Panorama Tools
PTGui was originally developed as a Graphical User Interface for Panorama Tools, hence the name. Since version 5.0, PTGui has its own stitching engine and can be used both as a stand alone photo stitching program, and as a front end for Panorama Tools. If Panorama Tools is installed, you can access its functionality from within PTGui. However, Panorama Tools is no longer required to use PTGui.
For more information, see Q2.2 in the FAQ.
Although its features are numerous, Panorama Tools can be difficult to use and that's why PTGui was originally written.
Download and install Panorama Tools for Windows (version 2.7.0.9/nh1)
Other versions of the panorama tools core library (pano12.dll) can be downloaded from:
Jim Watters' PanoTools site
The pano12.dll file should be installed in the the system32 subdirectory of the Windows directory (e.g. c:\windows\system32\ or c:\winnt\system32\)
The above file is a disk image, containing a file 'PanoTools.bundle'. This file should be copied to the folder where PTGui is installed (e.g. the Applications folder). Also included in the disk image is the PanoTools source code, but you only need that if you wish to recompile the library.
Three mirrors of the original Panorama Tools site are available:
Since 2003 several people have continued the work of Helmut Dersch, further developing the 'pano12' library (the engine of Panorama Tools). Jim Watters currently maintains the PanoTools SourceForge project and documents the changes at his PanoTools website.
For more information, see Q2.2 in the FAQ.
About Panorama Tools
Panorama Tools, originally written by Helmut Dersch, is probably the most versatile package for creating panoramic images. 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.
Download: Windows
We have created a self installing package containing the Panorama Tools library and helper applications:Download and install Panorama Tools for Windows (version 2.7.0.9/nh1)
(this version of Panorama Tools does not support wide-angle and fsheye images)
Other versions of the panorama tools core library (pano12.dll) can be downloaded from:
Jim Watters' PanoTools site
(we recommend the MinGW version; the MSVS version is known to crash)
The pano12.dll file should be installed in the the system32 subdirectory of the Windows directory (e.g. c:\windows\system32\ or c:\winnt\system32\)
Download: Mac OSX
Download the PanoTools library for OSX (version 2.8.0, adapted for PTGui)
(this version of Panorama Tools does not support wide-angle and fsheye images)
The above file is a disk image, containing a file 'PanoTools.bundle'. This file should be copied to the folder where PTGui is installed (e.g. the Applications folder). Also included in the disk image is the PanoTools source code, but you only need that if you wish to recompile the library.
[To compile the PanoTools library: copy the 'source' folder from the above dmg image to the hard disk. Make sure XCode is installed on your computer (included on
the OSX installation DVD). Double click the file PanoTools.xcodeproj and choose 'Build'. This will create a new PanoTools.bundle in the
'build' folder]
History
Helmut Dersch originally released Panorama Tools under GPL license from his original Panorama Tools site, but closed his site in 2002. In 2003 it was reopened to distribute new versions of PTViewer, but he is no longer distributing Panorama Tools.Three mirrors of the original Panorama Tools site are available:
- http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~dersch/ (most recent)
- http://www.all-in-one.ee/~dersch/
- http://home.no.net/dmaurer/~dersch/Index.htm
Since 2003 several people have continued the work of Helmut Dersch, further developing the 'pano12' library (the engine of Panorama Tools). Jim Watters currently maintains the PanoTools SourceForge project and documents the changes at his PanoTools website.