Autopano - Panorama Editor - Control Points Editor

Autopano - Panorama Editor - Projections > Autopano - Panorama Editor - Geometry Correction > Autopano - Panorama Editor - Images mode > Autopano - Panorama Editor - Move mode > Autopano - Panorama Editor - Control Points Editor

Principle

The control point editor lets you manually correct the links and control points in order to obtain an optimum placement of your images. Indeed, sometimes the automatic mode poorly positions or excludes images. This can be easily corrected with the control point editor.

Where to find

The following tools are used for editing control points:

Presentation of the interface

The active control point editor interface uses 2 windows:

• The Panorama Editor window
• The Control points Editor window

You have now the possibility to rotate your images clockwise or counter-clockwise directly in the CP editor window (see below underlined in red)

Panorama editor window

Panorama editing area

Meshing of the editing area

The mesh appears above the preview of the panorama and lets you view the links between images and their quality. It also lets you select the images and links. A color code lets you quickly see the state of the links:

(RMS lower than 5): Good quality link.

(RMS between 5 and 10): Average quality link.

(RMS more than 10): Bad quality link.

(the RMS value is not very important): Modified and unoptimized link.

Note: learn more about the RMS value in this page.

Selecting images

When you select an image, the editor displays them as superimposed and the red lines show you all the related images.

Note: You can also use rubber band selector to select multiple images/links. Click on the panorama then select images by moving the cursor over the images.

Selecting links

When you select a link, it is highlighted in red. You can select more than one link, the display of the mesh will change based on the selection.

Contextual menu (right click)

The contextual menu opens when a right click is applied on an image, to access the following options:

• Local geometry analysis: Useful if the image selected has no link with the other images, that allows to search (and find) links automatically by geometry analysis in all the other images.
• Local optimize this image: Allows to optimize all the links of the selected image.
• Optimize viewpoint of this image: ( Autopano Giga only) allows variations in the nodal point for the selected image and detects changes in viewpoint, whatever the shooting conditions.

• Hard link to (image index): Allows to add a hard link with random control points. Useful in case it is impossible to find control points on the selected image and its neighborhoods, to fix the position of this image with the desired image.

• Optimize viewpoint of all images: ( Autopano Giga only) allows variations in the nodal point of all images and detects changes in viewpoint, whatever the shooting conditions.
• Do not optimize viewpoint of all images: ( Autopano Giga only) locks variations in the nodal point of all images and detects changes in viewpoint, whatever the shooting conditions.

Stitching information

The stitching information window rindicates the RMS value of the stitching and the number of control points of the whole current panorama:

Tools

• Full optimization: Lets you optimize the whole panorama.
• Quick optimization: Lets optimize the latest changes only.
• Geometric analysis: Useful if the image selected has no link with the other images, that allows to search links automatically by geometry analysis in all the other images

By default, the tools available there are only the Full optimize () and Quick optimize () buttons, the 4 advanced tabs (filters, steps, scopes and points) are grayed out.

Advanced Mode

You can access these 4 advanced tabs by ticking the Advanced Mode option.

Filters tab

The sliders are used to hide points and/or links to visualize and identify the worst points/links. Clear displayed links: This button is used in combination with the Filter links cursor. Clear displayed points: This button is used in combination with the Filter points cursor.

Steps tab

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

Scopes tab

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: image or group 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. Do not optimize: Autopano does not calculate the focal lengths, the default value is used. Optimize: Lets Autopano calculate the focal lengths. Keep current value: Autopano does not calculate the focal lengths, the current value is used (in this case, only the quick optimization is available) 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. Do not optimize: 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). Keep current value: Autopano does not calculate the distortion, the current value of k1, k2 and k3 is kept (in this case, only the quick optimization is available) 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. Do not optimize: forces Autopano to not calculate offsets to apply. Optimize: Lets Autopano calculate offsets for the group defined. Keep current value: the current offset values are kept (in this case, only the quick optimization is available) Viewpoint: ( Autopano Giga only) tolerates variations in the nodal point and detects changes in viewpoint to provide a satisfactory result, whatever the shooting conditions. Autopano will optimize or not depending of the choice.

Points tab

Detection (used by manual add and geometry analysis) 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. Similariy: (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. Geometry analysis Find control points: Where none exist: tries to find control points where none exist to complete links. Everywhere and merge with old CP: finds control points everywhere and add the new points found with the current ones. Everywhere and remove old CP: finds control points everywhere and remove the old points to let the place to the new points found. RMS max: sets the maximum RMS value that limits the control points research.

Optimization groups

Optimization groups use the Layers window to show the groupings defined in the Optimization scopes.
The frames group values when there is similarities between them.

Control points editor window

Control points editing area

The control points editing area is divided into 2 windows where 2 images selected from the list can be viewed and the different tools could be used to edit the control points.

Selection lists

The selection list is divided into 4 closely related parts (Current link, images list, links list and control points list):

• Any image selected in the image list will display the current link which it belongs, its list of links or control points in common with other images (according to the selected tab).
• The links tab displays the list of common links when you select one or more images.
• The Ctrl Point tab displays the list of common control points when you select one or more images.

The Current link part displays the number (index) of the images belonging to the current link selected.
In parallel, the edition zone and the list of links is updated depending on the current link selected.
Use the arrows and to scroll through the links of the selected image (or images selected):

List of images Lets you quickly see if an image is properly connected to another. A redundant image can be deleted with the use of the delete key. Selecting all of the images will display all the links between all of the images.	List of links Lets you see the links and their RMS quality. The links can be deleted with the use of the delete key.	List of control points Lets you see the control points and their RMS quality. The points can be deleted with the use of the delete key.

Toolbar

Enable/Disable Views

This tool lets you decide whether to display or not to display the images in the control point editing area.

Window layout

Lets you change the display of the control point editing area.

Synchronize Views

Lets you synchronize the display of images in the control point editing area. This is useful to simultaneously view the images when the zoom level is high.

Optimize the panorama

Lets you confirm the changes to the control points/links done in the editor. The preview of the panorama then adjusts according to the constraints you have to define.
The optimization can be adjusted in the control point editor settings.

Locally optimize the panorama

Lets you only optimize the latest changes. The preview of the panorama then adjusts according to the constraints you have to define.

Adding control points to the selected areas

After having selected 2 overlaying images (the 2 images have similar details), draw a rectangular with the help of the mouse on the 2 images in the control point editing area.
The control points will be automatically calculated and displayed.

You can also delete control points by selecting an area and pressing the delete key.

Add manual control point

The adding of a single control point lets you precisely define the control point (and not an area like the pervious tool).
For this reason, you have to define the same point on 2 images with the help of the mouse and the zoom tool active in the control point editing area. The created control point will be displayed in blue.

Delete selected control point

This tool is opposite to the single adding tool and lets you delete control points singly. Just select a control point and click on the "Delete selected control point" icon. You can also delete a point with the 2 previous tools, select the point and then press the delete key.

Add control point using geometric analysis

Geometrically analysis the panorama to find the new control points. Uses the images’ common positions to find the overlapping areas. If the 2 images overlap and there are no control points, the algorithm will try to add them.

Contextual help

Click on this icon to activate this tool. Click on the icon of your choice to view information about its use.

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