如何拍摄出适合制作优质全景图的相片
此文章截取自ArcSoft Panorama Maker 5的帮助文件中。

该部分所包含的指导说明和信息将为您揭开全景图片拍摄技术的神秘面纱。

理想的相机设置

手动选择曝光设置*
在情景模式下选择光圈优先或快门优先，将曝光表设到最亮以免曝光过度，并手动锁定拍摄的光圈和快门速度。

理由：如果相机对每次拍摄都进行自动曝光调整的话，表面上微小的亮度改变也会让相片重叠的两部分完全不同。这样，最终生成的全景图各部分的明暗差距会很大。

关闭自动聚焦*
关闭相机的自动聚焦功能。在拍摄全景图相片时使用相同焦距。

理由：使用不同的焦距会在拼接过程中出现克服不了的矛盾点。

关闭自动白平衡*
关闭相机自动白平衡功能。请手动设置白平衡并在拍摄所有相片时使用相同设置。

理由：启用自动白平衡时，光线情况的微小变化也会使相邻两张相片的色彩产生巨大的差距。

使用同一曝光设置*
拍摄前，请在相机曝光表中找出适合整组拍摄的曝光量。并使用这一曝光量。如果必须使用其他曝光量拍摄部分相片（由于光线突然变化），请尽量使其与第一个设置接近。

理由：一般来说，光线均衡的相片拼接生成的全景图片效果较好。曝光设置的改变会使两张相片的相同区域（交叠区域）看起来完全不同。这样，最终生成的全景图会出现边缘痕迹。

关闭闪光灯
不要使用闪光灯。如果相机有自动闪光功能，请在拍摄全景图片时关闭此功能。

理由： 相机的闪光灯有一定的射程和覆盖区域，并能在每次拍摄时产生形状和位置不同的阴影。这些区别会使程序很难识别相邻相片的相同区域。

不要更改相片尺寸或质量设置
请在拍摄整组全景相片时，使用同一相片尺寸（分辨率）和相片质量（如，优质）。

理由：程序无法拼接不同尺寸的相片。

*您的相机型号可能没有该功能或选项。

使用三角架

尽可能使用三角架
请在拍摄全景相片时，所有相片都在同一水平面上是很重要的。最简单的方法就是使用三角架。

当拍摄360度全景图片时，水准三角架将确保这组相片始终处于同一水平线。

如果您的三角架没有内置水准仪，您可以在当地相机商店购买一个适合相机热靴插座的水平仪。*

如果没有特殊情况，请务必使用三角架
如果当时没有可用的三角架，可以让身体模拟三角架。将手肘紧靠身体，以脚为支点在原地旋转。一定要密切注意每次拍摄的取景（水平线）-- 旋转时尽量保持相机水平。

如果找不到三脚架的水平点，也可以将支架折叠形成一个独脚架，这样也可以固定相机拍摄相片。

使用相机探视镜，而非液晶显示器取景和拍摄。

* 您的相机型号可能不包含该功能或选项。

相片交叠

请在相邻相片之间保留25%至50%交叠区域
拍摄相片时，请在相邻相片之间保留25%至50%交叠区域。您不必在每次拍摄都保留相同比例的交叠区域 --估计一下即可。

如您使用广角镜头需要更大交叠区域(50%)。

创建相片组

您可以使用下列方法创建相片组，这样，使用程序制作全景图会更加简单。

在40秒时间内连续拍摄相片
程序为您提供了一个特殊功能，只需点击一下鼠标，即可自动选择属于同一全景图相片组的相片。由于制作全景图的相片都是快速拍摄的（所用时间少于40秒）， 程序可以根据拍摄时间（EXIF数据）创建相片组。一旦选择了相片组中的一张，程序将自动选定整组相片。*

*如您想禁用该功能，请取消“自动按组选择”选项。

手动插入分组相片
还有一个区分各组的简单方法，您可以在每组相片之间插入（拍摄）一张黑色相片。 在拍摄新相片之前，用镜头盖或纸板盖住相机，再拍摄相片。当您将相片传送至电脑后，可以很容易看到每个相片组的起始位置。

技巧概述

当拼接的相片中有明显的不同值时，拼接结果中会出现条形效果。如果您遇到此类问题，可在拼接前用相片编辑程序，如ArcSoft PhotoStudio调整相片亮度和对比度。

在拍摄全景图相片时不要使用明显的广角镜头（如鱼眼等）。明显的光角镜头会扭曲相片边缘部分，使其很难被拼接。

在拍摄水平全景图相片时，保证景色中的最高物体在当前缩放级别全部完整地摄入镜头。最好再留出部分空间以供裁剪拼接后全景图的边缘。

在拍摄水平全景图相片时，分别在最左边和最右边多拍一张，这样可以获得更多裁剪空间。

制作较高的水平全景图，可在拍摄时将相机旋转90度（如人像模式）。

Panorama Maker 5能够将普通相机镜头变成超高分辨率的广角镜头。您只需拍摄2到4张相片，然后拼接即可。

打开相机的显示网格功能。在取经器中显示网格线能在拍摄全景图相片时保证相机水平--特别是没有使用三角架时。显示网格还能保证相片边缘重叠量正确。

一般相片边缘50%的重叠能保证缝合的最佳质量。如果需要确定相片重叠的部分是否达到50%，您可以打开相机的显示网格功能。

为了保证全景图中不出现重复的物体，相片重叠部分请不要超过80%。如果您需要确认相片被重叠了多少，请打开相机的网格功能。

若要使人物在同一张全景图中出现多次，可在拍摄不同区域时在同时摄入不同距离中的人物。

请检查您的打印机是否支持横幅纸。如果支持，请将全景图打印到长条相片横幅纸上--这样便于设计边框。

How to Shoot Photos for Great Looking Panoramas
from a help file of ArcSoft Panorama Maker 5

The guidelines and information contained in this section remove the mystery about technical issues associated with taking photos for panoramas.

Ideal Camera Settings

Set Exposure Manually*
Meter the scene in Aperture-priority or Shutter-priority mode, read your meter in the brightest section to avoid overexposure, and manually lock the Aperture and Shutter Speed for the entire set of shots.

Why: When the camera automatically adjusts the exposure for each shot, seemingly subtle changes in light can make the corresponding areas of two overlapping photos look totally different. When this happens, the final panorama can have big bands of light and dark.

Turn Auto Focus off*
Turn off Auto Focus. Use the same focal length for all photos in the panorama sequence.

Why: Using different focal lengths can present inconsistencies that cannot be overcome during the stitching process.

Turn Auto White Balance Off*
Turn the camera's auto white balance feature OFF. Manually set the most appropriate white balance and use that same setting for all of the shots in the panorama.

Why: When the auto white balance setting is on, slight changes in lighting conditions can cause the colors in one photo to differ greatly from the colors in the next.

Use One Exposure Setting*
Before you begin shooting, use the camera's light meter to find an exposure that works well for the entire range of shots. Use it. If it's absolutely necessary to shoot some shots using other exposures (because of dramatic changes in light) keep the other exposure settings as near as possible to the first.

Why: In general, panorama images stitch better in more even light. Changes in exposure setting can make the same exact (overlapping) areas of two photos look totally different. When this happens, the final panorama can show banding.

Turn Off the Flash
Do not use a flash. Turn off the camera's auto-flash feature if it has one.

Why: A camera's flash has a limited range and a limited field of coverage and can create shadows that change shape and position from shot to shot. These inconsistencies make it difficult for the software to recognize corresponding parts of adjacent photos.

Do Not Change Size or Quality Setting
Use the same photo size (resolution) and photo quality (i.e. fine) for all shots.

Why: Photos of different sizes cannot be stitched.

* Your camera model may not include this feature or option.

Using a Tripod

Use a Tripod Whenever Possible
When shooting photos for a panorama, it's critical to keep the camera on the same plane throughout all of the shots. The easiest way to do this is to use a tripod.

When shooting for 360 degrees panoramas, a level tripod ensures that the first and the last shots line up with each other.

If your tripod does not have a built-in level, you can buy a spirit level at your local camera shop that fits in your camera's hot shoe.*

Go Without a Tripod, Only If You Must
If a tripod is not available, act as one yourself by locking your elbows into your body and pivoting on one foot to turn in place. Pay close attention to the framing of each shot (horizon line) - keeping the camera level as you turn.

If you cannot find a level spot for your tripod, collapse the legs to create a monopod so you can steady the camera to take pictures.

Use the camera's viewfinder (instead of the LCD) to frame and shoot your photos.

* Your camera model may not include this feature or option.

Photo Overlap

Use 25% to 50% overlap
Shoot the photos using between 25% and 50% overlap. You do not need the same amount of overlap for each shot ¨C estimating the amount of overlap is fine.

For wide angle lenses use more overlap (50%).

Creating Photo Groups

By using one or both of the following methods to create photo groups, building a panorama in the software will be a little easier.

Shoot Sequential Photos in Less than 40 Seconds Time
The program has a unique feature that, with just one click, intelligently selects all of the photos that belong to the same panorama sequence. Because panorama photos are usually shot in quick order (less than 40 seconds apart), the program uses shot times (EXIF data) to create groups. By selecting one photo in a group, the entire group is selected.*

*This feature can be disabled by un-checking the Auto-Select by Group option.
Insert Divider Shots Manually
A simple way to divide one sequence of panorama photos from another is to insert (shoot) a black photo between them. Before beginning a new sequence, use the lens cap or a piece of cardboard to cover the camera¡­and take a shot. After you transfer the photos to your computer, it will be easy to see where one sequence ends and the next begins.

General Tips

When stitching photos that have obvious value differences, noticeable banding effects may appear in the stitched result. If you have this problem, use a photo editing application such as ArcSoft PhotoStudio to adjust the brightness and contrast of the photos before they're stitched.

Do not use extreme wide-angle lenses (i.e. fisheye) when taking panoramic shots. Extreme wide-angle lenses create distortion at the edges of each photo - making them difficult to stitch.

When shooting horizontal-style panorama photos, make sure the tallest object in the scene fits into the picture at the current zoom level. It's wise to leave extra space for cropping the panorama after it has been stitched.  

When shooting photos for horizontal panoramas, take an extra shot on each end (far left and far right), so you'll have more room from which to crop.

To create taller horizontal-style panoramic images, shoot the entire sequence with the camera turned 90-degrees (portrait).

Panorama Maker 5 turns your ordinary camera lens into a super-resolution, wide-angle lens. Simply capture 2 to 4 photos and stitch.

Turn your camera's Grid Display feature on. Showing grid lines in the viewfinder makes it easier for you to keep your camera level as you shoot a series of panorama shots - especially if you are not using a tripod. Grid Display is also useful for determining the correct amount of overlap.

50% overlap usually works best for stitching. If you need help determining the proper amount of overlap, turn your camera's Grid Display feature on.

To avoid object duplication in the panorama, do not use more than 80% overlap. Turn your camera's Grid Display feature on, if you need help determining the proper amount of overlap.

Make people magically appear in the same panorama several times by shooting them in different areas of the shot and a different distance.

Check to see if your printer supports banner paper. If so, try printing your panoramic creations on long sheets of photo banner paper - great for framing.