Theta Z1 Stitcher

What is Theta Z1 Stitcher?

Theta Z1 Stitcher is an Android app to stitch images captured by THETA Z1.

What's the difference from official plugin for Adobe Lightroom?

Supported format

• 24bit JPG format developed in any image editors.
• 24/48bit Lossless format: PNG, TIF* are also supported. *input only
• DNG straight out of camera is also supported (beta).
• *Image size must be equal to DNG image resolution: 7296x3648.

Batch processing

• Stitch multiple images at once

How to use

1. Copy unstitched DNG images to your phone

The unstitched DNG image is stored in the camera, but you cannot download it via the official app.

There are couple of solutions to download:

a) [Highly Recommended]Use android app: Theta DNG Transfer (supports auto-leveling JPG developed by Adobe apps)

b) Copy to PC, then transfer to phone (most solid solution)

c) Use USB-OTG cable (make sure that your phone supports OTG)

2. Stitching

1. Open the unstitched DNG image in any DNG editor e.g.Adobe Photoshop Express, Adobe Lightroom Mobile

2. Develop it and save as JPG/PNG/TIF image without changing resolution.

2. Open the developed image (still unstitched) on your gallery app (Quickpic & Google Photos are recommended)

3. Send it to Theta Z1 Stitcher via share menu (normally the icon with connected 3 dots)

4. Image is automatically converted to equirectangular format.

5. You can manually fine-tune until it's perfectly leveled. Horizontal center can be also changed.

6. Hit the save icon then stitched image is saved in /ThetaStitcher folder. It takes ~20 sec on decent phone.

3. Lens calibration (1st time only)

Probably you've got terrible stitching result. For best stitching, lens calibration is needed for each camera. Seeing is believing. Please refer to this great tutorial video (Thanks Janis). Although this video was made for other 360 cam, the process is totally identical.

4. Batch processing

If you select multiple images on your gallery app and send to this app, all images are automatically stitched w/o interruption. There are two available options:

• Normal Mode: Each image is processed individually. (normally use this mode)
• Static Mode: No leveling applied. Keep the camera perfectly upright, or manually level later. (e.g. for multiple set of images for HDR)
• Anchor Mode: You can level the first image only. Then exactly the same leveling parameter is applied to all remaining images. (e.g. for time-lapse, single set of images for HDR ).

FAQ

Q: Image is not leveled automatically, why?

Pose information for leveling is easily stripped by editors. To handle it properly, 1)use Theta DNG Transfer app to copy DNG files to your phone, 2)and develop them with Adobe Apps (Photoshop Express, Lightroom Mobile), 3)then export as JPG.

Q: Stitching result is always terrible. I'm ripped off.

Yes, this is the toughest part if you have never used any stitching tools (e.g. Ptgui, hugin). There are two suggestions.

1. Please check your calibration image. Good / bad example is available in the app instruction.
2. Find corresponding points carefully. You might be selecting different objects, but looks similar.

If you still couldn't get good results, please contact me (mail). That's the fastest.

Q: It says "This image is not supported"

Make sure the image has correct resolution (7296x3648), and format (JPG/PNG/TIF, or non edited DNG). Some of your apps may automatically convert to unsupported one (e.g. GooglePhotos backup).

Q: Can I use protector?

No. Since this app uses entire image circle, narrowing FOV will cause significant stitching error.

Q: Why PNG output doesn't have metadata

Sorry, metadata is not supported on PNG output.

Q: Supports two or more cameras?

The app itself doesn't support it, but /ThetaStitcher/calib_param.txt is the lens calibration file for your camera. You can save/restore it anytime to switch between each camera.

Tips

Stitching after editing to reduce seam

Overall, "stitching after editing" gives better result because "editing after stitching" tends to cause hard seam issue. However you may still see soft seam issue in "stitching after editing" if you modified image drastically (e.g. HDR-effect).

If you want to make it perfectly seamless, please consider using orthogonal mode in another app named "edit360".

Template stitching for extreme cases

Although adaptive geometry stitching gives you the best performance in many situations, it's not perfect in some extreme conditions. Of course it's not hard for you to avoid such condition, but if you prefer template stitching like official app, please use "stitching distance" in settings. You can manually select from [1~2m] [2~3m] [5m~] ([auto] is adaptive geometry stitching).

Let me note that this mode is only for advanced users. For general purpose, strongly recommend keep using [auto] mode.

License

By downloading, copying, installing or using the software you agree to this license. If you do not agree to this license, do not download, install, copy or use the software.

License Agreement

For Open Source Computer Vision Library

(3-clause BSD License)

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.

Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

Neither the names of the copyright holders nor the names of the contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

This software is provided by the copyright holders and contributors “as is” and any express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are disclaimed. In no event shall copyright holders or contributors be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, or profits; or business interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of this software, even if advised of the possibility of such damage.