Open the VRWorx software program by clicking on "Start" and going to "Programs."
The VRWorx title screen will appear briefly.
And then a menu will appear. Choose "Create a Panorama" and click "OK."
A panorama module project document window will appear. Click on the "Setup" tab to activate it.

"Source Format" has two choices:
1. Multiple images refers to a series of photographs.
2. Single Panorama refers to a single image.

Note: This skill development activity will focus on using multiple images.

"Acquire From" determines the source of the images for making the panorama.

Choose "PLUG-IN Image File" if you are loading images from a disk, the hard drive or a CD.

Click the "Setup..." button once the "Source Format" and the "Acquire From" settings have been determined.

"Node Sweep" is the number of degrees which determines the horizontal coverage of the panorama. A complete circle would be 360 degrees.

The node sweep has choices which range from 45 to 360 degrees. If the setting you want is not listed, choose "Custom" from the drop down menu. This will allow you to manually set the node sweep.

"Max Frames" is adjusted to indicate the number of images which you are using to make your panorama. The max frames has a range fro 4 to 36. If the setting you want is not listed, choose "Custom." This will allow you to manually set the max frames.

"Lens Params" is used to specify the type of lens used to photograph the images. A wide angle lens has a field of view (F.O.V.) close to 180 degrees. As the lens params are adjusted the field of view adjusts accordingly.

If you are unsure of the length of your lens, check the front of your camera. If it is a 35mm camera it quite possibly will be stamped on the front of your camera.

If you are using a non-35mm camera, VR Worx provides templates for over 40 different models of cameras. By clicking on the one for your specific camera, a panorama module project document window will be opened with the appropriate length and F.O.V. completed for you.

Additionally, checking the manual enclosed with your camera will provide you with the information you need.

"Image Size" is used to specify the size of the images being used to create the panorama. A drop down menu indicates a number of different dimensions in a width x height format. If the desired dimension is not listed, a "Custom" option can be chosen and the dimensions can be typed in.

The two fields on the lower left are called "Feedback Fields" because they indicate calculations that have been made from the options you have entered.

The first field is "Frame Count" which indicates the number of images which will be acquired to create the panorama.

The second field is "Overlap" which indicates the calculated overlap form one image to another. The overlap percentage is calculated from max frame count, node sweep, image size, and vertical field of view.

Once setup is complete, click on the "Acquire" tab to begin creating your panorama.

This window has two sets of buttons which can be used to execute commands.

1. Tools: this area contains a button labeled "Clear" and can be used to remove single images once they have been added to the ring.

2. Commands: controls the way in which images are added to the ring.

  • "Single" allows you to add single images to the ring.
  • "Multiple" allows you to add all the images to be included in the panorama at one time. This is done frame by frame moving in a counterclockwise direction.

Since we are using the "PLUG-IN Image File," the images will be added from a disk. If the disk only contains images to be used in the creation of the panorama, click "Add 16." If the disk contains other pictures or files, add the images one at a time by highlighting the image to be added and clicking "Add."

Note: The "PLUG-IN Image File" command will also be used if you are adding images from the hard drive of your computer or from a CD.

Once you have determined that all the images needed to complete the panorama are in the lower window, click the "Done" button. A window similar to the one on the right will appear. Once the "Acquire Images Progress" window closes, the images will appear in the frame cylinder.
The frame cylinder in the center shows the images that have been imported in a thumbnail view. This view also indicates the max frames which was selected in setup.
Once you have determined that the images are in the appropriate order, click on the "Stitch" tab. The window appears to be empty.
By clicking the "Stitch" button, the program begins to analyze the images and the panorama is created. The progress of the stitching progress is shown in a window similar to the one on the right.
After the stitching process is complete, the overlapping images will be shown in previously empty window.
This window also contains a "Tolerance" button. This can be used to to determine the "Frame Offset Tolerance." This is calculated by the program using the settings you provided in setup. By using the sliders, this automatic setting can be adjusted if the stitching process was not accurate. Once the "Frame Offset Tolerance" button is clicked and the automatic setting is changed, the stitching process will be redone.
By setting the "Frame Offset Tolerance" sliders to the maximum level which is "High," the stitching process will proceed in slower, but the images will stitched in a more appropriate manner. This is especially useful if the camera has been hand held rather than using a tripod. After adjusting the "Frame Offset Tolerance," check the images for proper alignment. If the images still need adjustment, manual adjustment is necessary and will be discussed in "Alignment Corrections."
The next step is rendering the panorama. This is accomplished by clicking the "Blend" tab. At first glance, the window appears empty. Clicking the "Blend" button initiates the blending process which will produce a blending together of the stitched images.
The progress of the blending of the images is shown in a window similar to the one at the right.
Once the images are blended, the blended single image is displayed in the previously empty window.
Once the images are blended, "Effects" may be added by clicking the "Add" button under the blank box that says "Effect Name." A "Select Effect" window will be opened.
You can experiment with the effects which can be added. One effect is "HSL Balance." While you are working with an effect, a box below the effect window in the lower left hand corner shows a preview of the changes which will take place if the effect is added.
It is from within the blend window that the panorama can be exported to an external editing program if the blending process was not a complete success. To do this select "Export" from the "File" menu.
The blend window is also the place to change the image size if necessary. Click the "Set" button to change the pixel width and height of the image.
A "Resize Panorama" window is opened up so the panorama's dimensions can be adjusted. Once they are adjusted to your specifications, click "OK." If the resized image is not what you expected, click on the "Blend" button once again and the image will be reblended.
The next tab is "Hotspots." This tab allows you to add one or more hot spots which will invoke some sort of action when clicked. The "Tools" menu allows you to add an area in the form of one or more of shapes shown. Color may also be added by clicking the palette image. The image below shows a portion of the panorama with several hotspots added.
Once the area for the hotspot or spots is defined, the "Hot Spot Properties" button should be clicked to determine the action of the defined hotspot.
A "Hot Spot Properties" window will be displayed. In this window you can determine the action of the selected hotspot.
If "URL" is choosen, when a user mouses over the hotspot, a click of the mouse will take them to the designated url. To designate the url, the "URL" tab must be clicked and the url typed in the box and the "OK" button clicked. An example is shown to the right.
The compress tab is the last tab to be selected and takes you through the final steps in creating the panorama. It is here that the image data is compressed, displayed, and stored in QTVR format. Compress is composed of three sections: Compression, Dicing, and Default View Angles. Clicking the "Compress" button will create the movie and will also enable the "Playback" tab.
Clicking the set button will bring up the "Compression settings" window which allows you to change the settings. The most popular settings for QuickTime VR include Cinepak, Photo-JPEG and Sorenson. The default setting for "Quality" is medium which usually provides an appropriate image for use in a web page. Once your settings are completed, click "OK."
Once you click "OK," you will be returned to the Compression window. "Color Depth" is next and should be left at the depth at which the movie is likely to be viewed. In most cases, the setting should be left at "24 bit (Millions) setting.
The next settings to be resolved are "Dicing." The "Tile Array" setting defaults to "1x24" which is optimal for most panoramas. The "Optimal Scaling" box should be checked as it allows the panorama image to be resampled while it is being compressed so that its width is a multiple of 96 and its height is a multiple of 4. This enhances playback and should normally be checked. If the "Dual Resolution" box is checked, a second track is created in the OTVR movie which allows for playback in a low memory situation. The high resolution panorama will always attempt to load first, but if it is unable to, the low resolution panorama will be loaded in its place.
The "Default View Angles" are selected by the software and can be changed, but do not usually need to be.
Once all of the above settings have been made, you should click the "Compress" button. A window which shows the "Compression Progress" will appear.
Once the compression is complete, click the "Playback" tab to view your completed panorama. There are several settings that need to be completed in this window.
The first is the "Playback Window." This allows you to change the size of the playback window by entering the desired width and height in the appropriate fields.

The "Attributes" set of buttons enables you to do four different operations.

1. Annotate allows you to add descriptive data about the movie such as your name, copyright and a description.

2. Interaction allows you to set the parameters which will be used by others to interact with your movie.

3. Imaging allows you to set the parameters which indicate how the movie will look when it is on the screen motionless and in motion.

4. Playback allows you to set the playback options. Clicking on "Preload" allows the movie to load before opening which allows for a smoother playback. Clicking on "Cache data" allows for the movie to retain much of the calculated data which also adds to the smoothness of playback.

The "Constraints" adjustments allow you to adjust the way a viewer sees your movie. You can set the "Initial" viewing angles as well as the "Min. Zoom" and "Max. Zoom."

 

Once all of the above settings have been entered, the movie needs to be "Exported" to function as a stand-alone movie file. When this button is clicked, you will be prompted to determine where you want to save the completed movie file.

You have now successfully created a panorama using VRWorx. Check out "Alignment Corrections" for additional help with manually aligning your images.

©2000-2002 April A. Cleveland for Science Junction, NC State University.
All rights reserved.
URL: http://www.ncsu.edu/sciencejunction/route/usetech/panoramapc/stitchpc/index.html
Last updated 07/29/02

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