Making panoramic images with Hugin Part 1

Introduction Hugin is a photo stitching application (actually a tool chain of applications) that can be used to join photos into composite image, correct image and perspective distortion and create full and partial panoramas.

Unlike many comparable programs Hugin is fully GPL and can be used in conjunction with several other stitching applications and other helper software .

Stitching images together

The simplest way to begin using this program is to click on the Assistant tab (the first on on the left) this will allow you to run the program automated for simple jobs.
1. Click load images, this will bring up a standard dialogue box allowing you to select the images you want. It may be better to try this with a simple panorama using a few photographs at first.

2. Hugin will analyse the photographs for data on the focal length and visible angle of the shots. If you are loading images taken with a mobile phone this may not be encoded in the image. Hugin will prompt you to enter this data if it not available. For now just enter a figure 40 mm if you don't know

3. Click the 'Align'button. The program will begin to analyse the photographs for common points on the images you are stitching. This can be quite a long process as Hugin will first try to match the images in sequential pairs and then find common points with groups of images.

4. Preview the image. A separate window will now open showing a rough preview of the stitched images. This window will also allow you to select differing projections of the completed project. For now leave it as it is.

5. Click generate panorama. This will now bring up another box showing the progress of the stitching process. When this has finished your Completed image will be in the same directory as the source photographs.