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Stitch overlapping images

Auto-stitch overlapping exposures into one image: lead number tape and the images themselves give the order and alignment, and any doubtful join is shown for you to check. Saved as a new file; the originals never change.

  1. Open Measure and the Stitch & batch tab.
  2. Tick the overlapping exposures of one item, in any order. Not sure which overlap? Choose Find overlapping sets and pick a set it finds.
  3. Leave AI reads lead markers ticked if the exposures carry a number tape or A/B letters, then choose Auto-stitch selected.
  4. Check the preview. Each image is outlined; the image of the selected join is outlined in amber. Green joins agree; amber joins need you to look.
  5. To adjust a join, select it in the list, then drag the amber image on the preview, or click the preview and use the arrow keys (Shift moves 10 px; , and . rotate 0.1°). Reset puts it back.
  6. If any join was amber or you adjusted one, tick I have checked every join. Then choose Save stitched image. It is added to the job as a new image; the originals are never changed.

How it works out the order and alignment

  • Lead markers (optional AI). The AI reads the number tape, A/B and datum letters on a contrast-stretched copy of each original. It only reads; it never places images.
  • Order. When every image has readable tape numbers, they give the order. Otherwise every pair of images is compared and the best chain is used.
  • Checks on the AI's reading. The tape pitch (pixels per number) is fitted on each image and compared between images; a number that is off the tape line is ignored as a misread. Numbers on the next image must continue the previous image's tape.
  • Alignment from the images. The overlaps are matched from the pixels, to a fraction of a pixel, including a small rotation of up to 5° (a skewed panel).
  • A full circumference. If the tape returns to the start, or the last exposure overlaps the first, you are offered a 360° strip, cropped where it meets itself, with the circumference in mm when the pixel size is known.

When it asks you to check

  • The markers and the image match disagree.
  • The overlap is weak (match score below about 0.9) or very small.
  • The overlap looks alike at more than one position (a repetitive pattern).
  • Tape numbers repeat, or the tape pitch differs between images.
  • A rotation reached the 5° limit.

Auto-stitch never makes a poor join silently: anything doubtful is amber and you must confirm it before saving. Without markers it still works from the images alone. Picture-only images can be stitched but stay flagged.

The saved image records how it was made: the method, the markers read, the offset and rotation of every join, the match scores, any hand adjustments and who confirmed them. This is also written to the audit trail. AI marker reading counts as one AI use on your plan; untick it to stitch from the images alone.

The Manual button underneath still registers images by translation only, in the order ticked, if you prefer to do it yourself.

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