[Gimp-user] Stitching Photos

[Gothmog <forums gimpusers com>]

I can't seem to make this work; I don't see any option for enlarging the
workspace.  I can enlarge the canvas as much as I want, but this doesn't change
the size of the "window" through which my content is visible.  As I paste in the
second image and slide it over--in this case to the right, it disappears.  It's
almost like the second image is sliding under the blank background that was
created when I enlarged the canvas.

> There are automated tools to facilitate this, but I have not used
> them.
>
> The manual process is not terribly complicated.
>
> First, open one of the photos in the GIMP, then import the second
> photo
> as a layer.  Drag and drop the second image to the image canvas, quick
> &
> easy.
>
> Next, do Image > Canvas size, and make the 'workspace' available big
> enough to accommodate both photos side by side, with some room left
> over
> to move them around.
>
> Then align the photos so their edges fit together accurately.  How to
> do
> this depends on the individual photos; some rotation and scaling (in
> that order) of the layer you are moving around may be required to make
> them match, and maybe a little tweaking with the Perspective tool,
> which
> enables one to arbitrarily stretch a layer by repositioning its
> corners.
>
> Note that when using the Rotate tool, you can move the center of
> rotation by dragging the cross hair icon in the middle of the grid to
> wherever you want it.  Making one detail near the top or bottom edge
> of
> your upper layer match the lower one exactly, and putting the center
> of
> rotation there, will save a lot of time and effort.
>
> Adjusting the transparency of the upper layer to about 50% will
> greatly
> assist in lining it up with the base layer.  When your alignment,
> rotation, scaling etc. are
>
> Once the two photos / layers are aligned and look right, "save" your
> work as XCF, then save it again with a new name, i.e. add "-1" or
> something to the name.  This is so you can go back and tweak your
> first
> effort if and as needed.
>
> To make a seamless transition from one image to another, it may be
> helpful to add a layer mask to the upper image and use a very soft
> edged
> brush (or the gradient tool) on the mask to fade the edge of the upper
> image out a little.
>
> Finally, crop the aligned photos to square up their edges, make any
> necessary color, light, etc. adjustments, save that result as XCF and
> export the image to your format of choice as a finished product.
>
> Functions you may want to look up, if any are unfamiliar:  The Move
> tool, Scale tool, Rotate tool, Perspective tool, layer opacity
> adjustment, Crop tool.
>
> I have made panoramas this way, and it worked out quite nicely.  I
> cheated, though, by taking the original pictures with a camera on a
> tripod, which make the assembly /way/ easier than hand held results
> permit.
>
> :o)

-- 
Gothmog (via www.gimpusers.com/forums)