How can I fix uneven brightness in a stitched panorama in Photoshop CS4?
Asked 11/13/2010
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I stitched four photos into a panorama and the result has a noticeable brightness gradient, with the left side brighter than the right. What’s the best way to correct this in Photoshop CS4? Also, is there panorama stitching software that can automatically balance exposure and brightness better during the stitch?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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I used to use Hugin which is open source project. It is able to find correct exposure for most cases, even if You weren't exposing separate shots in the same way.
F.ex. here I have made some basic RAW->TIFF processing and put it into hugin:

Originally by user1681. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1681
15y ago
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Yes. In Photoshop CS4, try stitching again with File > Automate > Photomerge and enable “Blend Images Together.” That option often smooths exposure differences across the panorama.
If you need to fix the existing pano, use a soft/feathered mask over the darker or brighter side and apply local adjustments. Levels can help match brightness, and if that shifts color or saturation, follow up with Hue/Saturation or Lightness adjustments to rebalance the sky. This is usually less noticeable over detailed ground areas than in smooth skies.
For better results at the stitching stage, use panorama software with exposure blending. Hugin was specifically mentioned as doing a good job of finding a correct exposure balance, and dedicated panorama tools may also use EXIF and lens data to correct issues like exposure variation and vignetting automatically.
In short: re-stitch with Photomerge blending first; if needed, correct locally with masks and tonal/color adjustments; and consider Hugin or another exposure-aware panorama stitcher for future panoramas.
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