Want to go beyond the basics with your GigaPans? Check out the tips below for making your images even more amazing.

Printing GigaPans

Yes, you can print your GigaPans and it is easy!

To print or edit your stitched panorama, you can export your image as a TIFF or Adobe RAW file. To do this, select the 'Export stitched image' option under the File menu.

Remember, you´ll get the best print of an image has good exposure, white balance, focus, and composition.

Consult your local print companies to print your GigaPans in regular or mural size.

Shooting a 360 Panorama

Taking a 360 panorama is easy and is similar to shooting any other panorama. Instead of setting the EPIC to the upper left and lower right corners of the panorama, you just have to set it to the top and bottom.

1. Use the directional keys on the EPIC screen to navigate to 360 Panorama in the menu and press OK.
2. Set your camera to its full zoom level and press OK.
3. Use the directional keys to point the camera to the top of your scene and press OK.
4. Use the directional keys to point the camera to the bottom of your scene and press OK.
5. You can preview the panorama before it begins. Press OK to preview or press X to continue without a preview.
6. Confirm whether you want to go ahead with the panorama, and the EPIC will run you through a checklist before it starts taking pictures.
7. Watch the scene while the EPIC takes your panorama to make sure it does not miss a picture and no one steps into your frame. If so, press X to pause the panorama and use the directional keys to go back to an earlier camera position.

Adjusting the Position of the Gigapan Camera Mounting Plate to Reduce Parallax Error

Parallax error is visible as two objects or different pieces of the same object having different positions with respect to each other in photographs that were taken at different angular positions. An example would be a window frame near your camera and the edge of a door on a building outside of the window. With parallax error, the window frame and the edge of the door would have different distances between them in two photographs taken at different angles. The stitching software can partially compensate for parallax errors but cannot eliminate them.

Note: This is an iterative process and will require patience. The process is best accomplished indoors where you are comfortable.

1. Position your tripod with the imaging system and camera mounted in front of a window or two objects at different distances.
2. With the power off, take a photograph using manual exposure and focus.
3. Move the tripod so that it is at a different angle to the object(s) you just photographed and take a second photograph with the power off using manual exposure and focus.
4. Load these images into Photoshop or the gimp and use the measuring tool to determine the distance between the objects.
5. If the distance between the objects in the photos taken at different angles is different, a parallax error exists and the camera mounting tray position needs to be adjusted.
6. Note the initial position of the camera by making a light pencil mark locating the mid-point of the length of the lens on the black number plate.

Editing Your GigaPans

A Few Battery Tips –

• Always make sure to bring an extra set of re-chargeable batteries, just in case.
• Unplug the batteries in your EPIC when transporting it to ensure they don´t drain if the OK button is accidently bumped.
• Re-chargeable batteries can drain even when they are not being used, so be sure the batteries you charged a week ago are still charged.