Photosynth Blends Photos into 3D Landscapes

Photosynth, a new Web application and service, lets users upload multiple photographs showing different views of the same object or scene and then blends them together into a navigable 3D image. At its launch in Aug. 2008, Photosynth generated considerable positive buzz and interest among Web users—so much so that the site was unavailable or slow for several hours after launch. Although the service does not contain advertising, it could attract users to related Microsoft sites, such as Live Search Maps, where advertising revenue is important. Commercial applications, such as online auctions and real-estate sites, are also possible.

Works with Any Digital Camera

Photosynth is based on technology Microsoft gained in the Feb. 2006 acquisition of Seadragon, as well as computer vision technology developed by Microsoft Research and the University of Washington. The technology is applied to a set of photos with a common object or landscape—for example, interior photos of a room, or an object shot from multiple angles. Photosynth then uses various cues, such as color and brightness, to identify overlapping areas between photographs and then stitches them into a 3D scene known as a “synth.” On-screen controls let users navigate from view to view within the synth or display them as a more traditional photo slideshow.