Macro Viewers / Discuss

Lord V    says:

[EDIT] I've just done a more complete focus stacking tutorial with a better example here
www.digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=61316

Thought I'd knock up an example of this as there are always a few questions about it.
Focus stacking is simply used to increase the DOF in a picture which can be a major problem in taking macro shots. It is done by taking a series of picures of the subject from the same point of view but at different focus depths covering the area you want in focus. This is achieved either by moving the camera or by using the focus ring. It is best done on a tripod but can be done handholding as long as the FOV is reasonably consistent.
I use the freeware Programme combinez5 to do this available from here
<a www.hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/CZ5/combinez5.htm
Version above handles upti 8mps images version below handles 10mps images
www.hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/CZM/Manual/Install.htm


First a series of three pics to be stacked- notice how the focus point is slightly different in each shot- I tend to start with the nearest point and move in.








It is important you do not do any cropping before focus stacking as the programme will only accept pics of equal size.

Now the hard bit :)

Run combinez5 and open up the file load dialogue and choose the pics to be stacked



Once loaded Simply tell it to stack them



It then works away re-aligning, colour and contrast matching and resizing, picks the in Focus bits apparently on a pixel by pixel basis and hopefully will produce a clean focus stacked image.



Finally producing the stacked image



It's just then a matter of saving the file using the Save Frame/Picture As dialogue.
Sometimes if the pictures were not that well aligned you will get odd effects around the borders which obviously need cropping.

Brian V.
Originally posted at 12:46AM, 23 January 2006 PDT ( permalink )
Lord V edited this topic 26 months ago.