Focus Stacking Software....Progress.

Dave in Wales

Dave in Wales

Suspended / Banned
Messages
3,373
Edit My Images
Yes
I've just watched my first Focus Stacking demo....WOW


I thought I'd like to have a dabble on these cold/wet/miserable winter days.

I have Elements 9, is there free/cheap Plugins available that I could add to it, or can someone recommend a free/cheap stand-alone software.

TIA

D in W
 
Last edited:
I used CombineZM (which is free) before moving to Zerene Stacker (which isn't). I read here that Combine ZM was replaced by Combine ZP. It looks like no updates have been issued for several years, but that doesn't mean it won't work of course. It is a bit limited (won't handle 16-bit images for example, and doesn't have retouching facilities like Zerene has to let you fine tune the difficult bits), but worth a try I would have thought if you want to experiment with stacking.

Incidentally, you don't necessarily have to use lots of images for stacking to be useful. I don't use stacking a great deal, but when I do it is often with just two or three images, generally ones which haven't been captured with stacking in mind but just happen to be suitable. For example, this one used two images where the centre of focus happened to be a bit different.

(For a larger version click on the image and then right click and select Original)


0461 04 2011_10_02 P1210942,3 ZS-Edit-Edit by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

And you don't have to capture the images in a closely controlled environment. All the stacks I have been done used images captured out "in the wild" with a living subject. On the other hand, if you want to get amazing images of a fly's eye or similar using 100+ images then you do need a precision approach with very fine control.
 
Last edited:
I'm going to try a super detailed setup and photograph a bee and fly soon so i'll be very interested to see what software gets mentioned here. Preferably free too.
 
GardenersHelper said:
I used CombineZM (which is free) before moving to Zerene Stacker (which isn't). I read here that Combine ZM was replaced by Combine ZP. It looks like no updates have been issued for several years, but that doesn't mean it won't work of course. It is a bit limited (won't handle 16-bit images for example, and doesn't have retouching facilities like Zerene has to let you fine tune the difficult bits, but worth a try I would have thought if you want to experiment with stacking.

Incidentally, you don't necessarily have to use lots of images for stacking to be useful. I don't use stacking a great deal, but when I do it is often with just two or three images, generally ones which haven't been captured with stacking in mind but just happen to be suitable. For example, this one used two images where the centre of focus happened to be a bit different.

(For a larger version click on the image and then right click and select Original


0461 04 2011_10_02 P1210942,3 ZS-Edit-Edit by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

And you don't have to capture the images in a closely controlled environment. All the stacks I have been done used images captured out "in the wild" with a living subject. On the other hand, if you want to get amazing images of a fly's eye or similar using 100+ images then you do need a precision approach with very fine control.
Click to expand...

Very many thanks for that Nick, terrific capture BTW.

May I ask which Edition of Zerene Stacker you use.
 
Ben6 said:
I'm going to try a super detailed setup and photograph a bee and fly soon so i'll be very interested to see what software gets mentioned here. Preferably free too.
Click to expand...

If you have large stacks in mind then I suspect (I don't know, because I don't do large stacks) that you may need some equipment; at least a focus rail I imagine. Some people who do really large stacks use motorised devices that can move the camera a fraction of a millimetre at a time and control the camera too. Not a cheap setup I imagine.
 
GardenersHelper said:
If you have large stacks in mind then I suspect (I don't know, because I don't do large stacks) that you may need some equipment; at least a focus rail I imagine. Some people who do really large stacks use motorised devices that can move the camera a fraction of a millimetre at a time and control the camera too. Not a cheap setup I imagine.
Click to expand...

Yes I've brought the bits and made a very precise rail allowing me to move my camera less than a millimetre at a time so as I can capture every little bit of detail.

I'm actually really looking forward to trying it out just need to find a nice fly or bee once the weather warms up.
 
Looks brilliant Dave!
Is that a homemade macro rail?
I've ordered some bits from HK to make my own too and look forward to trying it out.
How many images can the software you used cope with/stack at one time? I'm not sure how many mine will be yet (depends on the subject) but I want to move in as small an increments as possible.
 
Ben6 said:
Looks brilliant Dave!
Is that a homemade macro rail?
I've ordered some bits from HK to make my own too and look forward to trying it out.
How many images can the software you used cope with/stack at one time? I'm not sure how many mine will be yet (depends on the subject) but I want to move in as small an increments as possible.
Click to expand...

Yes Ben, it's a 'DIY' macro-rail.

Part of my enjoyment of photography over the last 50 odd years is making stuff, necessity is the mother of invention.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top