6 Top Panorama Problems
and How to Solve Them
Number 5 in a series of 6 free articles on panorama troubleshooting.
By Denis Knight, author of The Absolute Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Panorama.
Top Panorama Problem #5: Color Shifts
Sometimes after stitching your panorama together, you might notice some strange colors in the finished result that weren't there in your original photos.
For example, in this panorama you can see a reddish strip of color across the fountain (the effect has been exaggerated here to make it easier to see):
Example panorama showing color shift due to exposure differences.
The Cause
This is another problem that can be caused by variations in exposure when shooting (or scanning) your images.
When you feed in a series of pictures with different exposures, some software packages will try to adjust the color and brightness of each image to even them out and smooth out the seams – avoiding the problem of dark and light banding that we discussed earlier.
This can work very well when there are only small differences between frames. But if the changes are too big, you can get some weird colors.
Another major cause of this is differences in white balance between frames. If your camera is set to 'auto white balance' you might see some drastic color changes from one frame to the next. This can be more of a problem when shooting indoor panoramas than landscapes, because in an indoor situation you'll often have a variety of light sources (e.g. sunlight coming through a window, and incandescent and fluorescent electric lighting).
The Solution
Again, like Problem #1 (Vertical Banding), the solution is to shoot all your frames with the same exposure settings. Set your camera to panorama mode if it has one, or else set it to manual exposure mode.
If you're shooting indoors, remember to also lock the white balance setting before you shoot, and you should be all set.
Here's the same panorama shot with a locked exposure:
Panorama with color shift fixed.
So, we've nearly reached the end of the six articles in this series.
Tomorrow, in the final article, we'll be looking at another problem that ruined a lot of my early attempts at making panoramas. Sadly, by making this one simple mistake, I spoiled dozens of panoramas that I had shot in some fantastic scenic locations.
Don't let this happen to you. Read tomorrow's article to find out what causes the problem of curved horizons, and the one crucial thing you must do to avoid it.
See you tomorrow.
Kind Regards
Denis Knight
Learn More...
If you've found this article useful, I invite you to learn more in my brand new e-Book, The Absolute Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Panorama.
With my easy to follow, fully illustrated instructions, you'll quickly master the basics of creating stunning panoramic images like the ones featured in this article.
Get it now at www.ThePerfectPanorama.com
|
My Absolute Cast Iron, 100% Money Back Guarantee Your success in using The The Absolute Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Panorama is completely guaranteed. In fact, here's my Absolute Cast Iron, 100% Money Back Guarantee: If you're unsatisfied with the product for any reason, simply contact me within 12 months, and I'll cheerfully refund your money. That's right. You can download the e-Book and bonuses today, try them out for a full 12 months (with free help if you need it), and if you're not 100% satisfied, I'll give you your money back. And — you'll get to keep the e-Book and all the bonuses, with my compliments. |
More Articles
You can read the other articles in the series by following these links:
Send Me Your Feedback
If you have any comments or feedback about this article,
please email me at the address below.