gsscott50@hotmail.com Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Hi, I have had a client approach me that wants a photo montage done for a planning application. The methodology and approach need to be documented and need to be able to stand up to a (hostile) planners scrutiny. Usually, this wouldn't be a problem - I would use the camera match utility in 3DSMax to accurately match the camera parameters of the base photo. However, this client wants me to montage 3D site elements into a 180degree panorama shot. The indivdual shots taken for the stitch were taken on a cheap SLR camera and are pretty poor in terms of variation of exposure/clarity etc. Anyway, my question is...... Can you accurately montage 3D site elements (house/walls/amenity grass) into an ultra-wide panorama photograph, accurately? I have suggested modelling the site in 3D, but this is not an option for the client. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Yes. You should replicate each camera angle that hits a part of the site you'll be working on. Use Photoshop distorting tools to mimic whatever operations the panorama-er did to the originals. If possible, go and reshoot the panorama using a DSLR with the exposure fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsscott50@hotmail.com Posted November 28, 2008 Author Share Posted November 28, 2008 Thanks for the quick reply. How do I accurately measure which angle the camera was targeted on for each stitched photograph? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Same way you would for individual photos. Only you have an advantage because they were all taken from the same location. How complicated is this going to be? Does your model appear in one or two parts of the pano or in, say, all of them? This might get too complicated if there are too many shots - in which case you should do the render in one go and make it look good in Photoshop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Thomas Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 By using words like 'methodology' and 'documentation' it sounds like you are being asked to provide a certified or verified view. Make sure you know exactly what you are doing as any inaccuracies in your work could end up with you in court. The exact position of the camera as well as other features, buildings etc will have to be accurately measured by a surveyor and I'm pretty sure you will not be able to alter the photos in any way, i.e. stretching and distorting to make a pano. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Branch Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Can you accurately montage 3D site elements (house/walls/amenity grass) into an ultra-wide panorama photograph, accurately? It will be a reasonable approximation! In other words it will be good enough... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Negus Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 It would be best to get hold of the original photos, render for each one, and then make panoramics for the photos and the renders from scratch. The problem with a hostile planning committee is they will be looking for anything they can point at to say the photomontage isn't accurate as an excuse to kick out the application, so making it look good in Photoshop really isn't an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 You guys seem to have some really obnoxious regulations on this kind of thing. If it's going to be a legal matter, Dan is correct, you should do each photo then panorama them yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsscott50@hotmail.com Posted November 28, 2008 Author Share Posted November 28, 2008 all points taken on board. cheers for the input. this is a rare exception to the rule - it doesn't matter if the end product is visually appealing. it just needs to be accurate. I think the approach of taking individual renders (for each stitched photo) and then stitching the renders together is going to yield the best results. as i said i would usually do this using the camera match utility. however, the site is out in the boonies, and there is little in the way of objects I can use for control points (trees, walls, sheep ). @ stef - cheers for the heads up about the possibility of doing time for shoddy workmanship. I'm going to make sure the process stands up before I agree to anything. cheers again guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Negus Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Yeah, its true. We have planning committees staffed with small-minded idiots that are barely able to tie their shoe-laces let alone decide on technical matters in the UK. (present company excluded if any are on this forum obviously!) We've just had to defend ourselves against a complainer who claimed we falsefied a photo that demonstrated he was talking out of his arse. It ended up with taking the entire commitee out to the site, halfway up a hill, to say look this is where we took the photo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Branch Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 ...it doesn't matter if the end product is visually appealing. it just needs to be accurate. however, the site is out in the boonies, and there is little in the way of objects I can use for control points (trees, walls, sheep ). These two conditions are pretty much at odds with one another. Do yourself a favor and take "accuracy" off the table. Tell them that you can make them some pretty pictures for consideration... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now