Adobe added a new feature to Photoshop CS called "Photomerge" that makes it easy to make or "stitch" together panoramas from side by side images. We are going to show you how to use this great feature in this step-by-step guide.

First, we are going to give you some tips to get the raw images needed by Photoshop to make great panoramas. If you follow these guidelines, you will get much better results.

1. Use a tripod.

2. Make sure your camera is level and pan left and right while staying level. Use a tripod head that allows you to lock in the height.

3. Use the same focal length for each shot you plan on using to make a panorama.

4. Use the same settings for each shot, trying to get the same exposure, e.g. f/16 aperture 1/125th sec on all shots or use the same camera mode, e.g. landscape mode.

5. Don't use wide angle lenses or lenses that distort images.

6. Overlap a good deal in each shot. Maybe about 20-30% overlap. Every shot should have mostly new image detail of course, but some overlap will help Photoshop put your images together better.

Don't be too discouraged if you don't/can't follow all these tips, you may still be able to get good panoramas, but the more of the above you do, the better chances you have on getting a winning "stitch."

These are the three images, the raw materials, I am going to use to make a panorama. I used a Canon D60, a tripod, used the same focal length, the same settings and I just panned left and right. Unfortunately, I had a trigger grip tripod head, but I tried my best to remain level while panning left and right.



To get to Adobe Photoshop's new, "slick", feature, I need to go to the "File" menu, slide down to "Automate" and then slide over and down to "Photomerge".



After selecting "Photomerge", I am presented with this dialog box. It's asking me for the "Source Files", the raw materials, it needs to make the panorama. I made sure "Open files" was selected in the "Use" field, so I get to select from the three files I have opened in Photoshop. I "Ctrl-clicked" each file listed to highlight them and select them. I also made sure "Attempt to Automatically Arrange Source Images" was checked at the bottom. With this option checked, Photomerge will do most of the work for me by trying to put the files together in order seamlessly. If I uncheck this option, I will have to manually try to arrange the source files. I'll click "OK" to accept these options and continue on.