A method to stitch images includes the steps of: determining a template window in the first digital image and a target window in the second digital image and extracting selected features from the selected windows and a template in the template window; extracting selected features from within the template at a first resolution; matching the selected features in the target window; extracting selected features from within the template and target window at a second resolution higher than the first resolution; matching the selected features in the target window; performing a first evaluation of the second estimate of the stitching location; blending the second estimate of the stitching location; performing an evaluation of the stitching location; stitching the first digital image and a second digital image using the stitching location to create a stitched image; and saving the stitched image to memory. A system to perform the method is also described.