Stitching a panorama on the cheap?

**fs999** · 11-25-2019, 02:15 AM

The AutoFill mode of Microsoft ICE is fantastic !

wanderer2 · 11-25-2019, 04:23 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by fs999

The AutoFill mode of Microsoft ICE is fantastic !

It isn't free but Affinity Photo does Panorama Stitching very well, also focus stacking, and is very easy to use for this purpose. It will stitch a large number of photos all in one process which is very easy to use. It's a one time fee of $50, on sale for $40 at times (might be on Black Friday?), updates are all free, and there is a free trial period. It's a very full featured photo editing program.

I didn't intend for this reply to be attached to another message - sorry, I goofed and can't change it.

biz-engineer · 11-25-2019, 06:15 AM

Originally posted by Lhorn

Are there any cheap options to be able to stitch together a high quality panorama?

Freeware such as hugin and ice are the first cheapest solutions.
The second cheapest solution is to stitch with thread and needle.
Then it paid software, such as LR etc.

fsge · 11-25-2019, 08:26 AM

I use autopano pro, I didnt know about Microsoft ICE!

wanderer2 · 11-25-2019, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by wanderer2

It isn't free but Affinity Photo does Panorama Stitching very well, also focus stacking, and is very easy to use for this purpose. It will stitch a large number of photos all in one process which is very easy to use. It's a one time fee of $50, on sale for $40 at times (might be on Black Friday?), updates are all free, and there is a free trial period. It's a very full featured photo editing program.

I didn't intend for this reply to be attached to another message - sorry, I goofed and can't change it.

I just got an email from Affinity that everything is 20% off in a Black Friday sale, starting now I believe. So Affinity Photo is $35 now instead of the usual $50. An incredible bargain for this powerful processing tool, IMHO.

Lhorn · 11-25-2019, 12:16 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I consider myself a bit behind the curve technology wise but I downloaded ICE and found it to be very intuitive and within a few minutes had stitched together my first panorama. While on a cruise to Alaska I took series photos of sections of a glacier panning from one end to the other. Stitched them together nicely and could edit the panorama in LR.
I think that’ll take care of my needs for panorama nicely.
Thanks also for the mention of Affinity. I will check that out too. My next “need” had been for software to do stacking for macro.
Thanks

**tduell** · 11-25-2019, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by Lhorn

My next “need” had been for software to do stacking for macro.
Thanks

Do you mean focus stacking?
That can be done with enfuse, which is part of the hugin package for Linux.
I think there is a tutorial on using enfuse for focus stacking, just use those keywords in a search should find it.

Cheers,
Terry

jgnfld · 11-29-2019, 03:28 AM

Originally posted by rawr

Hugin is also open-source/free, and a very capable panorama tool.

Hugin - Panorama photo stitcher

Another vote for Hugein here. Also can be used in command line mode if something really specific is needed but that needs a much higher learning curve.

ChristianRock · 12-04-2019, 08:43 AM

Originally posted by tduell

Do you mean focus stacking?
That can be done with enfuse, which is part of the hugin package for Linux.
I think there is a tutorial on using enfuse for focus stacking, just use those keywords in a search should find it.

Cheers,
Terry

Does Hugin for Windows also do focus stacking or is that only in the linux version?

**GUB** · 12-04-2019, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by ChristianRock

Does Hugin for Windows also do focus stacking or is that only in the linux version?

The last time I tried Hugin itself wasn't set up for focus stacking. Hugin is a front end for Enfuse. To focus stack I ran Enfuse through the terminal. And yes there is a tutorial somewhere for it.

ChristianRock · 12-04-2019, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by GUB

The last time I tried Hugin itself wasn't set up for focus stacking. Hugin is a front end for Enfuse. To focus stack I ran Enfuse through the terminal. And yes there is a tutorial somewhere for it.

Thanks. Based on what you said I looked for other front ends for Enfuse and apparently there is one called EnfuseGUI that exposes the focus stacking and HDR portions of Enfuse along with the panorama. So instead of Hugin, I guess it would be better to use EnfuseGUI? I'd have to play around with it sometimes.

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11-25-2019, 02:15 AM	#16
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,638	The AutoFill mode of Microsoft ICE is fantastic !

11-25-2019, 04:23 AM - 1 Like	#17
wanderer2 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 301	Originally posted by fs999 The AutoFill mode of Microsoft ICE is fantastic ! It isn't free but Affinity Photo does Panorama Stitching very well, also focus stacking, and is very easy to use for this purpose. It will stitch a large number of photos all in one process which is very easy to use. It's a one time fee of $50, on sale for $40 at times (might be on Black Friday?), updates are all free, and there is a free trial period. It's a very full featured photo editing program. I didn't intend for this reply to be attached to another message - sorry, I goofed and can't change it.

11-25-2019, 06:15 AM	#18
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,231	Originally posted by Lhorn Are there any cheap options to be able to stitch together a high quality panorama? Freeware such as hugin and ice are the first cheapest solutions. The second cheapest solution is to stitch with thread and needle. Then it paid software, such as LR etc.

11-25-2019, 08:26 AM	#19
fsge Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Genf Posts: 1,138	I use autopano pro, I didnt know about Microsoft ICE!

11-25-2019, 08:49 AM	#20
wanderer2 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 301	Originally posted by wanderer2 It isn't free but Affinity Photo does Panorama Stitching very well, also focus stacking, and is very easy to use for this purpose. It will stitch a large number of photos all in one process which is very easy to use. It's a one time fee of $50, on sale for $40 at times (might be on Black Friday?), updates are all free, and there is a free trial period. It's a very full featured photo editing program. I didn't intend for this reply to be attached to another message - sorry, I goofed and can't change it. I just got an email from Affinity that everything is 20% off in a Black Friday sale, starting now I believe. So Affinity Photo is $35 now instead of the usual $50. An incredible bargain for this powerful processing tool, IMHO.

11-25-2019, 12:16 PM	#21
Lhorn Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 554 Original Poster	Thanks for all the replies. I consider myself a bit behind the curve technology wise but I downloaded ICE and found it to be very intuitive and within a few minutes had stitched together my first panorama. While on a cruise to Alaska I took series photos of sections of a glacier panning from one end to the other. Stitched them together nicely and could edit the panorama in LR. I think that’ll take care of my needs for panorama nicely. Thanks also for the mention of Affinity. I will check that out too. My next “need” had been for software to do stacking for macro. Thanks

11-25-2019, 02:13 PM	#22
tduell Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,514	Originally posted by Lhorn My next “need” had been for software to do stacking for macro. Thanks Do you mean focus stacking? That can be done with enfuse, which is part of the hugin package for Linux. I think there is a tutorial on using enfuse for focus stacking, just use those keywords in a search should find it. Cheers, Terry

11-29-2019, 03:28 AM	#23
jgnfld Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,789	Originally posted by rawr Hugin is also open-source/free, and a very capable panorama tool. Hugin - Panorama photo stitcher Another vote for Hugein here. Also can be used in command line mode if something really specific is needed but that needs a much higher learning curve.

12-04-2019, 08:43 AM	#24
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Originally posted by tduell Do you mean focus stacking? That can be done with enfuse, which is part of the hugin package for Linux. I think there is a tutorial on using enfuse for focus stacking, just use those keywords in a search should find it. Cheers, Terry Does Hugin for Windows also do focus stacking or is that only in the linux version?

12-04-2019, 12:26 PM	#25
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760	Originally posted by ChristianRock Does Hugin for Windows also do focus stacking or is that only in the linux version? The last time I tried Hugin itself wasn't set up for focus stacking. Hugin is a front end for Enfuse. To focus stack I ran Enfuse through the terminal. And yes there is a tutorial somewhere for it.

12-04-2019, 12:50 PM	#26
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Originally posted by GUB The last time I tried Hugin itself wasn't set up for focus stacking. Hugin is a front end for Enfuse. To focus stack I ran Enfuse through the terminal. And yes there is a tutorial somewhere for it. Thanks. Based on what you said I looked for other front ends for Enfuse and apparently there is one called EnfuseGUI that exposes the focus stacking and HDR portions of Enfuse along with the panorama. So instead of Hugin, I guess it would be better to use EnfuseGUI? I'd have to play around with it sometimes.