One of the applications that offers us the best results when it comes to putting together different photos is, without a doubt, PhotoDirector, an application with a very intuitive interface that will allow us to convert various photos into a panorama or even generate a video of the panorama that we have created in just a few minutes.
In addition, it includes a large number of tools auto edit that allows us to modify the different images that we are going to use to create the perfect panorama. In addition, it includes a wide set of effects, filters and functions based on artificial intelligence that allow the application to eliminate chromatic aberrations and distortions from the photographs that we use.
This application is ideal for both beginners with little knowledge and experts, although the latter often choose to use Photoshop. This application is available for download free of charge through the following link to its website.
We like
Completely free application that includes editing effects that we can expand both before and after panning. Also, it is available in Spanish.
We do not like it
Photo professionals will miss more specific settings. The other negative point of this application is that it does not support files in RAW format.
PhotoPlanet 360 – Hugin panorama
PhotoPlanet is an open source application that has been in operation for many years and, for many, it is one of the applications that offers us the best results when it comes to creating panoramic images. Unlike other applications that offers a very intuitive and simple interfacethe PhotoPlanet 360 interface is not the best of all, especially for novice users, although we can make use of the wizard that will guide us through all the steps to follow to achieve the best results.
The application analyzes all the images to be merged, also analyzing the perspective to find the exact point of union. PhotoPlanet 360 offers us 3 types of interface: basic, advanced and expert. The expert interface puts at our disposal a large number of additional functions that the most inexperienced in the world of photography will not understand. We can download this application completely free of charge through the following link.
Positive points
Free and open source application that includes a large number of functions with different types of interfaces that adapt to the use that we want to give it.
negative aspects
The user interface is not very intuitive, a defect that it makes up for with a complete wizard that will guide us when carrying out the fusion process.
GIMP
The most widely used alternative to Photoshop, because it is completely free and includes most of the functions available in Photoshop, even through plugins, it also allows us to merge different photos, although for this it is necessary to use the Stitch Panorama plugin. We must copy this plugin into the Scripts folder where the GIMP application is located. Once we have installed the plugin in our version of GIMP, we will find this new function at the end of the Filters menu. Next, we must follow the instructions of the plugin to add the photographs and select the values that we want to modify, if necessary.
The process it is not fast, especially if we have not worked with it before, but if we use this application often, it is an excellent option to avoid installing third-party applications on our computer. If not, we can try this completely free and open source application through the following link. The application is in Spanish, so the language will not be a problem to get hold of it.
Advantage
Free application that is also a complete photo editor, which will allow us to pre-treat the images before joining them in a panorama.
drawbacks
It is necessary to download a plugin to be able to join different photos with the application. The operation of the plugin is not simple and, in addition, it is only available in English, which may be an impediment for some users.
PTGui
With such a non-descript name, we find a free application (for personal use) that offers us a wide variety of options to join different photographs in a single image. In addition, it also allows us to create 360 degree photos. The whole process is done automatically, so we only have to select which images we want to show and the application will take care of the rest.
Unlike other similar applications, PTGui uses hardware acceleration, so the time needed to carry out the process is reduced, a process that can be more or less slow depending on the number of photos that we want to merge. We can download this application from its website.
We like
Free version for home use, uses hardware acceleration and also allows us to create 360-degree images. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
We do not like it
The version for personal use includes a watermark, a watermark that we can easily remove since it is not very intrusive.
Paid apps to create panoramas
In addition to free applications, very simple applications and for types of users, we also have a wide variety of paid applications with which we can get the most out of the panoramas and the images that compose them.
photo stitcher
PhotoSticher is a classic apps to create panoramas, an application that is available for both Windows and macOS. This application is very easy to use and is designed for novice users who don’t want to go through the hassle of putting multiple images together to create a panoramic image.
Although the results it offers us are quite good, unfortunately does not include an image editor, so if the color, brightness or contrast of a photograph does not satisfy us, we will first have to use an image editor, be it the native Windows application, Photos, or more complete applications such as Photoshop or GIMP. PhotoStitcher is a paid application that we can try for free through its website.
Advantage
Ideal application for users who do not want to complicate their lives with complex adjustments when working with panoramic images. It is available for Windows and macOS.
Disadvantages
It is a paid application, an application that has a price of 19.99 euros. It is not available for Linux.
AutoStitch
If we want to put together a large number of photographs in the same image, just like Google does with the captures it makes for the Street View platform, we cannot use any application, we have to use an application like AutoSitch, an application that goes one step further which allows us to create a panorama using images from different perspectives.
In order to create this type of complex images, the application uses technology of automatic recognition to join all the images at the exact point in order to offer spectacular results. The operation of the application is the same as the rest of the applications that we have compiled in this article, since we only have to select the images so that the application does the rest.
We can download a trial version of AutoStich through its website, a trial version available for both Windows and macOS.
Positive points
The best application to create panoramas based on a large number of photos from different perspectives. It is very easy to use and is aimed at all types of audiences, both beginners and photography professionals.
negative aspects
It is a paid application and the number of customization and adjustment options it offers us are minimal, if not practically non-existent.
Panorama Factory
Panorama Factory was one of the first applications to hit the market that allowed us to convert single images into panoramas very quickly and easily. Includes a perspective corrector and lens distortion. In addition, it automatically takes care of modifying the orientation of the photographs if it is necessary to do its job.
It also allows us to create 360-degree images, so it is not necessary to have a special camera to create this type of image. It hasn’t been updated for a long time and the user interface leaves a lot to be desired in terms of design. We can download a trial version of Panorama Factory directly from its website, by clicking on this link.
We like
Application very simple to use and with a large number of options available. It is compatible from Windows 98 onwards. On Windows 10 and Windows 11, it works, but they are not well optimized.
We do not like it
It’s been a long time since it’s been updated. Despite this, it is a paid application, an application is also quite expensive as it is priced at $79.95.
Photoshop
Sometimes, we look for applications to carry out certain editing tasks without knowing the potential offered by the best photo editing application on the market, which is none other than Photoshop. Photoshop, in addition to all the functions that most of us know, also allows us to create panoramas automatically and very simple. Also, being a photo editor, we can previously modify the values of the photos, especially if we work with files in RAW format, in order to obtain the best possible result.
The Photoshop function that allows us to join several photographs to make a panorama is called Photomerge and it is found in the section Automate available inside the menu File, Archive. When starting this function, a window will be displayed where we have to select all the images that we want to merge and where we have to select what type of panorama we want to obtain.
Once we have selected the type of panorama we want and have added the images, at the bottom, we can check the Vignette Elimination options so that the edge of the composition is eliminated where there is no image and Geometric distortion correction to eliminate the inherent distortions that are generated when merging different photographs.
The end result is shown in layers. In this way, we can see the cut that each image has suffered to merge with the others, hiding or showing the different layers that Photoshop has generated.
Finally, we crop the image to remove the parts of the resulting photograph that have no information. The final step is to export the result to the format we want, including the Photoshop .PSD format, in case we want to apply any type of adjustment to the photo.
Advantage
Being a photo editing application, we can pre-edit them before putting them together in a panorama. In addition, it is compatible with files in RAW format, being the best option for professional photographers.
drawbacks
You need to pay for Adobe Creative Cloud subscription to use Photoshop.
Which is the best option?
If we do not want to invest a single euro in an application to take panoramic photos and, in addition, we usually use GIMP, obviously this free open source editor is the best option together with the plugin that allows us to carry out this process. If we use it with big picture We will cover all our needs.
But, we look for a professional tool and carry out these processes in a way One of the best options available is photo stitcherbut if we use Photoshopthere is no need to resort to third-party applications to create panoramas easily by following the steps that we have explained to you.
