There are a number of ways to create 360 images.
There are a range of viewers that can be used for tours. We supply tours for web viewing in a Flash format as this is the one most supported by computers. For local high resolution viewing we supply a viewer with the images.

Basic methods of creating tours are identified bellow

1.

Single image capture
A special mirror is used that captures a "donut" shot in one image. The donut is then unwrapped and processed into a tour.

This is quick but produces low resolution tours.
Lens and image taken
2.

Fisheye lens
Depending on the focal length of the lens this method usually requires 6 or more images to create the tour. It generates a tour with good resolution but requires more work in stitching the images together before tour creation than 1.

 

  
3.

Standard and telephoto lens
This requires many more images for a tour, sometimes over 40, but produces the highest resolution. As with the fisheye lens the images have to be stitched together before the tour can be created.
This is generally the method we use to create tours.

In order for the images to be stitched the camera has to be accurately rotated around the axis of the lens (technically the nodal point) To accomplish this at the top of the mast has required a custom remote controlled panoramic head to be designed and made.

The work flow is

  • Set up the mast and take the images required. The images are tested on site to ensure a satisfactory stitch is possible and to show the client a rough cut of the tour.
  • Stitch the images accurately in the stitching software by setting control points to match them accurately together.
  • Blend the images to remove any areas of colour variation.
  • Edit the resulting panoramic image in photo editing software to remove any unwanted material (moving objects, people, cars etc. can be blurred or only partially in the panorama especially if they occur at a join line. We can also remove litter etc.)
  • Output the image in an appropriate resolution for the intended use.
  • Import the image into the tour software, set variables and create the controls required.
  • Output the final tour in Flash and generate a html page with the necessary code to run the tour and prompt the installation of viewing software in the unlikely event that they are not already present on the viewers computer.

The Flash version used is Adobe Flash 9. Flash 10 is now available but we resist upgrading to ensure maximum comparability. The link below gives some information about Flash and identifies your version, with the option to upgrade to the latest version.

http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/about/

 

 

   
The rough stitch
 
Setting control points
 
Setting the Flash attributes
 
Setting the image attributes
 
Designing the controls