Focus Stacking 101

Jason Hermann

I just put this video tutorial together for those interested in focus stacking

http://jhpvideotutorials.com/?p=5449

1st image in the stack:


Last Image in the stack:


Completed Stack:


Best,
Jay

Andi Nicole

Thank you!! This was exactly what I needed to fully understand this whole stacking thing. I'm so excited to try this now. Thanks for taking the time to teach us

Jason Hermann

No problem and I'm really glad you liked the tutorial

Best,
Jay

Ohiohiker

Jason,
I have used Photoshop to successfully do focus stacking, but have you tried any of the 3rd party software?

BTW, great tutorial!

Overfocused

Combine ZP is the best freeware

Ohiohiker

I have done focus stacking before, but here is an attempt from last night.



Stacked from 9 images using CS5.

Overfocused

Ohiohiker wrote: »

I have done focus stacking before, but here is an attempt from last night.



Stacked from 9 images using CS5.

Awesome craftsmanship, it's beautiful. However, there is a lot of blotching on the top and the bottom borders Methinks you need to make a few extra exposures and then make a poster out of it

Ohiohiker

I noticed the blotching but the original files did not have this. I had this happen before when I tried focus stacking in CS5. I think I am going to try Combine ZP and see if I can get a better result.

Overfocused wrote: »

Awesome craftsmanship, it's beautiful. However, there is a lot of blotching on the top and the bottom borders Methinks you need to make a few extra exposures and then make a poster out of it

Overfocused

Ohiohiker wrote: »

I noticed the blotching but the original files did not have this. I had this happen before when I tried focus stacking in CS5. I think I am going to try Combine ZP and see if I can get a better result.

Well, you can't leave %100 to automation, it almost never works that way.

Combine ZP does do a better job than PS, but, you may still get banding. Duplicating all the layers after alignment but before merging is what you'd need to do for manual correction. Have the flattened result, and go one layer at a time with the duplicated aligned layers and mask the bad spots to show the correct information

Jason Hermann

Thanks for the comments everybody

Snowgirl

Finally had a chance to view the video - it's GREAT! Rumour has it that Santa is bringing a Macro lens this year, so now I'll be ready with some experiments to play with in the cold miserable winter months.

Jason Hermann

Thanks for all the comments guys

Best,
Jay