative that delivers good results. Additionally, Photoshop can be used for editing spherical panoramas, allowing you to zoom around the panorama and easily edit the zenith and nadir.
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Using a remote-trigger device
To capture a 360-degree panorama, you will need a camera with a lens, and stitching software that can create a 360 x 180 panorama in equirectangular format. You will also need a tripod and a panohead to rotate the lens and reduce stitching errors.
To avoid showing the tripod in your 360-degree panorama, you can use a remote-trigger device, such as a smartphone or a dedicated remote control, like the one that comes with the Polaroid 360-degree panorama pan head. This allows you to trigger the camera from a distance, eliminating the need to be physically present in the frame.
- Set up your camera on a tripod: Place your camera on a tripod in the centre of the area you want to capture. Make sure the camera is level and secure.
- Connect the remote-trigger device: If you're using a smartphone, connect it to the camera's native app via Bluetooth. For dedicated remote controls, follow the manufacturer's instructions to pair the remote with your camera.
- Frame your shot: Compose your panorama by adjusting the camera's settings, such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, to ensure proper exposure and focus. You may need to take test shots to ensure the lighting and focus are correct.
- Trigger the shutter remotely: Once you are satisfied with the framing and settings, use the remote-trigger device to capture the panorama. Depending on your camera and remote setup, you may be able to start and stop video recording or capture multiple stills with the remote.
- Review your footage: After capturing the panorama, review the footage on your camera to ensure you have captured the entire scene and that the stitching process will be effective.
- Stitch the images together: Use the panostitching software to stitch your images together and create a seamless 360-degree panorama. This process may vary depending on the software you choose, but it typically involves importing your images and letting the software automatically stitch them into a spherical projection.
By following these steps and using a remote-trigger device, you can effectively capture 360-degree panoramas while avoiding the appearance of the tripod in your final image.
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Frequently asked questions
Using a combination of shooting and post-processing techniques, you can cover the foot or tripod in a 360 pano. Shoot two nadir (straight down) shots, 180° apart, to get a "clean plate" and then use masks and layers to erase the tripod.
PTGui is one of the best stitchers for 360 pano photos, but it is not free. Other options include Hugin (free), PhotoShop, Affinity Photo, and PanoramaStudio 3 Pro.
You will need a camera with a lens, and panostitching software that can create a 360x180 panorama in equirectangular (2x1) format. A tripod and panohead are also recommended to reduce stitching errors.
A fisheye lens is recommended for shooting 360 panos as it offers a greater field of view. For example, the Sigma 8mm F4 EX DG Fisheye lens has a 180-degree angle of view, meaning you only need 4 images to cover 360x180 degrees.
