Panorama Tools

PTGui started in 2001 as a Graphical User Interface for Panorama Tools, hence the name. Panorama Tools, originally written by Helmut Dersch, was the most versatile package for creating panoramic images at that time. It can handle every imaginable lens type, can output to many formats and projections including 360 degree spherical and rectilinear ('flat') formats. It can even correct lens distortions, use multiple rows of images and stitch tilted images. Panorama Tools is completely free (GPL-licensed). Although its features are numerous, Panorama Tools can be difficult to use and that's why PTGui was originally written.

Over the years nearly all functionality of Panorama Tools has been integrated into PTGui and Panorama Tools is no longer needed to run PTGui, but the Panorama Tools optimizer and stitcher can still be used.

Panorama Tools Optimizer

We have compiled a standalone PTOptimizer executable, it can be used from within PTGui or any other application which supports the PTOptimizer script syntax:

Download PTOptimizer.zip (619 kb)

The zip includes both the Windows version (PTOptimizer.exe) and Mac version (ptoptimizer). The optimizer is statically linked against the Panorama Tools library, which means that it can be installed without risking conflicts with existing pano12.dll libraries. The source code is included as well but this is not needed for normal use.

To install PTOptimizer:

• Open the zip file and copy the executable (PTOptimizer.exe for windows, or ptoptimizer for mac) to a folder on the hard disk.
• In PTGui choose Tools -> Options (Windows) or PTGui -> Preferences (Mac)
• Go to the Panorama Tools tab
• Click on the Browse button next to 'PTOptimizer application' and point to the PTOptimizer executable

Panorama Tools Stitcher

For backwards compatibility the original Panorama Tools Stitcher (PTStitcher) or one of the compatible clones (nona / ptmender) can still be used in PTGui.

A modern alternative is PTStitcherNG: a very fast stitcher developed by Helmut Dersch. More information and download at Helmut Dersch's homepage.

To use the external stitchers in PTGui:

• In PTGui choose Tools -> Options (Windows) or PTGui -> Preferences (Mac)
• Go to the Panorama Tools tab
• Point PTGui to the location of the installed PTSTitcher or PTStitcherNG application.

Please be aware that not all features of PTGui are supported by the external stitchers. If you notice any problem use the built in PTGui stitcher instead; we cannot give support for third party applications.

Changes in PTGui 9

If you were using Panorama Tools in an earlier version and upgrading to PTGui 9 please read the following:

Before version 9 PTGui accessed Panorama Tools through the pano12.dll (Windows) or PanoTools.bundle (Mac) library. Since the library is only available as 32 bit and incompatible with Mac OS X 10.6 code, PTGui has been changed to access Panorama Tools through the 'Helper' applications only. This has two consequences:

- the 'Stitch using PTGui but warp using Panorama Tools' option is no longer available. Instead you should use 'Stitch using PTGui'. PTGui now includes the extra Sinc and Spline interpolators which were previously available only in Panorama Tools.

- if you are using the Panorama Tools optimizer from within PTGui, follow the instructions above to install the PTOptimizer package.