How to create a mirror ball + Can I use some image from nodalninja.com

[VinkoCM]

Hi there,

My first question is simple: how do I create a mirror ball from and equiractangular panoramic image. Sort of like the images on Judy's page: http://www.judyarndt.ca/galleries.html

My second question is also simple and directed to Bill: can I use image from nodalninja.com to show the equipment I have purchased from you on my website?

Thanks,
Vinko

[Hugh]

Hello Vinko,

Pano2VR has all the tools to create images such as Mirror Ball etc.
http://gardengnomesoftware.com/

All the best, Hugh.

[Bill Bailey]

Hi there,
My first question is simple: how do I create a mirror ball from and equiractangular panoramic image. Sort of like the images on Judy's page: http://www.judyarndt.ca/galleries.html

My second question is also simple and directed to Bill: can I use image from nodalninja.com to show the equipment I have purchased from you on my website?
Thanks,
Vinko

This is a great photo shop action for mirror ball nadir:
http://wiki.panotools.org/Adding_a_n...mirror_ball%29

On use of our image we appreciate your asking. If you use any images from our website (do no use images marked copyright by others) please place small copyright notice "© Nodal Ninja" near image or mention at bottom of page displaying images.
Your support is greatly appreciated.
thank you
Bill

[VinkoCM]

Thank you both for your reply.

I do know about pano2vr and pano2qtvr, but I don't have the money to purchase a license. The free version of pano2qtvr does not allow you to create thumbnails in the mirror ball format. I liked Bill's link, I will definatly look into trying that.

As for using the image from nodalninja.com, I appreciate you giving permission. I am a web developer and I know how important it is to check for copyright and ask for permission. I will let you know what image I use.

[John Houghton]

This is a great photo shop action for mirror ball nadir:
http://wiki.panotools.org/Adding_a_n...mirror_ball%29

I've always considered this a flawed Action as it doesn't produce a geometrically correct reflection. If you look into a real mirror ball, you will see the horizon positioned at about 0.7 of the radius from the centre. The action puts the horizon at exactly 0.5 of the radius from the centre. This means that the sky area looks considerably smaller than it should be. The mirror balls produced by Pano2VR and Flexify get the horizon in the correct position.

If you just want a mirror ball thumbnail, you can make a good one in Photoshop:

1. Open the equirectangular image and flatten if necessary, to make it the background layer.
2. Image->Image Size . Uncheck constrain proportions and set width to 50% (hit OK)
3. Filter->Distort->Polar coordinates (select Rectangular to Polar)
4. Tweak it with Filter->Distort->Spherize at 95% (adjusts horizon position)
5. Crop away the area outside the circular image using a circular selection (or fill with black or white).
You can, of course, make this into an Action for repeated use.

John

[VinkoCM]

Thanks John for the tutorial. I will have to try it out and see what the difference is between what your technique and the one in Bill's link.