Creating a Panorama is easy

I absolutely love how much easier it is to create cool online informational features. I want to share with you an easy way to create a Panorama in Photoshop.

1. Set your camera on a tripod or hold it very steady and at the same height. Take pictures slightly turning in one direction. You want the photos to overlap one another. You may even want to take two pictures per shot as back up. It is best to shoot in a location that is larger, rather than a smaller location such as an office because it will be difficult to capture the entire room when standing in one location because you cannot zoom or move to fit each shot in the frame. You also want to pick a location that is even in lighting, or you can fix the photos in Photoshop.
2. Place pictures that you want to keep in a newly created folder. Place them in the order that they will turn in the room.
3. In Photoshop, go to File > Automate > Photomerge
4. In dropdown menu, select Folder, rather than File > Select Browse > Find your folder > Okay
5. Then you will export your Panorama into a player: File > Export > Zoomify
6. Select a background color > Folder (create folder) > Select quality (8-10) > Select browser size option (650X400 for larger) > Okay
7. Find your file in the location you saved it. The .html file is your panorama, but you will want to keep all of the files to incorporate the panorama into your Web page.

I have incorporated this information in a handout on my teaching page. My student, who loves photography, also provided some additional advice. He said that it is best not to shoot zoomed all the way out, but instead shoot medium shots when shooting a panorama. Also, he said not to shoot scenes with a lot of detail such as fruit stands with lots of fruit because the pictures will have difficulty stitching together. This can be fixed in Photoshop, but it will take time. Also, Mindy McAdams included some links to panoramas in a blog post.

One Response to “Creating a Panorama is easy”

1. The L&G on October 3rd, 2008 5:37 pm

   I’m glad you liked this. It is fun.

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