There are tools like Hugin and PTGui that can take photos and stitch them to create panoramic scenes. Viewing them can be done in linux using EOG (Eye of GNOME) and the Panorama Viewer plugin by Andreas Eisenbarth. The images displayed in this post use a WP plugin as well.

However, GSV (Google Street View) is likely the most simplest way to create scenes. Tools like Hugin and PTGui take time becuase they require inputting images, aligning, defining points, stitching, and cropping the final scene back at the desktop computer. GSV runs completely on the mobile device while in the field and provides the results within seconds.

Now the video above says to grant access to all, but I generaly only allow access to a single photo and that’s enough priviledge for GSV to write new photos to the mobile device. You also don’t need to enable cellular use. It should work with location and camera access, plus a single photo, as I noted above.

Interesting that the level shot count is 13, the first pitch up is 10 shots, and 3 for the cap. The pitch down is also 10 shots, with 3 for the bottom cap. That’s a total of 39 separate images. Once the stitch is done in GSV, nothing more needs to be done, the scene has already been written to the mobile device photos. That’s it, no need to publish it on GSV.

Here are some results of the scenes created with GSV

You’ll notice a red line in the bottom scene. This was added using GIMP layers. The benefit of overlays in post production is the added detail, be it labels, measurements, or other interesting data to present visually.

Although GSV may seem like a clear winner, tools like Hugin and PTGui do have thier place. Using an action camera or video for the source of images isn’t supported by GSV. It’s also good to know a few different ways to create scenes as well because software and hardware tend to end with little or no warning. Don’t beleive me, here are some visual software and hardware names that are no longer, vReveal, Dashware, Kogeto, Squito, Panono, Bublcam, Tamaggo, Softkinetic, Contour, AutoCAD’s 123D Catch, and Photosynth. I think that trend fits the saying one step forward, two steps back.

Of course if you want to give back, here’s one way, provided you have a Insta360 available. I’ll consider my sharing this my contribution.