Luminar NEO: How to use Panorama Stitching

Luminar NEO's Panorama Stitching extension allows users to easily create breathtaking panoramic images without the need for additional software. This feature seamlessly stitches together multiple photos to produce expansive panoramas that captivate viewers with stunning landscapes and cityscapes. Moreover, this extension also allows you to convert videos into panorama images or select a focal point in the video to achieve trendy results.

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In this article:

• What is Panorama Stitching
• How to get Panorama Stitching
• How to install Panorama Stitching
• Introducing Panorama Stitching Controllers
• Getting started with Panorama Stitching
• Video tutorial
• Luminar NEO

What is Panorama Stitching 

Do you use Luminar NEO for photo editing? The Panorama Stitching extension can help you create breathtaking panoramas from your photos and videos with ease. Its user-friendly design allows you to add multiple RAW or JPEG files and create expansive panoramas in just a few easy steps. If you're dealing with complex lighting, the extension also has a built-in HDR Merge feature that lets you combine multiple exposures and pano brackets into a single HDR panorama that preserves every detail.

But that's not all - you can also use the power of motion to create stunning panoramas from your videos! Simply add your video footage and extract frames seamlessly to stitch together into panoramic images. And if you want to get really creative, you can even select specific subjects within a video. The extension will intelligently isolate and combine frames centred around your chosen element, resulting in visually striking panoramas.

How to get Panorama Stitching

The Panorama Stitching is a professional paid extension for Luminar NEO. Currently, there are three ways to get it:

• Purchase it as an individual extension here.
• Purchase it as part of the Extensions Pack here.
• Subscribe to the Luminar NEO Subscription plan here.

TIP 👍: Are you planning to purchase the extension or subscribe to Luminar NEO? Use our discount code CPNEO10 and get 10% off your purchase.

How to install Panorama Stitching

Once you purchase or acquire the Panorama Stitching extension at the Skylum website, you will have to install it into your application from the "Extensions" panel following the steps below.

TIP 👍: To install the extension into your software, it is necessary to have an active internet connection. It is also essential to ensure you are running the latest version of Luminar NEO before installing the extension into your application.

1. Open Luminar NEO and log in with the same profile you used for obtaining the extension.
2. Click on the "Extras" orange button in the top right corner of the application. 
3. Once the new window opens, select the "Extensions" tab at the top.
4. Locate the Panorama Stitching extension in the available list and click the "Install" button on it to add it to the application.
5. Access the extensions in the "Extensions" tab of the main toolbar in the Edit module.

Introducing Panorama Stitching Controllers

Settings

To access the additional settings click on the circle icon with three dots located on the top right corner of the extension.

Lens Correction

The "Lens Correction" option attempts to correct common issues like distortion and fringing.

Devignette

By selecting the "Devignette" option, the vignette on each image will be removed, making it simpler to stitch them together.

Chromatic Aberration Reduction

By enabling this option, the extension will attempt to eliminate any green or purple hues present along the edges of your photograph.

Ghost Reduction

If you're working with HDR photos with moving subjects, you can use the "Ghost Reduction" feature to remove any ghosting in the final result. By enabling Ghost Reduction, you can choose a reference image and adjust the amount of correction needed to achieve the desired outcome.

Remove All Files Button

Press this button to delete all photos or videos that have been added to the extension in one go.

Panorama Stitching - HRD Window (Photography Panorama Only)

The HDR window lets you preview the bracketed photos and remove them if necessary.

Skip HDR Button

The "Skip HDR" button will allow you to skip the HDR merging and continue to the next window.

Continue Button

Once you click on the "Continue" button, the extension will merge the HDR images and stitch them together to provide an initial preview.

Panorama Stitching - Video Adjustment Window (Video Panorama Only)

The Video Adjustment window allows you to cut the video and select the scenes you want to include in the final panorama. It also allows you to use the "Custom Object Composition" option to select your subjects.

Video Controls

Use the video controls on the video preview screen to preview the video.

Video Timeline

To crop your video, simply adjust the sliders at each end of the timeline. If you need more precise control, you can also click on a specific point on the timeline to reposition the play head.

Custom Object Composition

Click on the "Custom Object Composition" switch to activate the feature.

Custom Object Composition Controler

When the "Custom Object Composition" is active a new timeline will appear in the window together with a blue square with a white "+" on it. Adjust the position of the controller and click on it to mark this frame. Once you do that a new selection frame will appear on the preview screen allowing you to place it over the subject you want to select.

Continue Button

Click on the "Continue" button to move to the next window.

Panorama Stitching - Transformation Window

The Transformation window allows you to rotate and transform your panorama image based on the desired look. It also allows you to adjust the panorama projection.

Rotation

To rotate the preview image, simply hover your mouse around the corner of the image and the mouse cursor will turn into a half circle with two arrows. Then, you can easily rotate the image to your desired angle.

Zooming IN/OUT

To zoom in and out to the preview image, use the wheel on your mouse or double-click on the image to reset the view.

Transform and Align

To transform and align the image, hover over the preview until the mouse cursor changes to hand. After that, push the image around using the cross guidelines as a guide.

Stitch Button

Once you are done transforming your image, simply click on the "Stitch" button to proceed to the next window.

Panorama Projection

Select the projection type that suits your image in the bottom left corner of the window.

Panorama Projection - Spherical 

Aligns and transforms the images as if they were mapped to the inside of a sphere. This projection mode is great for really wide or multi-row panoramas / HDR panoramas.

Panorama Projection - Cylindrical 

Projects the panorama as if it were mapped to the inside of a cylinder. This projection mode works well for wide panoramas, but it also keeps vertical lines straight.

Panorama Projection - Mercator

The Mercator image projection is a combination of cylindrical and spherical projection types. It seeks to balance the stretching of vertical lines while offering a greater vertical angle of view than cylindrical projections.

Panorama Projection - Plane

The plane projection offers the most flat and rectangular option on the list.

Panorama Projection - Fish Eye 

The Fish Eye projection allows to take a fish eye capture and convert it into a panorama.

Panorama Stitching - Crop Window

The Crop window allows you to crop the image using the available controllers.

Cropping Frame

The cropping preview uses the same workflow as the Crop AI tool in Edit Module. To adjust the crop simply drag the handles around the preview image. To move the crop around click on the cropped area and drag it around the image.

TIP 👍: When cropping an image, you can utilize the rule of thirds overlay to make it easier. Keep an eye out for the size guide, which will show you the size of the image in pixels next to your cursor as you make adjustments.

Maximize Crop Area Button

The "Maximize Crop Area" button acts as an "Auto Crop" feature, setting the cropped area to the maximum while ensuring that the image is included.

Crop Button

Once you have finished cropping your image, simply click on the "Crop" button to proceed to the next window.

Panorama Stitching - Final Preview Window

The Final Preview window allows you to review the stitched image before saving it to your catalog, allowing you to double-check it.

Back Button

Use the arrow on the bottom left corner of the window to return to the previous window for further adjustments.

Save Button

Once you are happy with the result, click the "Save" button to process and create the final image.

Getting started with Panorama Stitching

The Panorama Stitching feature is exclusively available on the standalone version of Luminar NEO. After installation, you can locate it on the right toolbar of the Catalog module. To begin using it, drag and drop a video or at least two images onto the extension and adjust the settings in the "Settings" panel. When you are satisfied with the adjustments, click on the "Start" button and follow the instructions on the Panorama Stitching windows to generate a new panorama image.

Photography Panorama Stitching:

1. To start creating a panorama, drag and drop at least two images onto the extension.
2. To preview your settings, click the circle button with three dots in the top right corner of the extension.
3. When you're ready, click the "Start" button to begin the stitching process.
4. If you're creating an HDR panorama, review all the images and use the white circle with an "X" to remove any unnecessary ones.
5. Next, click the "Continue" button to enter the Transformation window.
6. Here, you can select the panorama projection in the bottom left corner of the window.
7. To rotate and transform your image, use your mouse and the cross overlay as a guide.
8. If you need to, you can zoom in or out using the mouse wheel.
9. After that, click the "Stitch" button to enter the Crop window.
10. Use the cropping frame to adjust the crop of the panorama, then click "Crop" to enter the Final Preview window.
11. Make sure everything looks good, then click "Save" to create the panorama.
12. It will be saved in the new Panorama Stitching folder, located in the Folders area of the left toolbar in the Catalog module.
13. Finally, select the new panorama and use the Preset or Edit module to edit it.

TIP 👍: Do not edit your images before using the panorama stitching feature as the application will remove any edits made to the images.

Video Panorama Stitching:

1. To start creating a panorama from your video, drag and drop your footage onto the extension.
2. When you're ready, click the "Start" button to begin the stitching process.
3. In the initial window, review the footage and modify its duration to select the specific portion you wish to incorporate in the ultimate panorama.
4. To utilize the "Custom Object Composition", simply turn on the switch located at the bottom left corner of the screen.
5. To select a specific frame, use the play head and the blue square with a white "+" symbol on it. Once you have found the desired frame, click on the blue square to select your subject.
6. Use the selection area on the preview screen to select the subject.
7. Move the play head and repeat as many times as you want.
8. Next, click the "Continue" button to enter the Transformation window.
9. Here, you can select the panorama projection in the bottom left corner.
10. To rotate and transform your image, use your mouse and the cross overlay as a guide.
11. If you need to, you can zoom in or out using the mouse wheel.
12. After that, click the "Stitch" button to enter the Crop window.
13. Use the cropping frame to adjust the crop of the panorama, then click "Crop" to enter the Final Preview window.
14. Make sure everything looks good, then click "Save" to create the panorama.
15. It will be saved in the new Panorama Stitching folder, located in the Folders area of the left toolbar in the Catalog module.
16. Finally, select the new panorama and use the Preset or Edit module to edit it.

Panorama Stitching video tutorial

Watch the full video tutorial covering all controls in this tool.

Luminar NEO

Luminar Neo is the latest editing software from Skylum. It was announced back in September 2021 and has been highly anticipated.

Luminar Neo is an AI-powered photo editing software. Skylum has said that Neo isn't replacing their previous release—Luminar AI. But Neo sets out to fix some of the issues users faced with Luminar AI.

We were impressed with the AI tools in Luminar AI. But like many others, we encountered performance issues. Luminar Neo uses the same AI tools, but the new high-speed core engine improves speed and performance.

Luminar Neo isn't just more of the same. We're happy to see Skylum has taken Neo in a different direction, adding layer and mask AI tools to the program. This broadens Neo's appeal, taking it in an Adobe Photoshop direction.

Learn more about Luminar NEO here.

Use one of our discount codes: CPNEO10 will give you a 10% discount - CP10 will give you a $10 discount.