Review 3 of 3
Summary: As a long-time maker of panorama images, I eagerly adopted digital imaging technology several years ago in my search for the perfect way to create panoramas. Since my first PhotoVista stitch in November 1997, I have tried several promising contenders, from QuickStitch360 to Spin Panorama to Panorama Factory, to name but a few. While I have liked the feature set of PhotoVista, I am always on the lookout for newer and better products. When I first heard about the new freeware from Pixaround, I decided to try it, expecting this new program to be worth pretty much what I'd paid for it. Which is to say, nothing.
However, I was immediately surprised by the speed and accuracy of the stitches, the versatility of the interface (manual correction possible though rarely necessary, as it turns out) and the extreme ease with which the program allows the user to create ("publish") panoramas of three kinds: 1) a self-executing "panorama postcard" unlike any other product on the market save Ipix's "PhotoBubbles" (which are somewhat different, since they cover a full sphere and cost $1 apiece to make) 2) a simple panorama JPEG image 3) a web-optimized panorama JPEG with corresponding html file for displaying the panorama on a web page.
This third option, which uses an extremely small, fast-loading and efficient Java applet in your browser, has become my panorama-generating tool of choice.
The applet can be easily configured with many handy options, from speed of spin to field of view; it allows the inclusion of a label in one corner or another of the image frame, and the frame itself has the requisite magnifying glass tools and pointer, as well as a "resume automatic spin" arrow that is sorely lacking from the competition's offerings. And the Java applet requires absolutely no "plug-in" to be downloaded for the images to be viewed, a significant improvement over those programs that require the installation of additional software.
One shortcoming I found, that when "publishing" a "postcard" I could not alter/edit/improve the assembled panorama prior to creating the "postcard". However, I quickly found that the companion freeware program "PixScreen" allows you to do exactly that: you can take a panorama JPEG assembled in Pixaround, modify it to your heart's content in an image editor such as PhotoShop, and then import it into "Pixscreen" to then create the "postcard". So that it turns out that my one reservation about Pixaround was dispelled by the availability of the equally free companion program which is also available on the Pixaround website.
In fact in the past two weeks I have posted nearly fifty panoramas I had photographed but never bothered to assemble or post, the coding of IVR files and other complications offered by other programs having served as sufficient discouragement for me not to do so.
But with Pixaround, the difficulties have evaporated, I at long last have found the supremely use-friendly panorama generator; I can assure you that when the "pro" edition comes out, with hotspots and other advanced features, I'll be glad to put a $20 charge on my credit card! Strengths: easy, clean interface
manual alignment possible
excellent export options
tiny Java applet Weaknesses: none, once you add the companion freeware Pixscreen
no hotspots, though this feature will be added to the "pro" version, summer 2000 Similar Products Used: PhotoVista
QuickStitch 360
Panorama Factory
Spin Panorama
and others...! Customer Service: responded to e-mail comments within a couple of days.
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