Pano

Pano, short for panorama, refers to an image or sequence that presents a wide or all-encompassing view of a scene. Panoramas extend beyond the field of view of a single standard photograph by stitching together multiple exposures or by using a camera with a very wide angle. They can be captured as 180-degree shots, which cover half a scene, or as full 360-degree, spherical panoramas that surround the viewer. Common projection types include cylindrical and spherical (equirectangular) mappings, each suited to different display environments.

Creation and processing: Most panoramas are created by taking overlapping photos from a fixed camera position, often on a tripod, then combining them with image-stitching software. Effective panoramas require consistent exposure, precise alignment, and careful seam blending to minimize parallax and color differences. For 360-degree panoramas, additional care is needed to ensure a continuous horizon and correct navigation for interactive viewing.

Display and formats: Panorama images are typically stored in formats such as JPEG or TIFF, with an equirectangular projection used for spherical panoramas and cube map representations used by some VR platforms. Metadata may include camera positions or stitching parameters.

Applications: Panoramas are widely used in virtual tours, real estate showcases, travel photography, landscape art, mapping, and architecture. They enable immersive experiences when viewed with appropriate software or VR headsets.

See also: panorama, panorama photography, 360-degree video.