photodoc16

Technohogs,
I have been looking for a good panorama stitching software program to do what Elements 13 cannot do well enough. I know that full image editing software usually contains panorama programs but I haven't made a decision about which one yet. ICE is free but is it capable of good performance on most uncomplicated panoramas and relatively easy to use?
Thanks,
Photodoc16

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

You piqued my interest, so I did some reading. My perception is that if you’re really into panos, this would be a great way to test the water. I had never heard of the product. Thanks for the heads-up.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I've used it for panoramas and it worked great.

repleo Loc: Boston

I just downloaded it and did my first pano with it - 3 shot. Download, import and pano processing only took about 10 minutes. Very simple and intuitive. Lots of control. Small program. I think I could do a pano in the time it takes PS to boot up. Guess you can make panos out of video clips too. I had given up on trying to do panos in PS. I'm thrilled. Thanks for the tip.

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Rongnongno Loc: FL

ICE is one of the incredible small software given away for free by MS. Sadly it is not officially supported and while it works with almost anything including raw format newer cameras like the Nikon D850 NEF files size (40mb+) seem to overwhelm its capability.

As to image ordering, orientation and all that jazz that ACR and other software would reject, ICE just uses them, no problem.

Sample of stitch made with ICE, images were jumbled up Note: D500, NEF.
Another sample, full description in the thread Note: Zoom-able link using Google tile cutter.
Walking panorama rejected by all software but ICE Note: D300 JPG

For info, UHH has a panorama section. You may want to subscribe to it.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

I found the user interface annoying and unclear. Then and upgrade to Lightroom allowed Photo merge to Panorama, and I haven't looked back since.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Annoying and unclear????

Import the images, stitch, crop and export.... Four easy steps.

Import has a sub menu I have NEVER used. The auto detect just does it. So, not an issue. I also never messes with the structured panorama. Looking at the layout option is interesting but really irrelevant since not used.
Stitch, no option. The result can be rotated, moved up and down as well as left/right. Also rarely used if at all.
Crop, the auto complete also works so well one does not have to mess with the option.
Export offers a choice of file format then to disk.

The two options to Deep Zoom and photosynth are not usable anymore so, not an issue.

So, what is complex and confusing here??????

LR, ACR and PS balks all the time if any image is not part of a structured set. ICE does not, it just does not use the offending image.

One of the sample I posted was crashing every software available but ICE. Had I not made rookie mistakes (listed in the thread opening post) the whole thing would have been 'perfect'. 362 images, not a peep. Check the reaction of ACR with that one... I posted it.

Is ICE a complete solution? No. It is a first step to other PP variation.

Posted a screen recording to show that ICE simply ignores what is not part of a panorama. I had only two images just to save time.

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Wrong image
Attached file:
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Rongnongno Loc: FL

Oh, I have a correction to make...

ICE DOES work with the D850 NEF.

So you can throw the kitchen sink at it, as long as you have loaded the proper raw CODECs in Windows.

LarryFitz Loc: Beacon NY

I recently post a photograph that used 23 vertical images stitched together in the panorama section of uhh. Vertical take longer then horizontal. Not certain how long it took to process 23 images, I guess and hour, but I was in the basement entertaining my granddaughters. Since it can handle that many images I overlap more then in need.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Take a look at PTGui also. It odes offer a free trial period. Has a basic facility as well as an advanced one. Includes a viewer. Will stitch raw as well as HDR and 360/180 images. I believe it will also handle a limited number of burst images. There is also a PTGUI forum in Google groups.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes - excellent. It can produce panoramas, but you have to supply good quality images to stitch together.

Lots of links about panoramas -
http://hugin.sourceforge.net/
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/products-and-innovation/easy-panorama-mode.html
https://photographylife.com/panoramic-photography-howto
http://www.kolor.com/download
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ice/
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/how-to-capture-and-stitch-panoramas/
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ice/
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-282385-1.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tGR-Q9Pkjc

JPL

I have used it for many years. Very happy with the results.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

I like it, quick, easy, and the price is right

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

It is an excellent and easy to use program. I often found that the adobe program and in LR and ACR would reject images while ICE just worked them
If you would go to the UHH panorama section you'll find that many of the subscribers there use the ICE program. It works, easily.

claytonfm

I have used Panorama Factory for years, and it is by far the best I've found.