Panorama cockpit in Flash

[Boberro]

Hey, I am trying to make Ka-50 flash panorama cockpit with instruments tooltips (some kind of let's call it "trainer").

 

I must do first panorama of full cockpit.... I took a 20 pictures of it, but images didn't align correctly.

I tried to make bigger "space" between images however it didn't help - I always get distortions and de-allign of particular pictures.... how to make it correctly?

 

Example here:

 

[EtherealN]

Which utility did you use?

 

Have you tried Panorama Factory for stitching? http://www.panoramafactory.com/

 

(I haven't used it myself, but it seems to do a pretty good job)

[PeterP]

I got very good results with ICE:

I have also included a small video here:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1309608&postcount=22

Hello Matt,

You may want to have a look into this nifty program from Microsoft - its free-ware:http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ice/

It's a image-composer for panorama images and very easy to use.

-You grab some overlapping images - and pull them into this program - and you only have choose your projection method - and than you get a panorama-image out of it like this:

 

This should serve you well if you want to show us more impressive pictures for upcoming updates...

Here is a gallery of the 9 pictures I used for this panorama -they all screen-captures of your video:

http://s1132.photobucket.com/albums/m561/peterpank1/nellis%20panorama/?albumview=slideshow

 

And here is a example how a cockpit panorama can look like (it created out of 32 single pictures.):

 

 

 

(you can notice occasional misalignment in the picture- but only because I didn't paid real attention how many degrees the images overlap -and I changed the zoom-factor while making the screen-shots- with a little more care there should be everywhere a perfect alignment )

[Boberro]

@EtherealN - I made panorama in PTGUI, one of the most advanced and powerful tools for such kind of work - perhaps I did something wrong or it is pics fault.

I will try your app too.

 

@PeterP - thx I have question regarding pictures. In what way have you taken them? How much each one overlays another one?

I guess my problem is mainly related to the images.

 

I took them with large zoom level to get better resolution of ready panorama and to avoid distortions of wide FOV.

 

:)

[PeterP]

to get good results - (you must know that the image gets bend at the edges if you have a high FOV) :

 

Zoom in to at least 30°FOV (than the bending at the edges is negligible)- and make at least 15% overlapping

There is a guide I have read sometime ago.

 

In ICE it is really no to problem put the screen-shots in the container even if the info-bar is present - and in loose order.

And the latest updates improved vastly. - so the picture I have posted is also outdated. - It would be much better with today's version.

[Boberro]

Damn, can't align it properly. It will always un-align correctly.

I even made movie in Fraps moving my mouse around and then exported frames. Still no go :(

Is there any easy way to achieve this?

[PeterP]

did you tried ICE up to now?

- I had a test with the P-51 pt 5 min ago - and I had no problem.

[Boberro]

Yes I tried ICE.

 

Is it important to have example 15% margin of image overlay or they can be overlayed at 80% too?

[PeterP]

Sorry, I really don't know ....

I took a loosely put together 380°horizontal/120°vertical panorama containing of 18 pictures (6 each row) ... about 15-30 % overlapping, and It worked.

Will upload the pictures tomorrow to show you.

[Boberro]

Thx, will check if ICE loads them successfully as in your example :)

[PeterP]

Here is the complete ICE project:

http://www.mediafire.com/?1hgng63dzqz4a7s

 

I realised that it is very important that you have the pictures in rows that match in Height. So I first edited my Options.data.lua to have a 1000x1000 resolution to cancel out possible bending at the edges to a minimum.

(this could be also 2000x2000 - just make sure it is a square)

 

Than I jumped in the Sim and made 6xPictures in 8 columns.

(Seems I forgot to include the one at 180°High > Black area) )

 

 

In the download is also the original image in 5120x2560

 

I have one "row1" folder with all pictures inside that I used for stitching.

And I have also made folders named in the position of the horizontal degrees they where took - and following the scheme that is shown at this picture:

So I only used the NumberPad to move the camera in predefined steps.

 

So the result is 48 single pictures that cover the whole sphere and overlap each other to about 30%

 

 

 

 

Edited May 15, 2012 by PeterP

[Boberro]

Thx, I wasn't aware of Alt+NumPad keys :) They are handy - however in BS you cannot use those shortcuts behind seat, so you are limited only to front of your view and left\right side.

Perhaps it is the issue why my cockpit can't align now too (I use resolution of 1000x1000).

I try more :)

[Boberro]

Hmm I think I tried helluva possibilities. I used your advice with key shortcuts, changed resolution too. I am not able to make it stitched correctly. It must be something wrong with taking pictures - whatever amount I'd like to take - small (about 20) or even 400 - still bending is too large and many pictures not aligned at all.

 

I noticed when moving camera around cockpit there is no one stable eye point of view. You can easily see it by HUD frame - turning view right, some of the HUD's frame moves too. I guess it doesn't help either.

[Boberro]

OK I've done this :D

 

Problem was in the parallax effect. I had to make it alike to LO2 pseudo 3D cockpits without any parallax movement around :)

Final resolution is 15000x7500 px.

[PeterP]

Nice!

Problem was in the parallax effect.

You mean you had moved your view-point in lateral movement before?

That explains allot! ;)

[PeterP]

BTW: I have already experimented with Aoutohotkey to write a complete automatic script that moves your viewpoint and take a screenschot after each movement.

Can you tell me at which Res you done the single screens and how many columns and rows to get a sphere of 15000x7500 in the end.

I will edit it for this purpose and load it up.

[Boberro]

Nice!

 

You mean you had moved your view-point in lateral movement before?

That explains allot! ;)

Yes it was that.

 

BTW: I have already experimented with Aoutohotkey to write a complete automatic script that moves your viewpoint and take a screenschot after each movement.

Can you tell me at which Res you done the single screens and how many columns and rows to get a sphere of 15000x7500 in the end.

I will edit it for this purpose and load it up.

 

I did it in 1680x1050, 7 pictures in single row (sometimes +/-1 depending of angle) and 7 columns.

I took also in other angles to fill gaps due to quite big zoom factor, overall 70 pictures :E

I'd do more but I was tired of pressing printscreen these days. I guess I took more screenshots ever in my LO\DCS experience.

[PeterP]

I'd do more but I was tired of pressing printscreen these days. I guess I took more screenshots ever in my LO\DCS experience.

 

OK ! :D

 

Exactly for this purpose I made this AHK script.

 

It takes 23 pictures in 12 rows = 276

 

I tested it with 1024x1024 and 1024x768.

 

That is enough for a total of 11264x5632px

 

Panorama.AHK :

 

#NoEnv  ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
#Warn  ; Recommended for catching common errors.
SendMode Input  ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%  ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.


^#return:: ; use Ctrl+Win+Return to start
; this script will run 25 min.

; !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
; preparation :
; make sure your zoom min is 20°
; make sure you are using 1024x1024 windowed 
; switch tool-tips of or you will have the description from time to time in the screenshoot
; !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


; caching cockpit and terrain

sendevent {Numpad5 Down} ; center
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

sendevent {NumpadEnter} ;     Zoom-out view
sleep 5000
sendevent {NumpadEnter Up}
sleep 60

sendevent {Numpad4 Down} ; look around for caching
sleep 5000
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300

sendevent {Numpad5 Down} ; center
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

sendevent {Numpad8 Down} ; look around vert for caching
sleep 5000
sendevent {Numpad8 Up}
sleep 300

sendevent {Numpad5 Down} ; center
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

sendevent {NumpadMult Down} ; total zoom in
sleep 5000 
sendevent {NumpadMult Up}
sleep 300



; row 1 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 6 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad8 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad8 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 1 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 2 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 5 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad8 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad8 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 2 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 3 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 4 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad8 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad8 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 3 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 4 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 3 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad8 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad8 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 4 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 5 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 2 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad8 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad8 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 5 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 6 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 1 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad8 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad8 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 6 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 7 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------



; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 7 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 8 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 1 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad2 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad2 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 8 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 9 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 2 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad2 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad2 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 9 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 10 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 3 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad2 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad2 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 10 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 11 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 4 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad2 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad2 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 11 of 12 ///////////////////////////

; row 12 of 12 //////////////////////////////

sendevent {Numpad5 Down}
sleep 60
sendevent {Numpad5 Up}
sleep 60

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 5 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad2 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad2 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

; ------------------------------------------

{
Loop 12 ;
{
sendevent {Numpad4 Down}
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad4 Up}
sleep 300
}
}

{
Loop 23 ;
{
sendevent {PrintScreen Down} , take screen-shot
sleep 1552
sendevent {PrintScreen Up}
sleep 300
sendevent {Numpad6 Down} , move
sleep 1552
sendevent {Numpad6 Up}
sleep 300
}
}


; end row 12 of 12 ///////////////////////////

 

 

 

I uploaded also a 64bit EXE that doesn't need Autohotkey to be installed.

 

 

Readme:

This is a Autohotkey script that will fully automatic

 

takes 23 pictures in 12 rows = 276 in DCS for a spherical flash projection .

 

I tested it with 1024x1024 - windowed.

 

That is enough for a total of 11264x5632px

 

 

This scripts runs 23 min !!! don't do anything in between with your mouse/computer or the script will lost focus!

 

 

Start this script via "Ctrl+Win+Return" - to stop it ,go in your Task-bar and pause/suspend/exit the AHK script (green symbol)

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

preparation :

 

-make sure your zoom min is 20° < this is the default , so if you didn't changed something it will work.

 

-make sure you are using 1024x1024 windowed

How to set up a custom in-game Resolution :

>>>http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=87104

 

-switch tool-tips of or you will have the description from time to time in the screen-shoot

 

-Start the Sim - fly to the place you want to have the in-cockpit panorama and/or set up the cockpit.

And Pause the mission.

 

Now you can run the script! "Ctrl+Win+Return"

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Tip: Clean up your DCS screen-shots folder before or you will easily lost the overview!

 

 

free-ware image-composer for panorama images and very easy to use.

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ice/

(use the structured panorama function)

 

 

more info: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=88506

 

PeterP

16.05.2012

Edited May 16, 2012 by PeterP