Creating a Panorama in Adobe Photoshop CC (2015 release)

This excerpt references lesson files, which are available with the purchased book.

Sometimes a vista is just too large for a single shot. Photoshop makes it easy to combine multiple images into a panorama so that your viewers can get the full effect.

Once again, you’ll take a look at the end file first, to see where you’re going.

1. Choose File > Browse In Bridge.
2. Navigate to the Lesson05 folder, if you’re not there already. Then, look at the Skyline_End.psd thumbnail preview.

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You’ll combine four shots of the Seattle skyline into a single wide panorama image so that viewers get a sense of the whole scene. Creating a panorama from multiple images requires only a few clicks. Photoshop does the rest.

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You can also open selected images from Bridge directly into Photomerge by selecting Tools > Photoshop > Photomerge.

3. Return to Photoshop.
4. With no files open in Photoshop, choose File > Automate > Photomerge.
5. In the Source Files area, click Browse, and navigate to the Lesson05/Files For Panorama folder.
6. Shift-select all the images in the folder, and click OK or Open.
7. In the Layout area of the Photomerge dialog box, select Perspective.
8. At the bottom of the Photomerge dialog box, select Blend Images Together, Vignette Removal, Geometric Distortion Correction, and Content Aware Fill Transparent Areas. Then click OK.

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Blend Images Together blends images based on the optimal borders between them, instead of just creating a simple rectangular blend. Vignette Removal performs exposure compensation in images with darkened edges. Geometric Distortion Correction compensates for barrel, pincushion, or fisheye distortion. Content Aware Fill Transparent Areas automatically patches the empty areas between the merged image edges and the sides of the canvas.

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If you want to see how the panorama looks without the areas created by Content Aware Fill, hide the top layer.

Photoshop creates the panorama image. It’s a complex process, so you may have to wait a few moments while Photoshop works. When it’s finished, you’ll see the full vista in the image window with five layers in the Layers panel. The bottom four layers are the original four images you selected. Photoshop identified the overlapping areas of the images and matched them, correcting any angular discrepancies. The top layer, containing “(merged)” in the layer name, is a single panorama image blended from all of the images you selected, combined with formerly empty areas filled in by Content Aware Fill. Those areas are indicated by the selection.

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Getting the best results with Photomerge

If you know you’re going to create a panorama when you take your shots, keep the following guidelines in mind to get the best result.
Overlap images approximately 40%. You want enough overlap that Photomerge can assemble the panorama but not so much that it can’t blend the images.
Use a consistent focal length. If you use a zoom lens, keep the focal length the same for all the pictures in the panorama.
Use a tripod if possible. You’ll get the best results if the camera is at the same level when you take each of the shots. A tripod with a rotating head makes that easier.
Take the photos from the same position. If you’re not using a tripod with a rotat-ing head, try to stay in the same position as you take the photos so that they are taken from the same viewpoint.
Avoid distortion lenses. They can interfere with Photomerge. (The Auto option does adjust for images you take with fish-eye lenses, though.)
Use the same exposure. The images will blend more gracefully if they all have the same exposure. For example, either use flash for all the images or none of them.
Try different layout options. If you don’t like the results you get when you create the panorama, try again using a different layout option. Often, Auto selects the appropriate option, but sometimes you’ll get a better image with one of the other options.

9. Choose Select > Deselect.
10. Choose Layer > Flatten Image.
    
    
    
11. Choose File > Save As. Choose Photoshop for the Format, and name the file Skyline_Working.psd. Save the file in the Lesson05 folder. Click Save, and then click OK in the Photoshop Format Options dialog box.

The panorama looks great, but it’s a little dark. You’ll add a Levels adjustment layer to brighten it a little bit.

12. Click the Levels icon in the Adjustments panel to add a Levels adjustment layer.
13. Select the White Point eyedropper, and then click on a white area of the clouds.
    
    
    
    
    

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The sky gets bluer and the entire image brightens.

14. Save your work and close the file.

It’s that easy to create a panorama!