Can someone recommend a "stitching", non panoramic solution?

[altosax]

I have 4 pics that I would like to "stitch" together but not in a "panoramic" configuration. The Canon Photostitch software does not seem to do the job. Any recommendations? Thanks

aldo

[wjh31]

It would be helpfull if you were a little clearer about what you are after, these images seem to be of the same place at a different time, so a stitching program would either align them on top of each other, or just get confused because of so many changed in the same place

[Colin Southern]

Originally Posted by altosax

I have 4 pics that I would like to "stitch" together but not in a "panoramic" configuration.

Can't be done with these images

[altosax]

Thanks for the replies. The images are of the same place (location) but at different "times", e.g. the student section uses cards to spell out "UCLA"...

I tried the "panoramic" software that Canon gives out but it won't permit me to "stitch".

regards



altosax

[Dave Humphries]

Hi altosax,

I dunno about Will and Colin, but I am still confused about how you want to stitch them.

You said 'not in a panoramic configuration, which I took to mean not side by side.
However, I now think that is perhaps what you want, it is just that the souirce pics are not side by side.

Quick answer is, as Colin says, can't be done.

However, how about this:
1) Import pics into Photoshop, or Elements or GIMP (something that does layers), with each picture on it's own layer on a transparent background.
2) Expand the canvas to 4 times the width
3) Move the pics on each layer into the U C L A order from left to right
4) Somehow mask/merge/blend them as best you can, fine tuning the positioning to avoid doubles at the joins - this is the bit I have never done myself, hence getting woolly at this point
5) Save as psd with all the separate layers (so you can go back and do again if it doesn't work first time)
6) Flatten image
7) Final crop, because picture edges will not line up
8) Final clone of extraneous bits at joins
9) Show us how it went

and remember, nobody said it will be easy

If my guess as to your intentions above wasn't accurate, try Plan B:
a) Import pics into Photoshop, or Elements or GIMP (something that does layers), with each picture on it's own layer.
b) Carefully align the final letters one over the other all in same place, you will lose the edges off some because the framing wasn't consistent
c) Crop down so there are no missing bits at opposite edges
d) Save into a four page animated GIF, so the letters cycle through U, C, L, A, U, C, L, A...
e) Show us the result

Good luck,

[Steaphany]

Dave,

I was just playing with those images while you were making that post and we're thinking alike.

The critical item is the vertical alignment, I used the hand rail above that "concrete hole" with the 7 sign over the opening. Turn on the photoshop grid and aligning each image layer is easy.

Once done you may want to try the healing brush but when zoomed out to see the whole thing on my screen, the only seam that I could tell was between the C and L.

A crop to just the crowd with the letter cards would remove distractions that you hint that it's a mosaic.

[Steaphany]

Here is what I did in just a few minutes:

UCLA.jpg

You need to click on this to see it at a reasonable size, sorry

In Photoshop:

• Created New Raster Image 4096 x 800
• Opened the U letter photo
• Selected all
• Cut
• Close
• In the 4096 wide image, pasted each letter
• Repeat with C, L, and A are in the same image, each on their own layer
• Turn on the Grid
• Select the C layer
• Align with the U layer
• Repeat with the L to C and A to L alignment
• Flatten image
• Crop
• save

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Steaphany,

Well done, you have the skill and experience I lack

It comes out a lot wider/smaller heightwise than I was expecting, so the detail (at this size) isn't too much of an issue

Many thanks, it has saved me having a go

Cheers,

[Steaphany]

Dave,

The aspect ratio was determined by how close I could position each frame. Fortunately, the perspective from the camera vantage point put the left edge of the crowd holding the cards at the left edge of each frame. My positioning did not kern any of the characters together, which would have involved a far greater effort to match up a diagonal seam.

What makes this really work is the ability to crop the image sufficiently to have a stadium area around the letters while ensuring that all the clues to a repeating scene element are eliminated.

The attachment here was obviously reduced to meet the forum requirements, I was originally working with an 4096 x 800 pixel image. The seams were easier to detect at the larger scale, though with all the clutter of stadium activity, not very obvious. If I took the time to use the healing brush carefully, the seams would have been better hidden.

[altosax]

Steaphany:

That is pretty darn neat! And exactly what I had in mind! Sorry about the confusion I created in using the term "panoramic" configuration. I meant to say that the end product I had in mind was not really a "panoramic" shot, but rather a "stitching" of 4 separate and different shots at the same location.

I don't have photoshop but I'll the suggestions with the software I do have. Once again, thanks.


altosax

[KentDub]

Now thats what I call a widescreen photo!

[Henrik]

Oh, what a thrill!