How to Blend Pictures
One of the neat features of digital cameras is their ability to take a series of pictures that can be combined into a single, larger picture called a panoramic image. Here's a general set of steps for how to take these pictures and blend them into one; consult the user's guides for your camera and photo-editing software for more specific instructions. Read on to learn more.
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Instructions
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Taking the Pictures
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1
Set your digital camera to its panoramic image composing ("stitch assist") mode.
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2
Compose each frame to be shot so that at least 30 to 50 percent of the previous frame appears in the new frame, with no more than 10 percent variance in height. Use a tripod, if necessary, to keep the camera at the same height for landscape shots. Keep the image brightness and the distance of objects consistent in each picture to avoid distortions.
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3
Shoot the first picture. If possible, include a landmark to serve as the focal point for the next image to be shot.
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4
Swivel the camera, if shooting a landscape, or slide the camera, if shooting a close-up, so that the landmark moves from the far end to the center of the next shot.
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5
Take the next shot, including a new landmark.
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6
Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you have captured the entire scene.
Blending the Pictures Together
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7
Connect your digital camera to your computer or insert its memory card into a card reader connected to your computer.
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8
Open the folder with the pictures to be blended with your photo-editing software.
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9
Create a new image canvas large enough to display the composite panoramic image.
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10
Copy the first two photographic images into their own layers.
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11
Reduce the opacity of the top layer so you can see enough of the bottom layer to use it as a guide. Move the top image to line up its reference landmarks with those of the bottom image.
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12
Add the next image in its own layer above the first two and reduce its opacity so you can line it up with the image below it. Repeat for each subsequent image.
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13
Restore each layer to full opacity and save the blended panoramic image. You may need to edit the blended image to minimize distortions at the points where the original photographs overlap.
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Tips & Warnings
The panoramic image composing mode of many digital cameras will create a folder specifically for the pictures that will make up the panoramic image and save them to it. This will make it easier to find those pictures with your photo-editing software.
