Best mosaic software

[Argonavis]

A few on this forum appear to use autostitch. Is this the best and or easiest to use mosaic software around?

[Striker]

It'd definitely the easiest...I wouldn't say the best..but if it does the job for you useit...I do.

[iceman]

autostitch for sure.. it does everything you need. It's quick, free and easy to use.

[fringe_dweller]

since there is no mac version of autostitch - i will probably use the 'Photomerge' feature in CS (basically it is a plug-in actions workflow i think)- I have done a little work with it and it is very impressive and powerful - you can have manual control and multidirectional placement if you wish too

[RAJAH235]

You can always try > fxfoto.com from Triscape or Unidream Power batch. Both free. :D L.

[sheeny]

I have to say I'm impressed with Photoshop CS (photomerge command). Works well with telephoto (and obviously telescope) shots due to the long FL so everything is usually nice and square.

I have no experience with photo stitch (unless that's the one that Canon distribute with their cameras... in which case I have:P ).

I do a lot of panoramic stuff and have used some different programs over the years. Arcsoft Panorama Maker is very good as long as images are in a row... it gets tedious fudging it to handle 2 dimensional arrays of photos. It handles wide angle images well provided they aren't hand held, but doesn't cope with conical distortion (camera pointed up or down from the axis of rotation).

Another program I used years ago that might be worth a look is Panavue. The trial version puts nasty little logos over your image, but from memory it handles conical distortion, 2 dimensional arrays and hand holding errors very well.
Al.

[Exfso]

Autostitch is not free, it is a demo, at least according to the website, that means it is either cut down or limited to so many uses before a rego fee is required. Correct me if I am wrong here. As soon as I see demo, I usually dont bother as I have found in the past that a lot of demo programs are not practical.

[RAJAH235]

Peter, it's a free, full working version, just time limited. No fees at present, as no commercial version yet. I've d/l'd it about 3 x now. Lasts around 3 mths?,(Mike? Tony?), I think. Does a great job, very quickly. :D L.

[iceman]

It's free, Peter. Not limited in any way. I've never had to re-download it?

Or at least, not that I recall :)

[RapidEye]

You stand corrected! :lol:

Like Ice and others state: autostitch is full featured and flat out rocks!

Here are two full moon shots I assembled using Autostitch:
http://www.rapideye.us/astro/08-19-05-fullmoon.html (http://www.rapideye.us/astro/08-19-05-fullmoon.html)
http://www.rapideye.us/astro/09-17-05-fullmoon.html (http://www.rapideye.us/astro/09-17-05-fullmoon.html)

[iceman]

The best thing about autostitch is that you don't need to feed it images in any order, just select a bunch of images and away it goes. For terrestrial shots, it corrects for distortion at the edge of the lens, too.

[[1ponders]]

I've had to download it a couple of times, but I do agree it does rock