| Author |
Message |
    
Sam Pringle
New member
Username: Sam
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2011
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 10:14 am: |   |
When I create 360 degree panoramas in QTVR they look like they have reduced colour depth. Is there a problem with PF's QTVR output or a setting (besides QTVR quality) that I am missing?
The example section from a QVTR shows the problem. Colours, especially in the sky/clouds are banded and noisy rather than smoothly blended. The effect is just like when you reduce colour depth from (say) 16 million to 256.
I'm using PF v5.3.2807 and QT installed is v7.6.9. It does not seem to matter which codec is used and happens even when quality is set to 100%. I cannot see any settings to affect colour depth.
If the same panorama is output as a JPEG or other bitmap format it is absolutely fine. It's not a QVTR limitation because I do not have the same problem with QVTR created with other programs (e.g. PhotoStitch – but the stitching is not of the same quality as PF).
 |
David Richardson
New member
Username: Customdavid
Post Number: 68
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 11:32 am: | |
Sam -
Welcome! I have noticed the same thing over the years (been using PF for a couple of generations) and believe the problem is on the Quick Time side. In fact I have not used QTVR as an output for a while since Apple stopped supporting it for 64 bit systems. (I do not know if this has changed for 7.6.9).
I have noticed similar types of issues on QTVR's produced on other sites, so don't think it is a PF issue, suspect it is Apple.
I would love to see PF have the output for something like HD view, but with the stitching control that PF excels at.
Unfortunately there has been no updates to PF for a few years, this means that the application has not grown and the user involvement is dwindling. I love PF, but do not use it much these days, some of my cameras are not supported and carrying a pano head with me is not always an option.
That said, there are certain things that PF excels at, hopefully the owner will bring it back. He has only responded to messages once in the last few months, which is sad. This is a great product and I would love to see it back up to date.
David |
Sam Pringle
New member
Username: Sam
Post Number: 2
Registered: 3-2011
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2011 - 5:04 am: | |
David -
Thanks, reassuring to know that it's not just me missing a setting for QTVR.
You suggest it is a problem on the QTVR side but I don't see the problem in QTVR panoramas on (e.g.) PhotoStich which is the application Canon bundles with its cameras. (Unfortunately it does not offer as much control as PF). Also QTVRs on the web do not show the problem or do you think that they are created with non-QT codecs?
I agree it's a pity that development of PF seems to have ceased/slowed. Just have to see I suppose. |
John Strait
Moderator
Username: Jstrait
Post Number: 383
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2011 - 6:51 pm: | |
Hi Sam,
I have seen something like this before (on Windows) when the computer used to create the QTVR was set to 16-bit color or 8-bit color. I've also seen it when using Remote Desktop or VNC to connect to the computer.
PF uses Apple's QuickTime DLLs to create QTVR files. Apparently the QuickTime DLLs look at the display settings at creation time to decide the degree of color quantization.
Can you check to be sure your display is set to full color (24-bit or 32-bit color)?
John
(Message edited by jstrait on April 06, 2011) |
Sam Pringle
New member
Username: Sam
Post Number: 3
Registered: 3-2011
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2011 - 4:21 pm: | |
John,
Screen resolution is set to Highest (32 bit) at 1920 by 1200 pixels. This was my first thought, that the display settings might be wrong: but they aren't. I'm actually running three monitors but all three are set to 32 bit.
SAM |
Sam Pringle
New member
Username: Sam
Post Number: 4
Registered: 3-2011
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2011 - 4:23 pm: | |
…and I'm using the PC directly (i.e. not with VPN or remote desktop)…
SAM |
David Richardson
New member
Username: Customdavid
Post Number: 69
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2011 - 4:32 pm: | |
Sam -
Thinking about this a bit more, I remember something in the settings for QTVR from PF. It was something to do with the compression and image quality setting in PF. I think some of that will make a difference, but if I remember right the cost in size was huge.
David |
Sam Pringle
New member
Username: Sam
Post Number: 5
Registered: 3-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, April 07, 2011 - 4:44 pm: | |
David,
Thanks, but I already explored making the compression/image quality settings as HQ as possible with no improvement whatsoever.
John's hit it on the head, the effect is as if QT has reduced the colour resolution from full (32 bit colour). My problem is that I cannot see how to adjust this through the settings (in PF or QT).
SAM |
