A panoramic image like this can be produced in high resolution using image stitching.
Sometimes, a single photo just doesn't seem adequate for its subject matter. The Grand Canyon for example, is so encompassing in scope and grandeur that trying to capture it all in a single photograph not only doesn't do it proper justice but is also remarkably difficult. Enter image stitching, a process that can take several pictures and blend them together in a large, panoramic image.
Image Stitching
Image stitching uses multiple photographs that share an overlapping field of view and splices them together to create a much larger image. The resulting high resolution or panoramic imagery wouldn't be possible with a standard camera, and create a striking all-encompassing view of an image that previously would have had to be enjoyed in pieces.
How It Works
The basic principle behind image stitching is overlapping. The photos taken need to be in a sequential order and share a small portion of the previous image from one picture to the next, to allow a proper frame of reference for overlapping. The individual images are loaded into software and overlapped one after another until a larger image is created. The overlay must be matched perfectly to create a seamless image. Images may also need to tilted or adjusted to compensate for minor angle differences, corrected for lens distortions and blended to eliminate visible seams.
Required Tools
For photography-based image stitching, a camera is obviously a must. For any form of image stitching, you will need good image editing software. Adobe Photoshop, CorelDRAW and even the free GIMP are all useful tools because of their support for layered editing and blending, which can make stitching the images together easier. If you want more specialized support, a number of applications developed specifically to stitch images also exist, including Autostitch, Hugin, Ptgui, Panorama Tools, CleVR Stitcher and Microsoft Research Image Composite Editor.
Benefits
The primary benefit of image stitching is the stunning results a well-stitched panorama photograph can produce. Instead of a series of small, minimally impressive images you can stun viewers with an engrossing panorama that really brings the scope of your subject matter to life. You can also provide greater detail to an image, as you can stitch together several closer images instead of pulling back and taking a lower-resolution picture from farther away to try to capture all the detail.
Drawbacks
The biggest drawback to image stitching is the time investment. The process begins right at the capture site, where you have to carefully plan take the photos and then set up each sequential shot so that it will be easy to stitch. You also have to take lighting conditions and other background issues into consideration so you don't have half of a cloud in one frame and none in another. Once you actually have the pictures together, you must invest time in carefully arranging, editing and blending each stitched image to create the panoramic view. Depending on the images and the software you're using, this could take quite some time.
Tags: image stitching, editing blending, high resolution, larger image, panoramic image, subject matter, them together