Why Is My Auto-Arrange Option Grayed Out in Adobe CS3 Photoshop?

Creating a panorama is made easier with Photoshop CS3.

According to the Library of Congress, "Shortly after the invention of photography in 1839, the desire to show overviews of cities and landscapes prompted photographers to create panoramas." Photographing a building, a mountain or a wall is like focusing on one word from a play by Shakespeare. The act occasionally seems limiting. New software not only makes this possible but easy as well. Since Photoshop CS3, panoramas have been easy.

History

The ability to edit any picture to one's preference has made Photoshop an enduring program.

After being bought by Adobe from the Knoll brothers who created it in 1987 to be packaged with a scanner, Photoshop 1.0 in 1989 created a revolution in the way design and photography was handled. Originally conceived as a program that would edit grayscale images, Photoshop has grown to amass the ability to edit images and video and create three-dimensional objects with lighting to match.

Auto-Align (Auto-Blend)

Blinking isn't always something photographers look for.

One of Photoshop's more significant traits is that of the auto-align (or auto-blend), which allows an individual to take two pictures of the same thing or of a panorama and align them effortlessly. This allows the photographer to "erase" the aspects of each picture that he doesn't want. The ability to do this allows a photographer to replace an individual who is blinking with a version of that person that is not. Having this ability has allowed for better photos for clients or for display. It can also allow a person to effortlessly blend many pictures from a panorama shot to blend perfectly.

How to Use Auto-Align

A panorama picture is easier thanks to this new feature in Photoshop CS3.

Auto-Align, like most of Photoshop's plug-ins, has some requirements that must be met before it can be accessed. When you open up Photoshop, you will see under "Edit" the "Auto-Align" option. As it stands, the option will be grayed out and inaccessible. Select two (or more) pictures that you would like to auto-align and bring them into the same project by "dragging" them into the same project window. "Click" on one picture, then "shift + Click" on the second picture so that both pictures are selected. Now, go to Edit> Auto-Align. Select one of the projection styles and press the "OK" button.

Going Further with Auto Blend

Photoshop blends two pictures into one seamlessly.

Auto-Align is only the first step in a panorama shot. Auto Blend is the continuation. Occasionally two or more images don't match in color, and the seams between pictures become far more noticeable. Auto Blend allows the photographer to erase these inconsistencies with a simple click. Go to Edit> Auto Blend.

Auto Blend creates masks that cover and blend the seams more, well, seamlessly. The picture layer masks can be adjusted as needed, but for the most part Photoshop does a really good job of auto blending pictures together.

Warning

Although Photoshop can correct many mistakes such as a camera movement, this plug-in works better when the original pictures are aided by a tripod. The Auto-Align feature will require less tweaking, if any. Tripods are relatively cheap and can improve a great group picture and a panorama significantly.

References

• Adobe Live Docs:Combine Multiple Images into a Group Portrait
• Photoshop Cafe.com: Auto Align Layers and Auto Blend Layers
• Go Sammy.com:Auto-Align: It Will Change the Way You Take Photographs
• Library of Congress: A Brief History of Panoramic Photography
• Photoshop News.com: Thomas and John Knoll