Panoramas have a captivating effect, whether integrated in a personal homepage or professionally used for product presentations. Written in a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand format, this book details all of the necessary steps involved in panoramic photography: from the production of digital and analog picture sequences, 'stitching' using software tools such as REALVIZ Stitcher and PanoTools, all the way to publishing interactive panoramas on the Web using QuickTime and VRML. Tables with detailed comparisons of the individual techniques help the reader decide on the right approach.

Autorentext

The author, Corinna Jacobs, is a professional photographer and web designer, specialized in the production of digital panoramic photography; also offering workshops for practitioners.

Klappentext

Explores the range of techniques for the production of digital interactive panoramas and object movies

Details of all the necessary steps involved in panoramic photography

Professional tips and tricks from a professional photographer and web designer

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 1.1 The fascination of panoramic art.- 1.2 Panoramas on the Internet.- 1.3 Panoramic forms - Projection.- 1.3.1 Cylindrical projection.- 1.3.2 Spherical projection.- 1.3.3 Cubic projection.- 2. Fundamentals.- 2.1 Production of interactive panoramas.- 2.1.1 Taking pictures with a panoramic camera.- 2.1.2 Taking individual pictures.- 2.1.3 Correcting image distortion.- 2.1.4 Stitching individual pictures.- 2.1.5 Retouching the panoramic picture.- 2.1.6 Publication of the panorama.- 2.2 Term definitions.- 2.2.1 Lenses.- 2.2.1.1 Rectilinear lenses.- 2.2.1.2 Fisheye lenses.- 2.2.2 Focal length and field of view.- 2.2.3 Image distortion oflenses.- 2.2.3.1 Linear distortion.- 2.2.3.2 Perspective distortion.- 2.2.3.3 Vignetting.- 2.2.3.4 Chromatic aberration.- 2.2.4 Determining the required number of pictures.- 2.2.5 Determining the nodal point.- 3. Photo technology and techniques.- 3.1 Differences between analog and digital.- 3.1.1 Analog technology.- 3.1.2 Digital technology.- 3.2 Analog photography.- 3.2.1 Film material.- 3.2.2 Scanners.- 3.2.2.1 How scanners work.- 3.2.2.2 Scanning resolution.- 3.2.2.3 Types of scanners.- 3.2.2.4 Scanner software.- 3.2.3 Picture CDs.- 3.3 Digital photography.- 3.4 Tips for taking panoramic pictures.- 3.4.1 General tips.- 3.4.2 Tips for taking pictures with digital cameras.- 3.4.3 Tips for taking pictures with analog cameras.- 4. Special correction methods.- 4.l Correcting image distortion.- 4.1.1 Correcting optical distortion.- 4.1.2 Correcting perspective distortion.- 4.l.3 Correcting vignetting.- 4.l.4 Correcting chromatic aberration.- 4.2 High dynamic range.- 5. Equipment.- 5.1 Cameras and lenses.- 5.1.1 Compact cameras.- 5.l.2 Single lens reflex cameras.- 5.1.3 Video cameras.- 5.1.4 Panoramic cameras.- 5.1.5 One shot solutions with a parabolic mirror.- 5.2 Panoramic tripod heads.- 5.3 Turntables for object movies.- 6. Cylindrical panoramas.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Photo technology and techniques.- 6.2.l Panoramic cameras.- 6.2.1.1 Seitz Roundshot 28/228.- 6.2.2 One shot solutions with a parabolic mirror.- 6.2.3 Single-row technique.- 6.2.4 Multi-row technique.- 6.2.5 Tripod heads.- 6.3 Stitching software.- 6.3.1 VR Worx - VR Pano Worx (panoramic picture).- 6.3.2 VR Worx - VR PanoWorx (single-row technique).- 6.3.3 PanoTools - PTGui (single-row technique).- 6.3.4 REALVIZ stitcher (multi-row technique).- 7. Spherical and cubic panoramas.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Photo technology and techniques.- 7.2.1 Panoramic cameras.- 7.2.1.1 Seitz Roundshot Digital II.- 7.2.1.2 Spheron SpheroCam HDR.- 7.2.2 Single-row technique.- 7.2.2.1 Using two fisheye pictures.- 7.2.2.2 Using eight fisheye pictures.- 7.2.3 Multi-row technique.- 7.2.4 Tripod heads.- 7.2.5 Additional tips.- 7.3 Stitching software.- 7.3.1 REALVIZ stitcher (panoramic picture).- 7.3.2 REALVIZ stitcher (multi-row technique).- 7.3.3 iPIX Interactive Studio (two fisheye pictures).- 7.3.4 PanoTools - PTGui (eight fisheye pictures).- 8. Object movies.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Photo technology and techniques.- 8.2.1 Single-row technique.- 8.2.2 Multi-row technique.- 8.2.3 Turntables.- 8.2.4 Tips for taking pictures of objects.- 8.2.5 Alternatives.- 8.2.6 Specials.- 8.3 Software for creating object movies.- 8.3.1 PanoTools - PTStripe.- 8.3.2 QTVR Edit Object.- 8.3.3 VR Worx - VRObjectWorx.- 9. Virtual tours.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Photo technology and techniques.- 9.2.1 Tips for picture taking.- 9.3 Software for virtual tours.- 9.3.1 REALVIZ Stitcher.- 9.3.2 VR Worx - VR Scene Worx.- 9.3.3 HotMedia.- 9.3.4 iLinker.- 9.3.5 PTViewer.- 10. Publication.- 10.1 QuickTime VR.- 10.1.1 Integration in HTML code.- 10.1.2 Specials.- 10.2 PTViewer.- 10.2.1 Integration in HTML code.- 10.2.1.1 PTViewer for panoramas.- 10.2.1.2 PTViewer for virtual tours.- 10.2.1.3 PTViewer for objects.- 10.2.2 Specials.- 10.3 iPIX.- 10.3.1 Integration in HTML code.- 10.3.2 Specials.- 10.4 HotMedia.- 10.4.1 Integration in HTML code.- 10.4.2 Specials.- 10.5 Cortona VRML viewer.- 10.5.1 Integration in HTML code.- 10.5.2 Specials.- 10.6 Panoramas on paper.- 10.6.1 Making printouts with an ink-jet printer.- 10.6.2 Professional developing.- 11. Comparing photo technology and techniques.- 12. Comparing software applications.- 13. Comparing viewers.- 14. Application possibilities.- 15. Outlook.- A. Bibliography.- A.1 Reference literature.- A.2 Internet sources.- A.3 Image sources.- B. List of manufacturers.- B.1 Software.- B.1.l Software for cylindrical panoramas.- B .1.2 Software for spherical panoramas.- B.1.3 Software for object movies.- B.1A Software for virtual tours.- B.1.5 Software for converting panorama formats.- B.1.6 HDR (High Dynamic Range) software.- B.1.7 Viewer software.- B.l.8 3-D software.- B.l.9 Software for image editing.- B.2 Equipment.- B.2.1 Camera manufacturers.- B.2.2 Lens manufacturers.- B.2.3 Manufacturers of parabolic mirrors.- B.2.4 Manufacturers of panoramic cameras.- B.2.5 Manufacturers of panoramic tripod heads.- B.2.6 Manufacturers of tum tables for object movies.- CD-ROM with sample files.