exposure determinations,
examine a histogram for
the entire image, and
plan multiple scans.
The panorama can be
loaded into Photoshop
and examined for faults
at very high resolution.
The image is contained
on a hard drive (mine
is 80GB), which should
be backed up for
redundancy reasons.Image Quality:
DSLR cameras interpolate
color. The Bayer array
chips (in DSLR cameras)
record 50% green, 25%
red and 25% blue. The
software then makes
up the difference by
interpolation. Scanning
backs, on the other hand,
do not interpolate color.
They record each of the
primary colors separately
and equally; 100% green,
100% red and 100%
blue. The image area of
a scanning back is larger than any single capture area; 6,000 x 8,000 pixels
which at 48-bit yields a file of 276 MB. It is an important difference that can
be demonstrated in side by side comparisons. There is no green to magenta
color shift across the image as there is with Bayer array chips. This green to
magenta color shift must be corrected in the software.
Personal preferences:
Photographing digital panoramas is closer, in fact, to a science project than
to more glamorous forms of photography. However, there is enormous
satisfaction spending each day in deep concentration trying to master this
difficult art. Although the equipment is expensive, when you factor in the
extra post-production time and the possibility of leaving a site without the
job being done, scanning is a viable cost alternative when compared to
Figures 9-10. Better Light with the view camera
shifted to the left and right. The combination of
left and right make a rectilinear panorama image.
Photos by Tom Watson.