Stitchmaps, Common Problems
Stitchmaps was one of the best applications that were made to create orthophotos from mosaics captured from Google Earth, from how it works I spoke a long time ago.
Who did the process before, walking, downloading screenshots of Google and then joining them with PhotoShop or Bentley Descartes, we know that Stitchmaps does much more than that. Each capture requires a special calibration with respect to the previous one; doing it manually you can see that each square has a small incremental rotation along a curved line, which Google does on purpose and also because it is a flat representation of the curvature of the earth. So what Stitchmaps does is capture the stream Directly from the ActiveX and calibrating it against the mosaic that does at the beginning, cutting the edges right in the control nodes that are seen when we downloaded the calibration file for Ozy Explorer.
For that reason, the Google Earth servers cannot detect the download, as happened with Manifold GIS, which blocked its IP. But in this case, the capture is done from the ActiveX.
After a couple of years of using it, here I answer doubts that I often find there:
1. Where to download Stitchmaps?
That question remains unanswered, unfortunately the site that distributed it is not active. After a while they were entertained by a possible lawsuit by Google for distributing a commercial program that violated its terms. Happy those of us who spend the equivalent of taking the girl with the pretty eyes to an à la carte restaurant, because she can no longer buy. We may not see another version higher than Stitchmaps 2.6 for sale, not for US $ 49. It would be worth buying while it seems there is availability forTo buy in Shareit!, Although it is not available for trial download.
Be careful, the fact that it no longer exists does not mean that it is legal to hack it. By the way, several of the configurations that I show in this post, only have the Stitchmaps Plus 2.6 version, so some do not apply for versions 2.5 or earlier.
2. Is it a crime to download images with Stitchmaps?
It is not a crime to use an application that we have legally purchased. It is also not a crime to download images from Google and join them, whether we use this program or a combination of printscreen plus a couple of scripts to cut edges and modify the header of each image. What is a crime is to use Google images for commercial purposes without their permission, so if they are going to be used for municipalities where the change of government every 4 years takes away the profitability of the cadastre, we could say that it is not a crime. 🙂
3. Why can't I save the image?
Only the paid versions save the image, the trial versions only make the capture and show how the mosaic would look.
4. What version of Google Earth does Stitchmaps work with?
Works with any version, the most recent is recommended.
5. Why do you hang when saving the image?
This has to do in most cases because we have RAM memory problems. Usually, the process runs, and just when it is about to save a message appears that says “Not valid control”, Then a blasphemous message is displayed in German and hangs to never save the image. There are different variables that influence this, taking them into account can help us not to collapse the memory:
- The format of saving, it is advisable to use jpg, because no matter how we select the tiff, the quality of the image will not improve, but in return it will weigh a barbarity of MB.
- The capture size of the area is recommended 512 × 512. In the same way, choosing large areas does not benefit at all, since the capture that Stitchmaps makes is the printscreen.
- The compression quality of the jpg is recommended 70.
- The pixel format is recommended 24 bits, so that it maintains the tones. Although using 16 bits does not change a big thing.
- It is also not suitable to make tiles that are too large. A 10 × 10 mosaic will come out very fast, but a 24 × 24 one requires that the computer have a RAM memory above 2 GB. It is preferable to go down in parts, and with heights around 400 meters.
It is advisable to activate the "Automatically save map image", So that before deploying the armed mosaic has already saved it, so if it freezes no longer matters.
Additionally, it is advisable not to have many programs open while Stitchmaps is running, as they load RAM unnecessarily. I recommend closing some extra routines, using the task manager via Ctrl + alt + del And close unnecessary processes like iTunes Helper, Google updater, HPutilities, Adcrobat reader, etc.
The Google watermark or compass appears
To prevent each capture from taking data that later ruins the mosaic, you must deactivate the compass and the Google Earth status bar. It usually happens when you have a very low resolution in the monitor settings, a piece of the Google logo appears in each image; this is solved by enlarging the splice area indicated as “Map images overlapping”. In general, 10% works well, but it can be increased to 15 or 20 if necessary.
How to georeference the image.
There are other ways to do it, directly with a GIS program that supports kml and image rectification. In my case I have used the following procedure:
- In Google Earth I draw a quadrant of the area that I am interested in going down, using the polygon drawing and with the only contour option. If it is very large, I add additional lines to make a grid.
- Subsequently, under the entire mosaic, leaving that layer containing the polygon lit, so that it is stored embedded in the final image.
- I save the polygon as kml
- I open it with a GIS program, like Manifold GIS or gvSIG.
- I assign the projection using Google Earth, geographical coordinates of latitude, longitude and Datum WGS84
- Then, I modify the projection by assigning it UTM and Datum of interest (Example Zone 18 North, and Datum WGS84)
- I export it to dxf to open it as a vector file in a CAD program.
- Then, in the CAD program, which can be Microstation or AutoCAD, I call the image with the option to manually position it and then the Warpeo Using as origin the corners drawn in the map and as destination the corners of the vector polygon.
Additional tips
A good time to download is at night. Especially since you can carry a large tile and go to sleep for a while or watch TV. In order not to waste time and come up with surprises, remember that you should not be using any other program because the use you are giving will be loaded into the printscreen Of the images ruining all your work.
Also remove screen protectors that could be activated by no mouse movement, or power savers that turn off the monitor or hard drives after a certain time.
Other alternatives to Stitchmaps are Allallsoft, also Civil 3D does something although with size and resolution limitations, PlexEarth is pretty good y Google Images Downloader Which is no longer seen there.
As far as I know, there is no place to download it.
For those who purchased the program, it continues to function fully.
Hello, you say that you can not buy, 'but there is no place to download it or something like that? I have 2.4, but it does not work anymore, you know what it should be ???
I give you my email Also, 20@hotmail.com
Hello max, I would appreciate if you can send me the 2.4 version of stitch maps, thanks a lot!
It is not possible, the rules of this site do not allow actions that violate copyright.
You can give me the license to use the stitchmaps. I can pass the executable to you.
Thank you
Hello, I would be in debt to you if you send me the program ... I tried the ones that are posted on the web (test version) but they don't work ... please my email is Ronal_rojas2003@yahoo.com
Hello, your information is very interesting, but as the rest I do not have the program I would appreciate a lot if you can send my mail Michael_garcia_a@hotmail.com
Hello, the same thing happened to me as F. Consegal ...
I just purchased and paid for StitchMaps on ShareIt, but the download link "http://stitchmaps.com/registered/stitchmaps.php" doesn't work. Since I have the legally acquired username and password for version 2.6, I would be grateful if someone could provide me with the program's executable file.
Thank you very much.
I sent the relevant emails to Petr Bezdecka 'info@stitchmaps.com' and to 'share-it! Customer Service 'but they have not responded yet.
Someone can help me with this.
Thank you.
My e-mil: Lokgiova@gmail.com
Hear and you can not facilitate the program ?? I have tried to download from several sites but I have not been able to. Also look for the paid version but neither, I would thank you infinitely if you could send me the file, thank you.
And the explanation very good. Greetings.
My email is Cd_ed@hotmail.com
Congratulate you for sharing your knowledge and let us learn from your experience, just like Roger I have the 2.4 version that worked with XP, but gives problems with W7, I tried to buy 2.6 version without success, I would appreciate if someone could provide the executable file Of the program.
Thank you very much.
You can no longer buy StitchMaps in ShareIt does not work. I have the 2.4 version and I do not get the 2.6 version, I would appreciate it if someone could give me the executable file of the program.
Thank you very much.
There I sent you, with extension .doc because Google does not allow sending files .exe
A greeting.
I just purchased and paid for StitchMaps on ShareIt, but the download link "http://stitchmaps.com/registered/stitchmaps.php" doesn't work. Since I have the legally acquired username and password for version 2.6, I would be grateful if someone could provide me with the program's executable file.
Thank you very much.