Free stitching software?

littledrawe · 08-10-2012, 02:56 PM

Is there a good one out there?

Ari · 08-10-2012, 03:13 PM

There are no good free ones out there (I know - I think I may have tried all of them). I use Panorama Factory: The Panorama Factory. It is very reliable, very forgiving and you have a lot of output options.

DSims · 08-10-2012, 03:29 PM

Originally posted by Ari

I use Panorama Factory: The Panorama Factory. It is very reliable, very forgiving and you have a lot of output options.

It looks interesting - I hadn't heard of it before. But it looks like it hasn't been updated in over 18 months. This is usually a bad sign. Do you know whether the product is still being worked on?

johngs · 08-10-2012, 03:32 PM - **1 Like**

I've used Microsoft ICE (Image Composite Editor) Its a free download from Microsoft. I've found it does an excellent job.

Ari · 08-10-2012, 03:44 PM

I'm not sure if it's still being updated, but I use it just about every day for a real estate company photography company I shoot for. Here are a few links to some recent shoots I stitched with it (it's a mix between stills and stitched panoramas):
French Provincial Estate (864627)
Brickfront colonial on 4 acres (897907)
The second was is a tabbed tour - you can just click the tabs that say, "PAN."

It has the usual issues (convex images) but it is very good at matching exposure and color between images. I usually batch edit every image for each panorama in PS RAW edit, so the exposure/colors are pretty well matched before I throw them into Panorama Factory.

emalvick · 08-10-2012, 04:03 PM

Hugin is an open-source stitching software that has a lot of features if not a little challenging to make use of them. However, it has a very simple beginners mode to lead you through step by step and you can learn as you go from there. I inevitably find it is nice in letting you play around with match points and over-ride its selections if needed.

**crewl1** · 08-10-2012, 04:13 PM

I've used Microsoft ICE as well for cityscapes. Microsoft Research Image Composite Editor (ICE)

HockeyDad · 08-10-2012, 04:18 PM

I hesitate to offer advice since I have no experience with paid programs and just mess around with panoramas occasionally for landscapes. However, I would say that if you're new to panos and looking to play around, ICE and/or Hugin would be worth a download. ICE is really neat because it's kind of a no-brainer and does a decent job much of the time. I tend to use Hugin more often because while it isn't what I would consider intuitive, it does give more control.

hcc · 08-10-2012, 06:27 PM

Originally posted by emalvick

Hugin is an open-source stitching software that has a lot of features if not a little challenging to make use of them. However, it has a very simple beginners mode....

+1 for Hugin. It is free and it has some excellent algorithms.

Another goog one was AutoStich, but Hugin is better and more relliable IMHO.

Hope that the comment will help.

DSims · 08-10-2012, 07:07 PM

Originally posted by Ari

I'm not sure if it's still being updated, but I use it just about every day for a real estate company photography company I shoot for. Here are a few links to some recent shoots I stitched with it (it's a mix between stills and stitched panoramas):
French Provincial Estate (864627)
Brickfront colonial on 4 acres (897907)
The second was is a tabbed tour - you can just click the tabs that say, "PAN."

It looks like it works well - I hope they don't abandon the product!

littledrawe · 08-10-2012, 10:45 PM

Thank you for the replies!! I'll start checking them out.

KevinR · 08-11-2012, 08:47 AM

+1 for Hugin. Simple mode plus advanced features if required. Open Source.

demp10 · 08-11-2012, 10:35 AM

Microsoft ICE is excellent.

Jean Poitiers · 08-11-2012, 01:36 PM

Thanks for these suggestions ... I was pondering the same question the other day.

**7samurai** · 08-11-2012, 05:48 PM

Second Microsoft ICE. For a free product, it does an excellent job.

08-10-2012, 02:56 PM	#1
littledrawe Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Red Rock Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,514	Free stitching software? Is there a good one out there?

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08-10-2012, 03:13 PM	#2
Ari Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Freehold, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 856	There are no good free ones out there (I know - I think I may have tried all of them). I use Panorama Factory: The Panorama Factory. It is very reliable, very forgiving and you have a lot of output options.

08-10-2012, 03:29 PM	#3
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Originally posted by Ari I use Panorama Factory: The Panorama Factory. It is very reliable, very forgiving and you have a lot of output options. It looks interesting - I hadn't heard of it before. But it looks like it hasn't been updated in over 18 months. This is usually a bad sign. Do you know whether the product is still being worked on?

08-10-2012, 03:32 PM - 1 Like	#4
johngs Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 229	I've used Microsoft ICE (Image Composite Editor) Its a free download from Microsoft. I've found it does an excellent job.

08-10-2012, 03:44 PM	#5
Ari Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Freehold, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 856	I'm not sure if it's still being updated, but I use it just about every day for a real estate company photography company I shoot for. Here are a few links to some recent shoots I stitched with it (it's a mix between stills and stitched panoramas): French Provincial Estate (864627) Brickfront colonial on 4 acres (897907) The second was is a tabbed tour - you can just click the tabs that say, "PAN." It has the usual issues (convex images) but it is very good at matching exposure and color between images. I usually batch edit every image for each panorama in PS RAW edit, so the exposure/colors are pretty well matched before I throw them into Panorama Factory.

08-10-2012, 04:03 PM	#6
emalvick Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Davis, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,642	Hugin is an open-source stitching software that has a lot of features if not a little challenging to make use of them. However, it has a very simple beginners mode to lead you through step by step and you can learn as you go from there. I inevitably find it is nice in letting you play around with match points and over-ride its selections if needed.

08-10-2012, 04:13 PM	#7
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	I've used Microsoft ICE as well for cityscapes. Microsoft Research Image Composite Editor (ICE)

08-10-2012, 04:18 PM	#8
HockeyDad Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 482	I hesitate to offer advice since I have no experience with paid programs and just mess around with panoramas occasionally for landscapes. However, I would say that if you're new to panos and looking to play around, ICE and/or Hugin would be worth a download. ICE is really neat because it's kind of a no-brainer and does a decent job much of the time. I tend to use Hugin more often because while it isn't what I would consider intuitive, it does give more control.

08-10-2012, 06:27 PM	#9
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	Originally posted by emalvick Hugin is an open-source stitching software that has a lot of features if not a little challenging to make use of them. However, it has a very simple beginners mode.... +1 for Hugin. It is free and it has some excellent algorithms. Another goog one was AutoStich, but Hugin is better and more relliable IMHO. Hope that the comment will help.

08-10-2012, 07:07 PM	#10
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Originally posted by Ari I'm not sure if it's still being updated, but I use it just about every day for a real estate company photography company I shoot for. Here are a few links to some recent shoots I stitched with it (it's a mix between stills and stitched panoramas): French Provincial Estate (864627) Brickfront colonial on 4 acres (897907) The second was is a tabbed tour - you can just click the tabs that say, "PAN." It looks like it works well - I hope they don't abandon the product!

08-10-2012, 10:45 PM	#11
littledrawe Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Red Rock Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,514 Original Poster	Thank you for the replies!! I'll start checking them out.

08-11-2012, 08:47 AM	#12
KevinR Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 653	+1 for Hugin. Simple mode plus advanced features if required. Open Source.

08-11-2012, 10:35 AM	#13
demp10 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Atlanta Photos: Albums Posts: 602	Microsoft ICE is excellent.

08-11-2012, 01:36 PM	#14
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Thanks for these suggestions ... I was pondering the same question the other day.

08-11-2012, 05:48 PM	#15
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	Second Microsoft ICE. For a free product, it does an excellent job.