This filter converts a panorama into a small planet. All images don't fit this filter. The ideal image is a 360° x 180° image, also known as equirectangular image. We will see that it is possible to use normal images also.
Options
- Presets, “Input Type”, Clipping, Blending Options, Preview, Merge filter, Split view
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![[Note]](images/note.png)
Note These options are described in Section 2, “Common Features”.
- Pan
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Horizontal camera panning. If “Inverse transform” option is checked, the “pan” option moves line of sight horizontally. Else, it works as “Spin” option.
- Tilt
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Vertical camera panning. Moves line of sight upwards/downwards.
- Spin
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Spin angle around camera axis. Rotates planet around line of sight.
- Zoom
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Zoom level. Zooms planet in/out.
- Inverse transform
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Do the inverse mapping; useful for touching up zenith, nadir or other parts of panorama.
- Resampling method
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Interpolation methods are described in Interpolation
“Cubic” may give better result.
![[Tip]](images/tip.png)
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Tip |
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You can find free equirectangular images at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:360°_panoramas_with_equirectangular_projection. |
Ettling_Isar_panorama.jpg by © Simon Waldherr under CC by-sa 4.0
GIMP opened this 16000×8000 pixels original image in a 1000×500 px frame at zoom 6.25. This is a screenshot scaled to 600×300 px. Note the empty sky, the horizon perfectly horizontal, the vanishing perspective.
Filter applied
Your panorama rarely satisfies conditions necessary for this filter, especially if you cut it off a larger image. The Little Planet filter brings left and right image sides together, and creates an unwanted sharp limit if sides are different. An uneven horizon gives an irregular circle. A blue empty sky occupying the upper half of the image and a horizontal horizon are perfect. Usually, you will have to prepare your panorama before using filter.
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Wipe sky: with Color Picker, darker blue to toolbox foreground and lighter blue to toolbox background. Rectangular selection of sky including a small part of horizon. In the selection, draw a Gradient from top to bottom.
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Select the left border of the image.
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Copy the selection and Paste it as New layer.
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Q shortcut to open the Align tool.
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Click on new layer (superimposed on selection area): new layer limits appear. Align new layer to image right side.
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Select>None.
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Flip new layer horizontally.
New layer aligned to image right side and flipped: left and right image sides are now the same. Sky wiped out. Horizon horizontalized.
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Add a black Layer Mask to new layer.
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Apply a black-to-white gradient to layer mask.
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Apply Little planet filter.
