Stitcher 3.1

For creating virtual-reality environments or complex panoramic images, Realviz Stitcher is a better choice than many stitching programs that ship with digital cameras and scanners. Most panorama programs produce simple, rectangular panoramas. With Stitcher you can create unusually shaped panoramas, as well as 360-degree VR environments.

Stitcher’s interface is easy to use. Load your JPEG or TIFF images into the Image Strip window, and then drag them into the workspace window.Fine-tuning tools include sophisticated focal-length controls and an impressive Equalize command that evens out differences in exposure and color among various frames.

For final renderings, Stitcher supports everything from planar (flat) images in JPEG or TIFF formats to spherical, cubic, or cylindrical VRML, Macromedia Shockwave, and QuickTime VR files.

Stitcher is a good program, but it’s not stellar. Performance in OS X was twice as slow as in OS 9. In addition, creating a basic, rectangular panorama takes more work in Stitcher than in other stitching applications.

Macworld’s Buying Advice

While Stitcher 3.1 may not be the fastest stitching program, its support for VR formats and unique interface make it an ideal tool for creating panoramic environments.