Spherical panorama: how to do?

As a rule, a panoramic photo is called a frame with a large viewing angle. A 3D snapshot, in turn, should be projected onto a cube or sphere, providing an opportunity to view all of its details with a displacement of the viewpoint.

Even on ordinary cameras there is a mode of panoramic shooting. But the machinery manufacturers have expanded this notion in recent years. It is not necessary to use special settings to create a spherical panorama. You can make several successful shots, and then "sew" them into a single composition. Also, the method of scanning the matrix pixels when turning the camera is widely used.

Creating spherical panoramas using different methods gives different results. In this article, we'll look at how you can create 3D snapshots, and discuss which programs are best for this use.

What is a panorama?

Spherical panorama - this is one of the varieties of photography, which is intended for demonstration on the computer with the help of special software.

It is based on an image in a cubic or spherical projection, created from a huge number of individual pictures. A characteristic feature of this type of personnel is a huge angle of coverage, which makes it possible to capture the whole environment.

Virtual tours and 3D panoramas

3D panorama is very easy to obtain, it is enough to impose a cubic or spherical projection on the cube or sphere, respectively.

A few sketched panoramas turn into a virtual tour. Surely you have already seen something similar on the websites of educational institutions or libraries. Virtual tour is an excursion in the online mode, the movement in which occurs by clicking on the transition points. It is they who move the user to the next panorama.

Step-by-step creation of a spherical panorama

Creating a classic 3D panorama takes place in several stages:

1. Shooting. Photographing the terrain from which you plan to create a spherical panorama.
2. Stitching frames. This procedure involves merging all the photos in the PTGui program for further processing.
3. Convert a panorama to Flash format. Convert the finished projection to the required format for viewing in 3D mode.

Preparation for shooting

Spherical panorama is an image that requires some skill and preparation. Before we begin the process of its creation, we will consider the nuances, which should be paid special attention.

First you need to select an interesting place for shooting and set the tripod to the center point of the composition. The photo is taken as a basis. Further, the lower, middle, upper rows are removed, the composition ends with the shooting of the sky. Remember that all subsequent frames should overlap the previous one by one third - this will facilitate the stage of gluing the panorama.

Camera setup

First of all, you need to adjust the focal length on the lens. It should be minimal, and the viewing angle of the device - the maximum.

Focusing the camera lens is best set to manual mode and concentrated on the middle plan of the panorama. This will protect you from changing focus at each subsequent frame.

For the desired sharpness of the image, the aperture value must be in the range f / 7 - f / 11. Do not take pictures at its maximum value, since the depth of field will be reduced to a minimum , and many elements will fall out of focus.

The photosensitivity parameters should be selected based on the installed aperture and the illumination of the place.

The exposure is also selected according to the illumination of the composition. Take care that there are no overexposures and too dark areas in the photographs.

Select RAW mode for shooting. This will allow you to correct the exposure, balance of colors, remove noise and add sharpness after finishing the work.

Panorama shooting

After installing the equipment and its settings, you can start directly to shoot. Spherical 3d panorama is a composition that requires several successive frames, partially replacing each other. When changing lighting in the process of work will have to adjust the shutter speed.

The most difficult moment in shooting a spherical panorama is the creation of a photograph of the surface under the tripod. To do this, you have to take the camera in hand, holding it at the same point, pull your arm up and take the picture under yourself. Be sure to follow your feet - they should not be on the picture.

To capture the sky, the camera needs to be turned up on a tripod or to make a frame using the same technology as when photographing the land.

After successfully completing all these steps, you will only have to combine the photos and convert them to the desired 3D product.

How to make a spherical panorama on Android

Let's take a step back from the classical concept of spherical panorama and move on to the study of technology, which can be used by every possessor of a device with the Android operating system. And the program "Google Camera" will help to do this, and more specifically Photo Sphere mode in it.

Spherical panorama should be of high quality. To do this, take a firm stand, and keep the tablet or phone at the face level. The lens should be centered on the blue dot appearing on the screen.

When shooting a spherical panorama, you must follow the blue point, gently rotating with the device. A sound alert will tell you when to make the next turn. Pressing the green check mark on the circle will automatically start processing the captured frames.

Create 3D panoramas for iOS devices

You already know how to create a 3D image on Android, and now owners of devices with iOS will learn how to make a spherical panorama.

In this case, you should use the Google Street View application, which is identical to the Google Camera program. At the end of the circle you need to press the "Stop" button. The result can be viewed by opening the standard Apple Photos gallery.

Viewing and publishing a panoramic image

The new photosphere can be removed immediately after processing the previous song, but if you want to view the panorama just created, swipe from right to left across the screen.

Enjoying your own work, you can share it through Google+, using standard functionality. Confirm your intention to publish the photo, and access to your panorama will be opened. Now any friend of yours will be able to view the record and evaluate it. Regardless of the operating system of the device, the panorama publication scheme remains the same.

Useful tips to help make photography more successful

The photo will look much more advantageous if the surrounding picture is not too variegated and contrasting. Take care not to get cars and people into the camera lens, because the track left by them on the photo will spoil the entire composition.

But this does not mean that the spherical panorama can not contain external objects. For example, a person can become part of a composition. To ensure that it fits well into it, you just need to ask him not to move for a while. But, on the other hand, if a person in the frame moves in the same direction as you do, it will create some magical effect.

The shooting of spherical panoramas is a creative process, to which you need to put a bit of effort and imagination. Unfinished photospheres, duplicated people, interesting compositions - this is all you can create with your own hands using a camera.

This article told you how to do spherical panoramas in various ways. Use this knowledge for good and develop!