Autopano - Main Window - Group Settings

APG-440 DocIndex 001.gif > Autopano - Main Window > Autopano - Main Window - Toolbar > Autopano - Main Window - Groups Window > Autopano - Main Window - Group Settings

The settings changed in the Group settings are only valid for the current group. These settings are not saved for other groups; each group can be configured independently.

Detection tab

These options affect the way in which the pictures will be linked to each other. The detection step corresponds to when Autopano analyzes the images and assigns links to them with the use of significant points called control points.
If you make a mistake, you can use the "Restore defaults" button.

Detection (manual) Quality of detection: Standard: (default) Increases the density of the points at the expense of the detection speed. High: Useful if one, several or all images are ignored. Very slow, reserved for desperate cases. Number of control points: Affects the number of control points exported to Panotools as well as on the detection quality. 50 (default value) seems to be the best choice in the majority of cases. Filtering model: lets select the detection algorithm. Automatic: (default) let Autopano uses one or several models depending on the source images EXIF data to find control points. Similarity: (fast approximation) to use with linear images shot at long focal (between 24mm to the infinite). Homography: (complete model in image plane) to use with linear images shot with short focal lengths or in case of aerial shots. Spherical: (complete model on the sphere) to use with fisheye images. Links Layout: Free: (default) Autopano calculates all the possibility of links between the images. This does not exclude the false links that could be created if your images contain many similarities (images linked by their similarities but in reality are not close to each other). Single row or column: This can be used if the images were taken consecutively and on a single row. This method avoids the false links caused by the similarities of images. Force every images to be in one panorama: All the group images will appear in the panorama. This option is useful when one or more pictures are ignored in certain panoramas. This will not improve the quality of detection but will force the image(s) to be reflected in the resulting panorama even if these images have no connection with the images of the panorama. Detect links in: The reference level: (default) Looks for all the possibilities of links between the images with the same bracket level. All stack levels: Looks for all possibilities of links between the images. For a stack: Use hard links: Lets you precisely superimpose the different images of the same stack without assigning control points to them. Detect control points: This uses the control points as a reference to superimpose the different images in the same stack. Project Folder: The ... button lets you select the directory of your choice. Click on the icon for a description of the symbols that make up the models (syntax) of the file name: Filename: Name of project file (.pano). Click on the icon for a description of the symbols that make up the models (syntax) of the file name: Use relative path for image location in project: This is useful if you want to transfer the completed project to a third support (USB key, hard disk, CD, etc.) so that it can be opened on another machine. Automate Auto crop: automatically frames the panorama. Auto color correction: (default) automatically standardizes the panorama’s colorimetry. Auto color histogram: automatically applies a color level. Auto render: automatically launches the rendering. Auto save: automatically saves the project (.pano). Auto close: automatically closes the project window. We recommend to tick “Auto save” when using this option.

Optimization tab

During the optimization step, the images are positioned based on their control points that are calculated during the detection.
Autopano works perfectly with default settings and the hazardous changes of these options may damage the operation of Autopano.
If you make a mistake, you can use the "Restore defaults" button.

Optimization presets By default, the most appropriate profile (combination of several stages) is automatically selected depending on the content of the source images. 1) Local / global: lets you pre-position the images locally Local approach: intelligently validates the control points calculations. This changes in the stitching if the calculations seem wrong (false links) and that allows to not affect too much the good links. 2) First optimization: looks for the ideal position of each image simultaneously. 3) First lens distortion: Corrects lens distortion (very useful for short and medium focal lengths). 4) Geom analysis: double checks the control points / links without taking into account the filtering done during the detection. 5) Final Lens distortion: Corrects lens distortions again if Step 4 was performed (cleaning links/control points). Use grid position: only available if you have imported pictures taken with the help of a pan head via a Clauss or Papywizard import plug-in (this option re-uses the coordinates provided to pre-position the images). Assume row/column shooting: Active for panoramas coming from a Gigapan head. This method requires high precision in the shooting matrix. Clean: Bad points: clears control points when RMS is too high Bad links: clears links when RMS average is too high Optimization scopes The optimization scopes are a combination of settings allowing to improve the links between images. First of all, it is mostly advised to read the following page: Optimizer engine Grouping criteria: lets select how the images are grouped on the Optimization grouping. Automatic: (default) Autopano decides by itself what kind of grouping to apply, depending on the source images. No grouping: forces Autopano to not group the images Lens type: groups the images by lens type Stacks: groups the images when stacks are present on the project EXIF camera model: groups images by using the camera model information defined on the EXIF data EXIF focal length: groups images by using the focal length information defined on the EXIF data Has EXIF: groups images if images include EXIF or not Scope: defines if the related setting is applied on each image, group of images (set above) or panorama Image: the related setting would be applied on individual images Group: the related setting would be applied on the grouping defined above Pano: the related setting would be applied on the whole panorama (groups and individual images included) Yaw Pitch Roll: Focal: Sets the method for calculating the focal length. Automatic: (default) Autopano decides by itself what kind of focal calculation to apply (and if it is necessary), depending on the content of the group of images. Enable: Lets Autopano calculate a different focal length for the group defined. Useful if the panorama contains photos with different focal length, or if the focusing has moved. Disable: forces Autopano to not calculate different focal to apply. Distortion: Sets the method for calculating the distortion of the lenses. Automatic: (default) Autopano decides by itself what kind of distortion calculation to apply (and if it is necessary), depending on the content of the group of images. Disable: forces Autopano to not calculate distortions. 1st order: commom distortion, Barrel distorsion or Pincushion distortion 2nd order: more complex distortion, Barrel distorsion, Pincushion distortion or mix of Barrel/Pincushion (mustache). 3rd order: further complex distortion. Few lenses still get this type of distortion (not very useful in practice). Offset: Automatic: (default) Autopano decides by itself the offset value (the difference between the center of the lens and the center of the sensor) to apply (and if it is necessary), depending on the source images. Enable: Lets Autopano calculate offsets for the group defined. Disable: forces Autopano to not calculate offsets to apply. Viewpoint: ( Autopano Giga only) tolerates variations in the nodal point and detects changes in viewpoint to provide a satisfactory result, whatever the shooting conditions.

Panorama tab

These properties are applied to the panorama just after the assembly.
If you make a mistake, you can use the "Reset default values" button.

Projection and crop Default projection: Lets select the default type of projection by either selecting the automatic option or to force one of the projection available. Automatic: Automatically chooses the most suitable projection based on the panorama’s FOV. Other projections: Lets force the projection selected there. Default crop: Lets you select the default crop of the panorama. Clamp to panorama content: The panorama will have a size that corresponds to the span of the area where the pixels are actually found. Maximum projection range: The panorama will have a size that corresponds to the projection range. For example, this option is useful to generate 360°x180° as well as partial panoramas that do not cover the whole span. Color correction Lets you choose the default type of color correction when the auto color correction option is activated. Color correction by layer: This limits the color correction to each group of images within the panorama. Default correction: Gamma: Only corrects the gamma. Exposure: (default) only corrects the exposure. Gamma and exposure: Corrects the gamma and exposure. Gamma and color tone: Corrects the gamma and tones. Exposure and color tone: Corrects the exposure and tones. Gamma, exposure and color tone: Corrects the gamma, exposure and tones. Layers editor Default regroup: This lets you chose how to group the images in the Layers editor of the panorama editor. You can rearrange them later if needed.

Render tab

The “Render” tab is in all respects identical to the one found in the general settings or in the editing window. It is a default parameter for the rendering options that will also be visible and modifiable at the time of the final rendering.
If you make a mistake, you can use the "Restore defaults" button.

Size This lets you adjust the panorama’s export size in percentage of the maximum size. Interpolator The interpolator is used to project the pixels of the source image on the panorama. Its quality often depends on the sharpness of the panorama. Nearest Neighbour: Reserved for testing, because of the numerous and very visible artifacts created. In return, this is the fastest. Bilinear: This is a correct quality/speed ratio choice. Bicubic: (default) Use it if you do not know. The difference with the bilinear is almost imperceptible to the naked eye but can be seen in the lines with strong contrasts. Its default use is recommended. Bicubic sharper: This is the same thing as the bicubic but it is stronger (the fortification level corresponds to the same settings as in Photoshop when changing the size of an image). Bicubic smoother: This is the same thing as the bicubic but it is softer (the softening level corresponds to the same settings as in Photoshop when changing the size of an image). Spline36: This powerful method of interpolation is to be used when extreme or high post-rendering is necessary. The difference with the bicubic mode is not noticeable to the naked eye. Spline64: Works in the same way as the Spline36, but stronger, slower and usually better (expirment to sample resutls). Blending presets The purpose of the blender is to combine the overlapping zones without it being noticeable, to obtain a perfect stiching of the panorama's images. Autopano offers 4 optimization presets adapted to your needs without having to change them yourself. These profiles correspond to the pre-configurations that can be seen in the “advanced settings”. Simple: This is fast but it is possible that defects are seen where the areas overlap. Anti-ghost: Conserve the image's strong characteristics (stops, lines, curves) when mixing while automatically removing objects that have moved. Exposure Fusion: To be used if the panorama was created with a bracket shot. Keeps the best of different exposures. HDR output: To be used by users who wish to create a .hdr format file in order to create post-production or special effects. Custom: This is enabled when you manually change the parameters and they no longer correspond to a preset. Advanced settings Blending: None: For each position, the algorithm uses the pixel with the greatest importance according to the required weight. Linear: The rendered pixels are the result of a weighted average of input pixels. Multi-band: Lets you mix the average value (color trend) of the images while maintaining their details. Multi-band level: Lets adjust the influence zone for each input pixel. Consult the following page Understanding and using the rendering engine for more information. Cutting: None: no cutting is applied on the panorama. Smart: (default) Autopano chooses itselfs the cutting paths between images (anti-ghost) Iso: keeps picture areas which are closer to each picture centers. Unlike smart cutting, this is not an anti-ghost mode. Picture contents will not be analysed. Priority to: Lets define the cutting choices of the blender according to the desired result (ghost removing or long focal preservation) with the slider. Ghost: (default) all moving objects will be retained or removed according to their positions in the overlap areas. The anti-ghost himself makes this choice. Long focal: Used to promote the details of the images of long focal length. The left side of the slider bar enables the Ghosts removing at 100% and makes the Long focal preservation inactive. The right side of the slider bar enables the Long focal preservation at 100% and makes the Ghosts removing inactive. Move the slider bar allows to play on both settings (ghost removing or long focal preservation) at the same time, ie giving more priority to one of both settings leads to a lower priority for the other. Consult the following page Understanding and using the rendering engine for more information. Weighting: Diamond: The pixels in the centre of the images are more important than the pixels on the edges of the images. Fusion: enable/disable the tool. HDR ghosts: Avoid mixing the superimposed pixels that do not have the same information and that come from different levels (moving object on the same bracketed image). At least 3 different information (layers) are needed to determine the information to exclude. It is advisable to get more for a greater reliability of matches (warning, a layer that is entirely over-exposed or under-exposed can not be used). Format Lets you choose the output format, encoding, compression quality and resolution. Click on the icon for a description of the file format limitations. Exported data Lets you define how and what data needs to be exported: Data: Panorama: Lets you export the panorama. Layers: Lets you export the image groups. Pictures: Lets you export the images used to create the panorama. Options: Embed all outputs: Incorporates all the data in the same file. Remove Alpha channel: Deletes the alpha channel of the exported files. Output Folder: Lets you specify the file in which the image will be saved. Click on the icon for a description of the symbols that make up the models (syntax) of the file name: Filename: Default syntax of the file name. Click on the icon for a description of the symbols that make up the models (syntax) of the file name. Rendering done notification Lets you specify a sound that signals the end of the rendering.

BACK TO: Documentation / Autopano Documentation