Creating a Panorama

By using layers, you can take several photos from one location and merge them together to create a large panoramic photo.

Many people take an assortment of photos of a subject with the camera handheld. Pros know it's better to use a tripod and slightly move the camera to create overlap. There are even specialized tripod heads that can be bought from companies like Kaidan (www.kaidan.com) that make the leveling and rotation much more precise.

Let's try piecing some photos together. If you are using Photoshop CS or later, use the Photomerge option. If not, place all three images into a larger document and manually line them up.

1.	Choose File > Automate > Photomerge. Photomerge is a specialized "miniapplication" inside of Photoshop that assists in combining multiple images into a single photo.
2.	Click the Browse button and navigate to the Chapter 8 folder on the book's DVD-ROM.
3.	Choose grand_canyon1.tif, grand_canyon2.tif, and grand_canyon3.tif.
4.	Check the box next to Attempt to Automatically Arrange Source Images.
5.	Click OK and be patient... each image has to open.
6.	In the next dialog box, be sure to click Keep as Layers. You may also choose to click the Perspective radio button for a clearer view of the blending.
7.	With the Select Image tool (A) you can grab individual panels and move them around for a better match.
8.	Click OK to build the panoramic image. Photoshop will attempt to assemble the panorama based on your work in the dialog box. Since layers are preserved, however, you can still tweak the position of individual layers.
9.	Nudge any layers with the Move tool if your alignment is off.
10.	Choose Layer > Flatten Image.
11.	Crop the image to a clean rectangular shape using the Crop tool (C).
12.	There are a few visible seams... this is what the Healing Brush was made for! Select the Healing Brush (it looks like a bandage) by pressing J. The Healing Brush is a great way to remove blemishes or seams from an image. Option-click (Alt-click) on a similar surface where you need to blend (from clouds to clouds, from rocks to rocks, etc.) Be sure to use a soft-edged brush that is relatively large. Then release the modifier key, and with the Healing Brush paint over the seam. Click and draw gentle strokes; when you release, the image will blend to hide the seam. For more on the Healing Brush, see Chapter 11, "Repairing Images."
13.	You may need to use the Blur tool (R) a little to clean up the seams as well. The Blur tool allows you to selectively defocus an area.