How can I even out exposure across images in a stitched panorama?

Question

I shot a panorama with flash exposure varying between frames, so the stitched result shows uneven brightness. I tried matching the source images manually in Lightroom and then stitching in Hugin, but the panorama still ends up brighter in the center and darker toward the edges.

What’s the best way to correct this? Is it better to keep adjusting the individual source images, or should I fix the stitched panorama afterward in Photoshop? I have Photoshop CS4, Lightroom 3, Aperture, and Hugin available.

user4191 · Accepted Answer

Looking at the last result, I think that's as good as you'll get modifying each set, so I would do as you suggest and use a radial gradient.

To select grey to white, rather than black to white, set your foreground/background colors to grey and white before selecting the gradient tool.

Or you can use black/white, set blending mode to overlay and use layer opacity to fade the effect.

Another possibility is to create a solid black layer in overlay blend mode. Create a new mask, select the mask, then do Image > Apply Image. This will create a mask which matches the overall luminosity of the image. That means lighter areas will be lighter in your mask, and should allow the black overlay layer through, which will darken those light areas.

How can I even out exposure across images in a stitched panorama?

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