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Welcome to the panotools knowledge base. If you are new, read this [[newbie_introduction|introduction]]. To find your ways around this knowledge base, see the [[FAQ]].
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== Welcome to the PanoTools wiki ==
  
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Panoramas are an exciting creative application of photography and, recently, computing. Panoramas offer a unique, immersive perspective to the viewer. To the photographer, panoramas present an interesting artistic and technical challenge. If you want to enjoy the challenge, this site is for you. It is a more or less structured collection of knowledge contributed by the community. And maybe also by you? Editing this knowledge base is as easy as reading it, just do it! Thank you for being with us.
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The [[Wiki History|wiki]] that aims to show you what you can do with the [[panorama tools]] and how to use them the best way.
  
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As a start, you will need some [[photographic equipment]]. Camera, lenses, filters, accessories.
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The panorama tools are mainly used to build [[PanoRama|panoramic images]] from a set of overlapping images.
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The usability extends beyond "just" building panoramas by far though. You can, for instance, use them to render an average of multiple images to broaden the [[dynamic range]] of the images or average out noise. You can also build object movies with them, morph between images and much more. See [[panorama tools applications]] for an extensive list.
  
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The holy grail of the panorama photographer is the [[nodal point]]. Since no lens can yet "see" a whole [[spherical panorama]] in one shot, we have to take a number of pictures and stitch them together. To make sure the individual pictures fit together is a mix of art and science. You will need these [[mechanical equipment]] to control the orientation and position of the camera while shooting the individual frames that will eventually become your panorama.
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We hope you'll find this knowledge base interesting and useful. And if you feel something is missing, please feel free to add your knowledge. All pages on this wiki are editable by you. Let the [[FAQ]] page help you on your way. If you are not up to adding something yourself, please add a description of what you think is missing to the [[requested pages]] page, or maybe just add a comment to an article's ''discussion'' tab. However, you need an account and you need to [[Special:Userlogin|login]] to edit.
  
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Once you have finished shooting, hard work start. In case you have not yet converted to digital photography, it's time for scanning. In the past, panoramic images where the result of the patient work of precisely sticking negatives. With the help of [[computers]] and advanced [[software]] stitching has become an almost trivial taks of clicking around with the mouse. With the right tools and a few mouse clicks everybody can make a panorama today!
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Please see [[Contribute|how to contribute]] for details. There is a list of [[articles that need enhancement]].
  
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These [[tutorials]], written by passionate users like you, will guide you step by step in the techniques and details of this amazing world. Just add your creativity and you will soon produce panoramic art! The [[people]] in the community would like to hear from you and your experience. If you enjoy this site, please let us know. Publish your art and contribute to the success of the community and of this site by adding your experience to it. You might even write the next tutorial or the next piece of software!
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The links below may be helpful to easily find the topic you are looking for.
  
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Welcome, and thank you for sharing with us the passion for panoramic photography.
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==== Site overviews ====
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{| cellspacing="5" style="border: 1px solid #ff3030; color: #000; background-color: #f7f7f7" width=100%
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|-
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| width=20% | [[SiteMap|Site Map]] || The contents of this wiki in a structured view
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Special:Allpages|All Pages]] || An alphabetic list of all pages on this wiki
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Special:Categories|Categories]] || A categorized overview of the contents of this wiki
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|}
  
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P.S.: you might hear some weird terms and acronyms around this site. This [[ptglossary|glossary]] might help.
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==== Working with the Panorama Tools ====
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{| cellspacing="5" style="border: 1px solid #ff3030; color: #000; background-color: #f7f7f7" width=100%
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Getting started]] || An introduction to the Panorama Tools and links to tutorials.
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Panorama formats]] || Panoramas come in various shapes and sizes. This page describes the differences between them.
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Panorama tools applications]] || Applications of the panorama tools that go beyond panorama stitching.
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Software]] || A comprehensive overview of all software category pages grouped by platform.
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Hardware]] || Computers, Cameras, Tripods - everything that is hardware related.
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Tutorials]] || Step by step guides to solutions and tasks.
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Glossary]] || An explanation of odd words and terms.
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|}
  
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== License ==
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==== Our community ====
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{| cellspacing="5" style="border: 1px solid #ff3030; color: #000; background-color: #f7f7f7" width=100%
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|-
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| width=20% | [[PanoToolsNG]] || Some information on our mailing list and possibilities to read.
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Searching the archives]] || What to do when Google and Yahoo don't find what you need.
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|-
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| width=20% | [[People]] || Lists of People that use or develop [[Panorama tools]]
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|-
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| width=20% | [[License]] || All the contents of this wiki are licensed
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Contribute]] || Help keep PanoTools a valuable immersive imaging resource.
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|}
  
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The [[License|license]] for the content in this wiki can be found here soon. Firstly, an apropriate one must be found. It's currently [[Talk:License|discussed]].
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==== Recent activity ====
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{| cellspacing="5" style="border: 1px solid #ff3030; color: #000; background-color: #f7f7f7" width=100%
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| '''New Tutorials'''
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| '''Recent Additions'''
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| '''Recent Changes'''
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==== Wiki Help ====
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{| cellspacing="5" style="border: 1px solid #ff3030; color: #000; background-color: #f7f7f7" width=100%
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|-
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| width=20% | [[Help:FAQ|Frequently Asked Questions]] regarding this wiki
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| width=20%  | [[Help|Help pages]]
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| width=20%  | [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_User%27s_Guide User's Guide]
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| with=20%  | [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Editing#The_wiki_markup The wiki markup]
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[[Category:Info]]
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Please see [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_i18n documentation on customizing the interface]
 
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and the [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_User%27s_Guide User's Guide] for usage and configuration help.
 

Revision as of 10:39, 12 October 2012

Welcome to the PanoTools wiki

The wiki that aims to show you what you can do with the panorama tools and how to use them the best way.

The panorama tools are mainly used to build panoramic images from a set of overlapping images. The usability extends beyond "just" building panoramas by far though. You can, for instance, use them to render an average of multiple images to broaden the dynamic range of the images or average out noise. You can also build object movies with them, morph between images and much more. See panorama tools applications for an extensive list.

We hope you'll find this knowledge base interesting and useful. And if you feel something is missing, please feel free to add your knowledge. All pages on this wiki are editable by you. Let the FAQ page help you on your way. If you are not up to adding something yourself, please add a description of what you think is missing to the requested pages page, or maybe just add a comment to an article's discussion tab. However, you need an account and you need to login to edit.

Please see how to contribute for details. There is a list of articles that need enhancement.

The links below may be helpful to easily find the topic you are looking for.

Site overviews

Site Map The contents of this wiki in a structured view
All Pages An alphabetic list of all pages on this wiki
Categories A categorized overview of the contents of this wiki

Working with the Panorama Tools

Getting started An introduction to the Panorama Tools and links to tutorials.
Panorama formats Panoramas come in various shapes and sizes. This page describes the differences between them.
Panorama tools applications Applications of the panorama tools that go beyond panorama stitching.
Software A comprehensive overview of all software category pages grouped by platform.
Hardware Computers, Cameras, Tripods - everything that is hardware related.
Tutorials Step by step guides to solutions and tasks.
Glossary An explanation of odd words and terms.

Our community

PanoToolsNG Some information on our mailing list and possibilities to read.
Searching the archives What to do when Google and Yahoo don't find what you need.
People Lists of People that use or develop Panorama tools
License All the contents of this wiki are licensed
Contribute Help keep PanoTools a valuable immersive imaging resource.

Recent activity

New Tutorials Recent Additions Recent Changes

Wiki Help

Frequently Asked Questions regarding this wiki
Help pages
User's Guide
The wiki markup
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