How to Create HD 360º Panoramic

First of all you are going to have to invest some money in these items:

1. Fisheye Lense – I recommend the 180º that creates a circle image. I have the Sigma Fisheye 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Circular Fisheye Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF $899.00
2. Nodal Panoramic head – link for some on B&H Expect to pay about $500
3. Panorama Image Stitching Software – I use Panoweaver 9 which runs for $299.00
4. Good tripod to put panoramic head on
5. Release cable – I use a infrared remote with my Nikon D750
6. Adobe PhotoShop – While you can use the panoramic so you can fix the floor if you don't want a logo there. $600

Click on to see larger version

So here is my camera with my nodal panoramic head on a tripod.

Here is a side view

Now the other side

You will take 4 photos and then stitch them together with the software. I create a Cubic Panorama, which is the 6 sides of a cube.

Use a remote to keep the camera very still.

I then export that image to PhotoShop. This is where I will remove the tripod as seen in this photograph.

To get rid of the tripod [why I use PhotoShop] I go to filter and select vanishing point

Next I select the cloning tool and hold the option key and select the area that I want to clone from to fill over the tripod.

Because I chose the vanishing point the cloning will keep all the dots in perspective and makes for easy patching. Great for floors where you have tiles and other patterns that are not always squared but more often slightly askew.

Now the main reason I am using the more expensive Panoweaver is to have something that works on mobile devices like the iPad and iPhone. There are two versions created and one is flash based and has the little planet view that you see at the top and here below. I have you fly down into the panoramic creating a video like feel to the panoramic.

Now if that were all there is to this then it would be super easy. I have found that after doing this for about ten years that the knowledge of stitching helps you pick better locations. For that reason if you just enjoy them and would like me to create them for your place of work or something else give me a shout.

How to see a photo 4 different ways

Little Planet Version

This is the same photo but I am showing it to you 4 different ways. The top photo is what we call the Little Planet view.

You need special software to do all these photos. Some Apps exist to help you create photos similar to these with your phone–just not as consistent and precise as the way I did it with a tripod, fisheye lens and special nodal head on the tripod.

iPhone Apps
Android Apps

360º Panoramic gut stretched horizontally

This is the same photo but stretched to a large horizontal photo. Often this is cropped with less sky and ground to give a more strip print. This would then be like the inside of a cylinder.

Cubed 360º Panoramic

This is the same photo but instead of how it would appear inside a ball this is how it would appear inside a box. The first four panels are the sides then the top and bottom are the last two.


This last one is an interactive 360º panoramic. You can just watch it and it will just rotate and let you see the 360º cylinder or you can click on the menu arrows to go up and down or change direction. You can also just put your mouse and while clicking and holding drag the image up, down, sideways to control it yourself.

Interactive Panoramic of State and Lake in Chicago

I just got back from Chicago where I covered the Grand Opening of Chick-fil-A's newest restaurant on the corner of State and Lake.  Be sure and click on the 360º above and drag your mouse to the top and bottom or you can just use the menu buttons to navigate. Be sure to also zoom in and out using the +/- buttons on the menu.

The far right button on the menu will make the 360º full screen.  Try that as well for really putting you there.

Maybe you have a place that you need to people to see as if they are standing onsite.  My recommendation is to use the 360º Panoramic to help put people in the place.

This is the corner of State and Lake Streets in downtown Chicago, which if you reload the page will start the 360º Panoramic and spin until you are standing on the street corner.

Maybe you have a campus that you would like people to visit and this is a way to help encourage them to see your space. On the other hand maybe you realize many people cannot travel to see your campus and you want them to have the experience of being there. Either way, the 360º Panoramic is a cool way to engage your audience.

Give me a call if you need a 360º Panoramic. 

360º Panoramic and how it can engage the audience

Click on any of the thumbnails to see a Spherical Panoramic 

Columbia Theological Seminary Classroom	Columbia Theological Seminary Courtyard	Columbia Theological Seminary Tower
	Columbia Theological Seminary Front

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This is a good place to compare and understand how you can use photography for a brochure and the web.

There is a building dedication in just a month and the building is still in process, but I was able to get into the building and make some photos.

The client needs still photos for a brochure which will be used at their dedication.  If you allow time for printing and a designer you quickly see we only had about a day to turn around the project.

This is inside view of the Tower. (Nikon D3S, ISO 200, f/11, 1/80 14-24mm)

As you can see of the still image of the Tower above this could work easily in a brochure.  It is strong graphically and pulls the reader to read a little more about the project.

This is a composite of 5 exposures and then some perspective correction to keep the building from leaning away from the viewer. 

While both of these images give you an inside and outside view of the Tower.  Please take a look at the above thumbnails and compare for yourself.

If you want to engage the audience then on the web I think the Spherical Panoramic works very well.  The audience can spin around and feel like they are their and except for smell it would look pretty much the same if they were there.

I would probably still use some of the still images on a website, because for those who are wanting a quick read this will suffice. 

When photographing a building to be used in a brochure you need to get some detail shots.  This is what replaces a typical drain spout on the gutters and is more environmentally friendly. (Nikon D3S, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/60, 28-300mm)

When the building is a further along we will go back and add hotspots to the panoramic where you can click on a detail and a photo will pop up so you can see the detail larger.  Since the workers are still wiring the building many of the details we wanted to show are not even installed. 

Creating a unique image.  We used additional flash off camera to the left to light the bell drains.  (Nikon D3S, ISO 200, f/22, 1/160, 14-24mm)

This is the same as the above photo, but without the flash to light up the bell drains.

It is important today to not see "either or" as deciding what type of photography to use. You need to think "AND" as a possibility.

I can also see going back and interviewing the designer talking about a new feature in the building and having this as something you click on in the panoramic. Why not get some professors to contrast how this will improve their teaching.  Maybe getting a student or two talking about how much they will like some aspect of the new building.

While this photo works for the brochure purpose, I don't think it compares to the 360º Spherical Panoramic.  (Nikon D3, ISO 200, f/4, 1/4, 14-24mm)

I like the covered walk way. (Nikon D3S, ISO 200, f/11, 1/250, 28-300mm)

If you enjoyed reading this and seeing the images, please take the time and comment below.  I really could use some feedback and if you have suggestions for future posts let me know in your comments.