Please help me fix this photo

Hiya!

First of all, here is the image: http://www.pbase.com/g​endem/inbox

This is a three-photo panorama that was unfortunately taken a bit off-axis. As a result, there is a curve to the horizon in each picture in the same orientation as the smile in a smileyface. When the pano software attempts to merge the pictures (based on control points I selected in the overlapping images [control points I had to use due to the curvature of the photos; no pano software I tried could automatically merge the three input photos]) the result is the curved image. What I'm looking for is a way to un-curve the photo as it is now; redoing the pano won't solve the problem, since I would have to uncurve each input photo first and I'd be asking the same question!

I have looked far and wide (for almost a year now) for a way to perform this seemingly simple technique and have come up empty. If anyone knows of a way that I can remove this curve, please let me know!

BTW this is the same problem that Pekka has with his picture in the G1 gallery "Panorama to Avenue Des Champs Élysées," which I noticed he left curved.

I can provide the source imagery if you'd like to try yourself.

Thanks!

Hi, I have had a similar problem myself from time to time. Now just a suggestion, I've tried it yet but: expand the pictures by adding 'white space' below so that the horizon is in the centre of each image. Then try stitching them together again. If this works for you then I'll try it on my funny panos. Cheers Dave.

The picture of yours that I snagged off of Pbase seemed kind of small. Do you have the originals around that I could tinker with? I did this in about five minutes and didn't apply any sharpening. I think I could do better than this, but I was just playing around. Let me know what you think.

http://www.pbase.com/i​mage/2536379

Later,
Michael

MICHAEL

Michael Francis seems to be doing a great job at straightening out this picture. I hope you guys post the final fix because it looks like a great picture. I assume that that is the Verrazano Narrows bridge on the right.
I have not been down to NY for about 35 years when I worked in Holmdel, NJ. I used to love the night drive along the refineries.

HOWIE

Hey there, thanks for the interest. I got this situation straightened out ( heh heh ) by using a product called Panavue Image Assmbler. It has the abilioty to account for a tilted lens and it worked like a champ! Check out the final panorama: http://www.pbase.com/i​mage/2538601

DJRM - Yep, that was what I went off to check as well - and it works fine - then you delete the added space after the curve is gone... was going to offer to fix with the original files, but all is well that ends well...

Cheers,
Stuart