Aren’t panoramas dramatic? I think so, certainly, and given the number of images which I see online that are as wide as a bus, there are plenty of other photographers out there who like the format. Panoramic images do come with a down-side, however – you have to spend hours stitching them together. Photoshop does a reasonable job, but what about if you want a simple, quick stitch? This is the niche which the app DoubleTake is aiming to fill.
Echoone, DoubleTake’s developer, claims that this app is the “nano” of its genre, and DoubleTake lives up to that billing. Open the app, drag-and-drop in your images, and you’re ready to stitch. DoubleTake’s automatic detection of stitch-lines isn’t great, but manual positioning is quite effective. In addition to mouse-based manoeuvring, images can be adjusted in terms of rotation, tilt, direction and scale, with sliders.
Additionally, the overall image can be adjusted with the standard forms of adjustment – brightness, saturation, etc.
One helpful feature that comes with DoubleTake is the ability to create 360º stitches. For a quick and easy 360º, DoubleTake works well enough, although I would recommend looking at specialist software if you’re going to work with 360s regularly.
In terms of exporting, DoubleTake has a couple of nice options which are outside of the ordinary. Rather than just exporting your image to a folder, DoubleTake allows you to send your finished panoramas straight to iPhoto or Aperture. This, alone, saves time and bother, and wins DoubleTake some points, in my eyes.
My impression of DoubleTake is that it is a solid performer. Most panoramas require manual adjustment in DoubleTake, but when the blend is a simple one, DoubleShot gets the job done with the minimum of fuss. DSLR users might need convincing as to why they need DoubleTake, instead of using the software bundled with their cameras, but other photo enthusiasts will find DoubleTake a good and reasonably-priced app.
You can try or buy DoubleTake from Echoone’s website.
*The Current Photographer website contains links to our affiliate partners. Purchasing products and services through these links helps support our efforts to bring you the quality information you love and there’s no additional cost to you.
Mark Myerson loves photography, and in particular, hanging around waterfalls! Landscapes and nature have always been his staple, but he relishes any opportunity to take pictures. He also works closely with many local charities, regularly providing photographic coverage of fundraising events.
Mark is also a self-confessed tech-head and OSX lover – Apple is his favourite fruit!
Mark is the owner of Mark Myerson Photography, a Devon-based business that provides a large variety of photographic services to the local community and beyond. Whilst Mark Myerson Photography specialises in event, commercial and pet photography, almost every type of photographic assignment has been covered by the company.
If you have any photography or OSX-related questions, you can contact Mark via the links given below.