360 Panoramics, taking the photos, stitching.. how?

Hi folks,

I have to make some 360 view images for a project I’m working on. My client has viewed this site and would like similar 360’s:
http://www.kepplestonebystewartmilne.com/

If you click on show homes, then on a room in the plan a popup window appears with the panoramic. I can make a better site than that but the 360’s have me stumped.

I know this was done through Quicktime VR but I dont understand how to take the images required and then stitch them in such a way so they are seamless. I realise there are programs out there that can do this, but the actual taking pictures eludes me. Some pictures could have more light than others so may be lighter and darker between each image… ie if one of the images had a lamp in it the image would go dark.

Are there any kirupians out there that know how to take the images, stitch them, then somehow export to that Quicktime VR format. I have found sites via google, but they dont really explain HOW to take the required photographs.

If you view the 360’s on that link I supplied you can even look up at the roof and down at the floor. Why do the camera tripod legs not show??

Any help would be vastly appreciated.

Thanks,
Skid