So easy a caveman can do it???

One of the things I really like about CS3 is its improved ability to stitch photos with Photomerge. With a little early encouragement from Dave Showalter, who convinced me how easy it is, even for a brain-dead slacker like me, I decided to do some pano shots last week, to be stitched once I got home. The first attempt went swimmingly. (see above)
biggie-size me!

So I decided to try another series. Like the first one, this would be another 12-shot stitch job. The only thing I did differently was this: When CS3 lists the photos you've chosen in its dialogue box, they're all in sequence, except it seems like the last image always ends up on top. So I deleted that one, and re-inserted it in the string, so that everything would be numerically consistent. The resulting image turned out to be something only Pablo Picasso could love! I don't know why it went haywire, or if my altering the string caused this, but this is one funky result!

Some people just have a knack for breaking software. You have a great career ahead of you as a software tester.

I don't see anything wrong with the 2nd one, Todd.

Actually, it kind of looks like the profile of a souped up Jeep--i think it's calling you.

Good luck cutting the mat for that second one!

You're the reason that all companies have to have technical support groups.

Customer: Uh, yeah, you're software doesn't work like it's supposed to
Tech Support: Did you follow the instructions?
Customer: Yep
Tech Support: You didn't modify anything?
Customer: Nope
Tech Support: Did it work before?
Customer: Yep
Tech Support: What did you do differently this time?
Customer: Nothing; the picture just came out all distorted
Tech Support: You didn't modify the picture sequence, did you?
Customer: Huh?
Tech Support: You modified the sequence, didn't you?
Customer: Is that in the instructions?
Tech Support: Describe the instruction manual to me - what color is it?
Customer: Blue
Tech Support: Trick question - it's a .pdf. <click!>

Hey Todd,

In the second shot that hill on the left looks kind of steep. Did you climb that?


Cheers,

This actually isn't too uncommon with Photomerge (though I've never seen a result this funky). If it can't figure out how to fit the images together correctly, it will try to fit them together any which way. Try selecting "reposition only" in the dialog box. It looks like you selected another option. The other options distort the images and then stitch them, presumably to correct for distortion of buildings (but this is pretty useless in landscape photography). If this doesn't work, select "Interactive Layout" in the dialog box. Then drag the images close to where they should go and they will snap into place.

Grant - where's the fun in that??? I like Todd's results better.