![]() For the number of times when I will use focus stacking (every now and then) I probably can't justify $US200 for the pro version of Helicon or $US189 for the equivalent package from Zerene. Two oft recommended software packages for focus stacking are Zerene Stacker and Helicon Focus but they ARE expensive. Unfortunately, PSE has never natively possessed the means for managing focus stacking.Ī) multiple images of the same subject each focused upon different parts of the subject (see above)ī) software capable of accurately stacking, aligning and blending the images optimising sharp focus I now use PSE myself in preference to anything else. It has innate flexibility given that it accepts a wondrous number of third party plug-ins. I have not yet found a better or cheaper software compromise for use by amateur enthusiasts. I have been teaching Photography for many years now. I am also assuming that you have SOME version of Adobe Photoshop Elements. In any event, an illustration of that appears above. I am going to assume that you already know how to mount your camera on a tripod and fire off (say) four shots of a close focus subject while with each new exposure you move the focus point around to concentrate on features at different distances. but might not be able to do so by alternative means. It is not necessarily for people who like to utilise narrow depth of field image characteristics for artistic effect although there may well be occasions when using very close focus with full frame cameras, one might like to lengthen the depth of field. It is not a recommended technique for moving subjects such as birds, insects, flowing water or plants in a breeze. While it is possible to employ focus stacking without using a tripod, best results (by far) will come by using one. It is also wonderful for extreme wide angle perspective images involving (in the same picture) elements at the limits of close focus and also elements at near infinity. :o))įocus stacking is potentially useful for people who like to take pictures of flowers, jewellery, handicrafts, food and commercial illustrations of small subjects. ![]() What I am talking about is only ONE of many potential strategies for focus stacking but it works for me. I am fully aware that while many of you are already proficient at focus stacking and have your own methods, this is a new technique for many blippers. Share your results with me! Let me know in the comments and/or on social networking.See yesterday's blip and please look at the above image in LARGE. If you just want a single raw image, you can get one here: download a single raw image The rules So, download my data (all 11 images, 300+MB), and get to stacking (playing) with it! It was HOT - so there is significant thermal noise. ![]() High ISO noise reduction: on, at highest setting (three bars).Scary stuff.Īll exposures were shot with a Canon 5D Mark III on a static tripod. The dataĪbove is a single image, straight off the camera, completely unedited. So, I’m going to help you! During a trip to the Kalahari Basin, on the border of South Africa and Namibia, I decided it would be a good idea to shoot some (11) static tripod, shorter-exposure, high-ISO Milky Way images specifically with the intention to share with you the raw data. However, you may need to try it out to make up your mind. ![]() I’ve recently written an article discussing whether or not stacking (integrating, combining, reducing) multiple exposures is worth the trouble. This is just like school: you have homework.
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