I'm been using PTGui since it was first released and it really is great software but I think you missed a crucial checkbox before you started the batch building and stitching. You need to expand PTGui to show all advanced tabs and then look for project settings tab. In there is a sub set of settings called "Batch Stitch actions" and you needed to tick the "Do align images and save the modified project", in fact tick all three options in there. The way you ran the batch, PTGui wasn't analysing each set of images for control points, it was just using the settings from the template (in this case your existing open project). This method is ok if you are batch stitching a load of panos shot from the exact same location, like stitching frames from a video which I've seen in your other videos, but because you moved locations in this example you needed to have PTGui treat each set of images as a stand alone project and it has to generate control points for them all. The one with the plane chopped off in the PTGui output, if you were to put that same set of images into PTGui as a new project so it generated control points from scratch it should come out ok? Hope the above makes sense and helps with any future batch stitching projects. TL:DR - For batch stitching you need to tick "align images" in the batch settings on the project settings tab. Unless all images where taken from a single static location in which case you can leave these unticked.
Thanks for the review. I am currently trying out both apps to decide which one to buy. My findings agree with yours. I also found that Autopano Giga does a better stitching job, especially when you have waves or sky.
You're very welcome, it basically boils down to speed vs accuracy AutoPano Giga does do a better job and when using the batch stitching you know once it's done everything is stitched properly. PtGui doesn't like moving clouds or sky at all.
I would apprecate your comments when reviewing products like this side-by-side, on the usefulness of the help file and training videos as well as on whether there is a built-in xif metadata editor or not. Thanks!
You may want to recheck the PTGui plane image that didn't stitch properly. It was a touch off. However, when you went to AutoPano, that same plane that you said looked good, was missing the entire cockpit! Big difference from a slight stitch in PTGui!
I want to use this or similar to stitch together high-res images of rocks at 500x magnification under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in grids of ~9x13 images, sometimes larger (max is ~ 200 images). The SEM has software that will do it but it doesn't allow manual edits and rarely works well. Do you have any tips on which is the best software to use? I was thinking of using PT Gui, but heard that "Hugin" and "Panoweaver" are pretty good too. Also stumbled across one called "autostitch" but it doesn't seem to allow manual adjustment which is a deal breaker. I am a doctoral student so I don't have a lot of money to spend on it. Any advice appreciated :)
Pt Gui would probably do the best job for a project like that. As long as there is overlap with the images and they have a logical order. Its the only one I use and it has an active google group that is very helpful groups.google.com/g/ptgui?pli=1
After a lot of consideration and really liking the tools in AutoPanoGiga - I prefer PTGui. Although more difficult to manage and work with with some tools here, some there, PTGui does at least prepare within the one program the pano for html viewing in which its own javascript/flash driven views come in to play. I find that after AutoPano one has to then create the viewable imagery in a second program, PanoTour, which then creates an html based collection of some 60 small files to upload to one's server. I MUCH prefer the html view of PTGui - it has a far more natural appearance both in terms of colours and rotational artefacts. For me PTGui is more natural in its final online renderings. All that said, PanoTour is, for me, a true virtual reality image with the inclusion of hot spots on the pano image.
Very good video, answered many of my questions. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.
You're welcome Ernest. Glad it helped. They are both very good software.
I'm been using PTGui since it was first released and it really is great software but I think you missed a crucial checkbox before you started the batch building and stitching. You need to expand PTGui to show all advanced tabs and then look for project settings tab. In there is a sub set of settings called "Batch Stitch actions" and you needed to tick the "Do align images and save the modified project", in fact tick all three options in there. The way you ran the batch, PTGui wasn't analysing each set of images for control points, it was just using the settings from the template (in this case your existing open project). This method is ok if you are batch stitching a load of panos shot from the exact same location, like stitching frames from a video which I've seen in your other videos, but because you moved locations in this example you needed to have PTGui treat each set of images as a stand alone project and it has to generate control points for them all. The one with the plane chopped off in the PTGui output, if you were to put that same set of images into PTGui as a new project so it generated control points from scratch it should come out ok?
Hope the above makes sense and helps with any future batch stitching projects.
TL:DR - For batch stitching you need to tick "align images" in the batch settings on the project settings tab. Unless all images where taken from a single static location in which case you can leave these unticked.
Thanks for the review. I am currently trying out both apps to decide which one to buy.
My findings agree with yours. I also found that Autopano Giga does a better stitching job, especially when you have waves or sky.
You're very welcome, it basically boils down to speed vs accuracy AutoPano Giga does do a better job and when using the batch stitching you know once it's done everything is stitched properly. PtGui doesn't like moving clouds or sky at all.
HI! AUTOPANO GIGA DOES THE MASK FUNCTION (PAINT RED OR GREEN) LIKE PTGUI? THANK YOU!
I would apprecate your comments when reviewing products like this side-by-side, on the usefulness of the help file and training videos as well as on whether there is a built-in xif metadata editor or not. Thanks!
You may want to recheck the PTGui plane image that didn't stitch properly. It was a touch off. However, when you went to AutoPano, that same plane that you said looked good, was missing the entire cockpit! Big difference from a slight stitch in PTGui!
I want to use this or similar to stitch together high-res images of rocks at 500x magnification under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in grids of ~9x13 images, sometimes larger (max is ~ 200 images). The SEM has software that will do it but it doesn't allow manual edits and rarely works well. Do you have any tips on which is the best software to use?
I was thinking of using PT Gui, but heard that "Hugin" and "Panoweaver" are pretty good too. Also stumbled across one called "autostitch" but it doesn't seem to allow manual adjustment which is a deal breaker. I am a doctoral student so I don't have a lot of money to spend on it. Any advice appreciated :)
Pt Gui would probably do the best job for a project like that. As long as there is overlap with the images and they have a logical order. Its the only one I use and it has an active google group that is very helpful groups.google.com/g/ptgui?pli=1
After a lot of consideration and really liking the tools in AutoPanoGiga - I prefer PTGui. Although more difficult to manage and work with with some tools here, some there, PTGui does at least prepare within the one program the pano for html viewing in which its own javascript/flash driven views come in to play. I find that after AutoPano one has to then create the viewable imagery in a second program, PanoTour, which then creates an html based collection of some 60 small files to upload to one's server. I MUCH prefer the html view of PTGui - it has a far more natural appearance both in terms of colours and rotational artefacts. For me PTGui is more natural in its final online renderings. All that said, PanoTour is, for me, a true virtual reality image with the inclusion of hot spots on the pano image.
Unfortunately you cannot buy AutoPano Giga anymore while you can still download it. How much were they asking for it when it was available?
I think GoPro bought the company at some point I guess they closed it, I know it cost more than PTGui though.
I am leaning toward AutoPano Giga and PanoTour Pro. Best place to purchase (price wise)? The price difference is pretty substantial.
I think the best place would be the Kolor website itself. They would give the best service since its their product.
It looks to me the roof from the PTGUI is misaligned, autopan seems to be fine.