Can Windows panorama software stitch Canon CR2/DNG files directly?
Asked 10/21/2014
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2 answers
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I want to create panoramas on Windows from multiple RAW files from a Canon EOS 1200D (CR2, and sometimes DNG). I’ve tried several stitchers, but many don’t recognize these RAW formats. I’d prefer free or open-source software, but paid options are fine if they work well. Is direct RAW stitching practical, or is it better to convert the files first?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
7
Stitching RAW files is problematic. In order to get a good stitch you ideally want to correct vignetting and distortion first, something that you would do in your RAW converter, then just output TIFFs of a smaller size (no need for full size when combining multiple files usually) and things will be both quicker and more accurate.
Originally by user11411. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11411
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—some software can stitch RAW files directly. PTGui supports RAW and DNG input, and Lightroom CC 2015+ can merge RAW files into a panorama and output a DNG.
That said, direct RAW stitching often isn’t the best workflow. RAW files usually still need lens and image corrections such as vignetting, distortion, chromatic aberration, and noise reduction. Those adjustments are typically better handled first in a RAW converter. After that, exporting to TIFF and stitching the TIFFs is often faster, uses less memory, and can produce more accurate results.
So the practical answer is:
- If you want direct RAW stitching: use PTGui or Lightroom’s panorama merge.
- If your current software struggles with CR2/DNG or system memory is limited: develop the RAW files first, export corrected TIFFs (often not even full resolution), then stitch those.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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