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for Normal (Rectilinear) Lenses

Focal Length* (mm):

Sensor Data List^[1]:

Sensor Height (mm):

Sensor Width (mm):

Vertical Overlap (%):

Horizontal Overlap (%):

Vertical Angle (°):

Horizontal Angle (°):

Crop Factor (x):

Script Type:

The script type can be either TxN or py.

We will provide two examples of MECHA scripts for creating 360-degree spherical panoramas.

1.) A MECHA script in TxN format is generated using tilts and number of positions for each tilt. For example:
SL,0x7,-61.40x6,61.40x6.
That means, starting with the upper rail of the panohead in the level (horizontal) position, or SL:

The first row is at a tilt of 0° and consists of 7 positions.
The second row is at a tilt of -61.40° and consists of 6 positions.
The third row is at a tilt of 61.40° and consists of 6 positions.

2.) A MECHA script in py format is generated using pitch and yaw values in degrees. For example:
SL p0 y0 51.43..308.57 p-61.40 y0 60..300 p61.40 y0 60..300 RT
This is equivalent to the TxN script above. Instead of common positions, the py format uses angular positions.
The pitch takes values from 0° to 180°, and yaw takes values from 0° to 360°.
In our example:

SL is the starting position for the upper rail of the panohead, meaning it is level.
p0 y0 51.43..308.57 describes the first row of the panorama. At 0° pitch (p0), we have positions at 0° yaw (y0), at 51.43° yaw, and so on up to 308.57°.
p-61.40 y0 60..300 describes the second row of the panorama. At -61.40° pitch, we have positions at 0° yaw (y0), at 60° yaw, and so on up to 300°.
p61.40 y0 60..300 describes the third row of the panorama. At 61.40° pitch, we have positions at 0° yaw (y0), at 60° yaw, and so on up to 300°.
RT instructs MECHA to position the upper rail in its initial position at the end, using the shortest path.

Horizontal Index (°):

For py script type only. Enter the value only if you're using a rotator with detent plunger, indexing ring, or click stops.

Vertical Index (°):

For py script type only. Enter the value only if you're using a rotator with detent plunger, indexing ring, or click stops.

Mapping Type:

The Grid option ensures an equal number of positions in each row, while the Sphere option may result in fewer positions in the upper and lower rows.

Camera Orientation:

Row Order:

M — middle row, D — down rows, U — up rows.

Zenith and Nadir Shots:

Z — zenith, N — nadir, ZZ — two zenith shots 90° apart, NN — two nadir shots 90° apart, Zx2,Nx2 — two zenith + two nadir shots 180° apart.

Create PTGui Template and Map files.

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Shooting Pattern Calculator Revision History

2025-10-22: Added a Sensor Data List field. Select an option from this list to automatically populate the Sensor Height, Sensor Width, and Crop Factor fields.

2025-04-10: Addressed an issue regarding the Nx2 and Zx2 parameters which provided only one Nadir and only one Zenith position instead of two.

2025-02-20: Addressed an issue causing an uneven distribution of the Down rows if UD or DU is used instead of MDU.

Footnotes

[1] – Image sensor format from Wikipedia

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