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Hugin Exposure tab
hugin has a brightness and colour correction system which is completely independent of the old PTStitcher tool. This improved system is only available with the default nona stitching tool in the hugin Stitcher tab.
The hugin system works by sampling a spread of points for each pair of overlapping images. The optimiser then tries to model a system of camera response curve, exposure, white balance and vignetting that fits the values of these points.
So for this to work, the photos in the project have to be already aligned. Align photos by managing control points in the hugin Control Points tab and optimising geometric image parameters in the hugin Optimizer tab.
Optimize Preset
Use the Optimize Preset combo box to pick one of several pre-set photometric optimisation schemes, then click the Optimize now! button to calculate the best available brightness and colour adjustments.
Low dynamic range
This will optimise vignetting, the camera response curve and exposure (EV) for all the photos in your project.
The exposures for all images (except for the anchor image determined by selecting Anchor this image for exposure in the hugin Images tab) are optimised (TODO actually the anchor is too when they are linked?).
Low dynamic range, variable white balance
This will optimise vignetting, the camera response curve, exposure (EV) and white balance for all the photos in your project.
Similarly to above, the exposures and white balance is optimised for all images except the anchor.
High dynamic range, fixed exposure
This will optimise vignetting and camera response curve for all photos.
High dynamic range, variable white balance, fixed exposure
This will optimise vignetting, the camera response curve and white balance for all the photos in your project.
Custom parameters below
The pre-set options are good for most situations, but often it is necessary to switch to Custom parameters. For example, none of the pre-sets will optimise the Vignetting Centre, so use custom parameters if your vignetting is off-centre.
Image Variables
Image variables are quite likely to vary between photos, perhaps because of minor variations in shutter speed, changes in natural light or because of 'auto' settings in the camera itself.
The Exposure section shows the photo number and exposure values for all input photos (in parenthesis), the check mark indicates parameters that will be optimised.
When a value is set to 0 (zero) this results in hugin applying no exposure change to the photo. EV is a standard photographic scale, each increase or decrease by one unit will change the exposure by the equivalent of one f-stop (ie. halving or doubling the exposure).
White balance
Also known as colour balance or colour temperature.
The White balance section shows the photo number and red and blue multiplier values (in parenthesis), the check mark indicates photos that will be optimised. If the values are set to (1,1), this will result in no white balance change (the numbers are relative to the green channel which stays unaltered).
Camera and Lens variables
The Camera and Lens variables are the photometric analog of the geometric lens correction model, hugin assumes that all input photos with the same lens number have identical values unless they are unlinked in the hugin Camera and Lens tab.
Vignetting is dependent mainly on your lens and the aperture. Usually the centre of the image is brighter with a falloff towards the edges, hugin can calculate this falloff curve as part of the photometric optimisation process or you can enter it manually in the hugin Camera and Lens tab as the three numbers shown here.
Vignetting Centre
The centre of vignetting is rarely the exact centre of the photo, hugin can optimise this position or you can enter it manually in the hugin Camera and Lens tab. The scale is in pixels, with 0,0 indicating the centre of the photo. The values are independent of the d & e parameters, that specify the origin for projection and distortion values.
Camera Response
hugin can optimise the camera response curve by comparing differences between overlapping images. To do this your photos need to either have significant vignetting or have variable exposure. If your photos have perfectly even exposure and zero vignetting, then you would have to calibrate the camera response separately and then enter it manually in the hugin Camera and Lens tab.
The camera response curve is used both for mapping the images to a linear colourspace when creating HDR output, and for normalising the colourspace for internal vignetting, brightness and colour corrections when creating 'normal' LDR output. If your pictures don't require such corrections then you don't really need a calibrated response curve.
Hugin uses the EMoR response model from the Computer Vision Lab at Columbia University which simplifies the full response curve to five empirical coefficient numbers.
If your brightness variations are caused by lens flare then you may be better not optimising Exposure or white balance, instead uncheck Link for Camera Response in the hugin Camera and Lens tab to optimise a different response curve for each photo.


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How can Sega expect kids to play Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and not be tempted to jump out of moving vehicles?
There are so many bad ideas laced throughout this special moves trailer for Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing that I hardly know where to begin. There's drinking and driving, standing up while driving a convertible, not paying attention to the road, and hopping out of a perfectly good race vehicle on rollerblades.
It's all good fun until little Billy faceplants on the highway after jumping out of a speeding car. Then the tears begin, followed quickly by a YouTube video that makes us wince, unless we're drunk, in which case we laugh uproariously.
Kinda looks like fun, doesn't it?

subset: commoncrawl


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TEKsystems, Inc. v. Hammernick, No. 10-99819 (D. Minn., Filed 3/16/2010). [Link to Complaint (PDF)]
Here is an interesting lawsuit that is bound to convince some employers that social media is causing the sky to fall (to the extent they're not thinking that already).
An IT headhunting company that does business in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota has filed suit against a former recruiter-employee for breach of her noncompetition agreement. The complaint says that she violated that agreement when she connected on LinkedIn with 20 of the candidates her old firm was working with.
One thing that's missing from the allegations is when the defendant made these allegedly improper LinkedIn connections. Did she already have them as connections when she left the plaintiff's employment or did she invite them to connect after she left? The distinction seems like it would be relevant.
No doubt this case should get some attention due to the novelty of the allegations, namely, that the defendant used a social networking site to break the law. But as thinking persons, we should be careful not to sensationalize these facts. When you stop and think about it, how does the fact that the defendant may have used LinkedIn really differentiate the case from one in which she would have used a more conventional form of communication to solicit?
[Thanks to Paul Cherner at the HR Counsel blog for alerting me to this case. More coverage at the Delaware Employment Law Blog and Portfolio.com]


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Fit Tip: Ski Season Training
We all know that après ski activities consist of sipping hot chocolate next to a roaring fire in a Navajo-print jacket, but what about avant (before) ski? Skiing and snowboarding are physically demanding sports and optimal conditions occur at high elevations (less oxygen) and in cold temperatures, but it's also fun and a great way to get your heart rate up during those winter months. Whether you are a Blue Circle bunny or a Double Black Diamond Slalom, uh, mogul, you may want to do some 'pre-season training' to prepare before you hit the slopes, focusing on these four areas:
Stamina. Optimize your cardiovascular strength so you can schuss all day. Higher elevations and cold weather put extra strain on your lungs, so do some interval training on a treadmill or elliptical machine to challenge your heart rate and improve your oxygen intake capacity. Begin with at least 3 days a week for a half hour and increase the time, frequency, and intensity over time so you are in prime condition to conquer the mountain.
Core. Core strength is key for skiing. A tight, stable core allows you to control your movements with more precision. Simple exercises such as bicycles on the floor, back extensions, and full body roll ups or crunches on an exercise ball will benefit your core and therefore your skiing abilities.
Balance. All Carvaholics know where to find their CM (that's ski slang for Center of Mass). Improve reaction time and agility by taking advantage of the balance-training aids available at the health club or for the home, such as a Bosu ball. Begin by balancing on one foot and progress up to balancing on the Bosu ball itself. Take it a step further and try squats and plyometric drills on the Bosu ball.
Flexibility. Yoga not only keeps you limber but improves your mental focus and breathing techniques. Yoga can help protect against injury by addressing muscle imbalances and improving flexibility, so try out a beginner-level class and work your way up. The positive influences that yoga can have on your skiing (and other athletic activities) may surprise you.


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Time Machine Basics: How To Keep Your Data Backed Up
Posted on August 11th, 2014 by Derek Erwin
You're three weeks into the new semester at college. That new snazzy Mac your grandparents bought you for your high school graduation is performing nicely. A fresh start to the school year! So there you are, perhaps in your new dorm room, focusing intently on your first homework assignment—and then disaster strikes.
Your new roommate comes into your dorm in a hurry while having an energy drink for the road, and carelessly trips and spills it all over your MacBook. The Mac is in ruins, but worse, with the essay deadline looming just days away, you question yourself: Did you back up your data?
This is just one of many scenarios that students face everyday. As a new school year approaches, thousands of you will be heading to classes with a new Mac in tow. It will become your electronic pride and joy, but even more precious is the data on it.
Create a Backup Plan before Going Back to School
Some of our readers will know that good data security begins with a great data backup plan. There are many online options available—Dropbox and Google Drive being popular choices—but Apple itself goes a lot further with Time Machine, which not only protects your data seamlessly, but also allows you to quickly restore your Mac to working condition, hardware willing.
Today, we're going to show you how to back up your Mac with Time Machine. We'll also offer tips to back up your Mac without Time Machine. So let's get started!
How to Back Up Your Mac with Time Machine
To back up your Mac with Time Machine, first you will need a compatible external hard drive or an official Apple Time Capsule, a wireless version. There is one rule to follow: You need a larger hard drive than the storage on your Mac.
Once that's been purchased and plugged in, it's time to get your Mac ready. If you can't see Time Machine in your Dock, head over to Spotlight (command+space is the shortcut) and type "Time Machine," and then hit Enter. That pops up the Time Machine back up. Once up on your screen, choose the device you want backed up. Follow the steps, start the backup and wait to see how much time is needed.
After the initial backup, you can sit back and relax.
So long as you have the external hard drive plugged in and Time Machine is on, any new data or changes to data on your Mac will seamlessly update and change the backup. That new term paper you were assigned, backed up. The pie-chart you created for economics, secure. The spreadsheet of how much money you're spending, check. Your favorite pictures, saved. You get the idea.
Here at Intego, we will always advise that a layered approach to security is the most effective. Therefore, you should never rely on one backup. After all, if your clumsy roommate manages to knock over your hard drive in the process, or if Time Machine somehow breaks, you could be left high and dry—you will lose your backup.
RELATED: Intego Personal Backup Compared with Apple's Time Machine
Next, for those thinking about adding extra layers of data protection, we'll look at how to back up your backup.
How to Back Up Mac OS X without Time Machine
If you have Time Machine set up and wish to have another backup, this can be a great method to do so. It follows the same principle as Time Machine—as in you need an external hard drive—but works slightly differently.
To start off and to start your back up without using Time Machine, open Spotlight (command+space) and type in "Disk Utility," and then select the utility program. Now simply click on the Macintosh hard drive, click New Image, and then be ready to be asked where you want to save the backup and what name to give it.
We recommend backing up to an external hard drive; or, back up to a computer on your network, and then move it to an external hard drive. You can even use a cloud connected hard drive and save it to that, so it's then sent to the Internet. That way you'll have it in more than one place, as we previously advised.
You can choose whatever name you prefer to give your backup, just make sure it has a .dmg file format at the end. You can set a password to protect it, but make sure you remember the password in case you want to purchase a new Mac and move data from the back up source to the new Mac. If you forget your password, you won't be able to get your back up data.
Save the file and then let it run. The best time to conduct a backup is when you are not using your Macintosh—perhaps when you are going to bed. Avoid using your Mac during the process as changing and using files could result in disruption or broken files in the backup.
And that's it!
You've now backed up your back up, giving you multiple layers of data protection.
If you're still struggling for inspiration of ways to secure your data, we offer our own backup solution, Intego Personal Backup, available as part of our Mac Premium Bundle X9, but we'd also like to hear from you at the bottom of this post.
Do you swear by Time Machine or would you rather stop the clock and use more traditional means of backup? Are you an online only restorer or someone who keeps it local? Let us know in the comments below!
Are you new to Mac?


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The office of the Finger Lakes Boating Museum has been moved to South Exchange Street from the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce building, which is scheduled to be demolished next month, officials said Friday.
A new boating museum will be constructed at the chamber location on Lakefront Drive in the eastern Ontario County city. Work is scheduled to begin soon after the demolition.
Museum representatives and city officials reached agreement in 2009 to establish a permanent home on the Seneca Lake waterfront. State funding of $2 million and another $450,000 through the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council is being used to pay for the project.
The museum features more than 100 wooden boats built in the Finger Lakes region over the last century, officials said. It also includes related artifacts and reference materials.
The museum is a not-for-profit corporation chartered in 1997 by the state Department of Education, officials said.
(c) 2012 Rochester Business Journal. To obtain permission to reprint this article, call 585-546-8303 or email email@example.com.


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Chemist turned video producer for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board
Profile: Shauna Lawhorne, chemist (B.A. 2002), video producer and editor
Shauna Lawhorne loves chemistry. She also loves producing videos.
Shauna has found a way to merge these two seemingly incompatible interests: She is a video producer and editor for Sandy Gilmour Communications, a public affairs contractor for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB).
Each chemical safety video Shauna helps produce tells the story of a major chemical accident using both film and computer animations. The goal is to inform the public and prevent future accidents from occurring.
"The videos are an important and successful means of communicating 'lessons learned' by the CSB to people," Shauna explained.
Check out some of their award-winning videos here.
Day to day, you can find Shauna working on any one of the many aspects of video production: reading reports written by CSB investigators, creating an outline of what to include in the video, working with coworkers to write a script, fact-checking, or video editing.
The final product is a cohesive story, complete with narration, music, and often including footage and photos of the incident and interviews with CSB investigators. The entire process can take up to several months.
Shauna's background makes her ideally suited for her current job. She graduated from Emory University in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. She switched into chemistry from physics after taking organic chemistry and finding out "how widespread the applications of chemistry are in our everyday lives."
During her undergrad years, Shauna also took several film classes in addition to her chemistry load. She had been passionate about making films ever since high school, where she studied media production for four years and worked on her school's video yearbook and other short video projects.
She went on to study film and electronic media at American University's School of Communication in Washington, DC.
"Originally, I hoped to combine chemistry and media in a different way – by producing children's educational programming about science. I had a dream of creating a show that would get young girls excited about chemistry," she said.
But during her Master's program, Shauna learned about social documentary and let her career follow that path for four years as she took her first video production job as an associate producer and editor for a small documentary production company that primarily made "mission" videos for socially conscious non-profit organizations in the DC area.
In 2009, Shauna landed her current job with Sandy Gilmour Communications, making videos for the Chemical Safety Board.
"It was almost too good to be true," she said. "Here was a position combining every interest – chemistry, film, and social impact. I wish I could say that I carefully planned it, but in many ways I just got lucky!"
But it can be challenging at times, especially when Shauna's assignment calls for her to interact directly with victims or family members of the victims of chemical accidents.
"However, it is satisfying to know that the videos are providing victims and families an outlet to express their concerns, and that we are working together to help prevent these tragedies from affecting others," she said.
Storytelling and listening skills are must-haves for a successful video producer. In addition, it helps to be willing to ask questions, think analytically, and organize the components of a story in a logical, cohesive way. And couple all of that with creativity, since "there is also an art and rhythm to it as well," Shauna said.
While a science degree isn't essential for her job, Shauna says: "I like to think that it gives me an edge when it comes to understanding the material and interpreting it through video for the public."
To other like-minded chemists who may be interested in a video production career, Shauna's advice is: Buy a small camera and just start shooting. With all the technology out there, it's not hard for novices to start getting experience and broadcasting themselves on YouTube.
"There are tons of internships in the field to get more professional experience and cut your teeth," she said. "And read books about film theory, because it is so important to understand those concepts and how to apply them to your work."
As far as job availability goes: it really depends on what type of video production you want to do.
"My observation is that there are probably more people searching for staff positions than actually exist," Shauna said. "But many people make great careers freelancing. And I think there is definitely room for growth."
So, yes, Shauna is very happy with the ways things have turned out for her career.
"The best part of my job is the notion that I am playing a part in helping to communicate information to companies that use potentially hazardous chemicals and to the public that will save lives," she said.
"Everyone at the CSB is committed to the mission of accident prevention and it is very rewarding to work with such passionate and committed individuals."


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About VGTU project@HomeThe aim of this project is to provide a powerful distributed computing platform for scientists of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) as well as others Lithuanian academic institutions. The project is being run by a group of scientists from VGTU
- Prof. Raimondas Čiegis, VGTU Department of Mathematical Modelling,
- Dr. Vadimas Starikovičius (email@example.com), VGTU Laboratory of Parallel Computing.
Here you can find the description of the current application. You can participate in the project as volunteer if you agree to share your computer power with us to solve these scientific problems. You can do this by downloading and running a free program on your computer. Check below how to join the project.
Join VGTU project@Home
- Read our rules and policies
- This project uses BOINC. If you're already running BOINC, select Add Project. If not, download BOINC.
- When prompted, enter
- If you're running a command-line version of BOINC, create an account first.
- If you have any problems, get help here.
Returning participants
- Your account - view stats, modify preferences
- Server status
- Teams - create or join a team
- Certificate
- Applications


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Hey guys, I'm back again actually writing articles instead of being just an occasional Tweeter. I do really apologise on the lack of actual articles since January, as my final exams are a mere month away from the time of writing and as such, I kinda had to prioritise them over this website…PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! Continue reading Editorial: What to take from Salvador's winning speech
Tag Archives: ukraine
Lucie Jones to represent United Kingdom in Kyiv!
We have the fourth song of Eurovision 2017! Tonight, the British National Final – "Eurovision: You Decide" took place in the Hammersmith Apollo and Lucie Jones will represent the United Kingdom on May 13th with the song "Never Give Up on You"! Continue reading Lucie Jones to represent United Kingdom in Kyiv!
Nathan Trent: "I love music as long as it's genuine!"
Wow, we're already near February and the 2017 National Final season is in full swing! However, while countries are selecting their artists through popular vote, some countries have internally selected their artists to represent them in Kyiv next May. One of these countries is Austria, who'll be represented by the one and only Nathan Trent in Ukraine. ESC Views was able to speak to Nathan about his participation in Eurovision 2017; but what did he have to say?
So Nathan, what first inspired you to take part in Eurovision?
I didn't apply actively. I was asked if I'd be interested to take part at the internal selection, after Eberhard Forcher heard my song "Like It Is" and saw the video on YouTube. As the circle of candidates got smaller, I focused on delivering my songs for that period of time and was told in December that I would be the one to represent Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017! I haven't stopped smiling since then.
Have you been a Eurovision fan for a while? How long have you been watching the show?
It's been almost ten years now, but I really got into it when Lena Meyer-Landrut won back in 2010.
What is it like to represent your country in such a prestigious show such as the Eurovision Song Contest?
It's an incredible honor and a huge responsibility! I'm going to give it my all and I'll try to represent my country the best way possible.
Your musical style is very much a contemporary, RnB pop that's very trendy nowadays. Would this be the style of music you'd normally listen to or are you more open-minded about music in general?
I love RnB and Pop, but I wouldn't restrict myself on those specific styles of music. I love every music in general as long as it is genuine.
Are there any secrets that you can hint to regarding your song for Kyiv? Will it follow your previous single 'Like It Is', and when are we going to hear the finished piece?
Unfortunately I can't give away anything, but the what I can say, is that the song has a positive message and that I wrote it myself with an Austrian producer who lives and works in Los Angeles. It will be released at the end of February.
Have you heard any of the other competing songs (or any songs from the artists selected) in the competition yet? If so, do you have a favourite?
I haven't really had the chance to listen to anything because I'm really busy finishing my work right now. When my song will be released, I'll be listening to everything else.
Which Eurovision artist would you duet with if you had the chance to?
Definitely Lena Meyer-Landrut!
You're no stranger to the casting show, taking part in your first televised competition all the way back in 2003 at the age of 11 (we've all seen the clip!). Do you think that experience in these sorts of shows will help you with your participation in Eurovision?
I hope so! I have had a few opportunities to get experience on stage, so I hope they will help me in this journey.
Are you going to tour around Europe promoting your song? If so, where do we expect to see you?
I'm still unsure where I'll be promoting the song, but hopefully I'll be visiting a lot of places!
Finally, is there a message you'd like to send to our readers at ESC Views?
Dear ESC Views readers! Thank you so much for your support and the enthusiasm for this incredible Event! I wish you a great 2017 and all the best! Yours, Nathan.
We'd love to take the time out to thank Nathan for taking the time out of his very busy schedule to speak to us and we'd like to wish him the best in his participation in Ukraine! Viel Glück!!! Are you excited about Nathan Trent's participation for Austria in Kyiv? Let us know what you think by commenting below!