Creating a Panoramic Photograph in Photoshop

Did you know that Photoshop has a Photomerge feature that allows us to create a panoramic photograph?  I didn’t! Not until last week anyway. I’ve been working on a photo album from our vacation last May, and stumbled upon this feature.

For this tutorial I am working in CC2015. Photoshop Elements users, you have the option of creating Panoramas also. Here is a great article that explains the process for you: Create a Panorama in Photoshop Elements.

Here’s how it works in CC2015:

  1. File > Automate > Photomerge

How to create a Panorama using Photomerge

2. The Photomerge window will open.  You have two options to select the photos you want to merge:

  • If you already have the files that you want to merge open, choose “Add Open Files.”
  • If you do not have the files open, choose “Browse,” navigate to where the files are on your computer, and select the ones you want.

How to create a panorama using photomerge

3. Click OK and let Photoshop do its magic! Here’s my final result (after a little clean-up).

How to create a panorama using photomerge

Now let’s back up a bit and see how to get this end result.

When you are taking the pictures you plan to later merge in Photoshop:

  • Stand in one spot, snap a picture, swivel a little, snap your next picture, and so on. Try to keep your feet in one spot.
  • Overlay your photos by 25-40%.
  • Keep a constant focal length (do not zoom in or out).

These are the 7 photos I started with (indicated by the red dots). You can see here what I mean about overlaying the photos.

How to create a panorama using photomerge

Once I selected them, and chose the Photomerge option, this is the initial result I received:

How to create a panorama using photomerge

I had one extra picture that did not go with the group shots.  Photoshop placed it at the top of my document (to let me know it wasn’t included), and then merged the other photos.

I think Photoshop did a really great job; but, of course, I needed to straighten up those edges by cropping them into straight lines. I tried to crop away as little as possible. When I did this, there were some transparent areas visible (indicated by the red in the image below). If I cropped until the transparent areas were gone, I would have lost the top of the tower and too much of the photo bottom.  So I very carefully cloned in the corners.

Did you know that Photoshop has a Photomerge feature that allows us to create a panorama photograph? I didn't! Not until last week anyway. I've been working on our photo album from our vacation last May, and stumbled upon this feature. Here's how it works in CC2015: File > Automate > Photomerge How to create a Panorama using Photomerge 2. The Photomerge window will open. You have two options to select the photos you want to merge: If you already have the files that you want to merge open on your canvas, choose "Add Open Files." If you do not have the files open, choose "Browse," and navigate to the files, selecting the ones you want. How to create a panorama using photomerge 3. Click OK and let Photoshop do it's magic! How to create a panorama using photomerge Now let's back up a bit and see how to got this end result. When you are taking the pictures you plan to later merge in Photoshop: Stand in one spot, snap a picture, swivel a little, snap your next picture, and so on. Try to keep your feet in one spot. Overlay your photos by 25-40% Keep a constant focal length (do not zoom in or out) These are the 7 photos I started with. How to create a panorama using photomerge Once I selected them, and chose the Photomerge option, this is the initial result I received: How to create a panorama using photomerge I had one extra picture in the ones that I chose to Photomerge that did not go with the group shots. Photoshop placed it at the top of my document (to let me know it wasn't included), and then merged the other photos. I think Photoshop did a really great job; but, of course, I needed to straighten up those edges. How to create a panorama using photomerge Here is another example: How to create a panorama using photomerge Using the Photomerge feature in Photoshop is a great way to get panorama shots, if you don't have a panorama feature on your camera - or even if you do! Grab a pocket scrapping template, add a few close-ups for contrast, and you've got a super quick scrapbook page done in a jiffy! How to create a panorama using photomerge

How to create a panorama using photomerge

Here is another example:

How to create a panorama using photomerge

Using the Photomerge feature in Photoshop is a great way to get panorama shots, if you don’t have a panorama feature on your camera – or even if you do!

Grab a pocket scrapping template, add a few close-ups for contrast, and you’ve got a super quick scrapbook page done in a jiffy!

How to create a panorama using photomerge

When I am doing a large photo album (this one was 200 pages), sometimes I add embellishments to pages, and sometimes I just let the photos make the statement. Honestly, if I tried to embellish every single page, the album just wouldn’t get done when it’s of this size!

If you are a visual learner, you can view this tutorial on Karen Schulz Designs YouTube Channel.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have found this tutorial helpful!

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Comments (4)

  1. […] Creating a Panoramic Photograph in Photoshop – 1 freebie(s) […]

    March 11, 2016 at 10:54 pm
  2. Hazel

    I am a novice, but I love getting your posts. Back in 2013, I got the My Memories Suite through you, when they had a special going, but I have never managed to make it work, so really kind of gave up on it. Everything just about I see now is using a Photoshop. My question is Photoshop easier to use rather the My Memories, and what would be an easy but good one to get. I am just trying to learn how to do this to finish my grandkids scrapbooks along with my Family Tree books. At 75, I am starting to run out of time, and would appreciate any suggestions you might have. Thanks for all your beautiful pages and how-to’s.

    March 12, 2016 at 3:42 pm
    • Karen

      Hi Hazel, I will send you an email to be sure you see this, but in case anyone else would like to know the answer to this… Photoshop Elements is a great program to work with, and yes, you are right, a lot of people use it. You can find free tutotirals on You Tube, but if you would like to really learn the software in an organized and efficient manner, I highly recommend the National Association of Digital Scrapbookers (www.naods.com). Michelle, the owner, gives a FREE 10-day trial membership to her site, so you can see if it is something that you feel will work for you. She requests your name and email address only – you don’t have to sign up and then remember to cancel! You can access her 10-day free trial here.

      March 14, 2016 at 11:21 am
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