robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Yesterday and today I tried some more focus stacking. I stopped using the focus rail and went to progressive focus, using the ribbed rubber focus ring and a mark on the lens barrel. I took the focus rail off and replaced the Slik 3 way pan and tilt head with a Manfrotto 3 way geared head, much easier to frame etc. Still too uneven and I got out of focus banding in places, also too hard to keep the focus change as small as it should be. I really must get software to control the AF and do the proper number of frames to stack.
However, in much of each image the IQ is very good. And overall I like the images in so far as composition etc.
But, I got large areas of blur, blanks in the image and some more multiple edges, including jagged hard edged areas. What appears to be halos of almost shadow in places.

Does anyone have advice as to what it is and how to avoid it?

three images in order taken and with differing crops and PP. Al work done in LR, PS and a bit of NIK Viveza. After reading more of the instructions and watching the tutorials I will do more experiments with Franzis FOCUS Project Pro.

Natural Light, slow shutter speed, doesn't stop micro movement due to air moving

(Download)

Back to flash, getting rainbows in places

(Download)

Went in much closer

(Download)

Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA

Looks like you are doing some great focus stacking! Do I understand that you blended these yourself in PS?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks for the compliment.
Yes I used LR and PS: in LR select the images to stack, go to Photos>Edit in>Open as layers in photoshop; wait while it loads all the images. Then in PS go to layers and select all the images>Edit>Auto-Align layers... Wait for it to finish and then select Auto-blend layers... Wait for it to finish, PP in PS or save to LR and PP there, or a combo of both.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Another interesting set. I can't practice focus stacking now because the dandelions aren't out yet.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks
Ah! Too bad, I could mail you some seeds and you grow them in pots indoors. I'll give you a good price on the seeds, honest.

Search the attic, basement, garage, wood pile and find some hibernating/ critters. Set everything up bring the critter in and put in front of the camera and take the shots before it warms up and takes off. I'm sure you can get away with it, maybe a few days of "time out" for letting it loose in the house.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I've not seen that type of blurring before. The only thing I can think of is that something moved but you would see that on the entire photo if it did.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Some of it may be overlaid multiple shadows from the flash. I will have to shoot a new series and then try different PP options. There are checkboxes on both the align and blend steps. I will also try an LED video light as a steady bright source instead of the flash. Also a different background or one much further away.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I don't us a flash on my stacks I use multiple LED's and get good results.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

My understanding of focus stacking is that it requires special software to do the merging. My understanding of blended layers is that it'll blend the soft stuff along with the sharp stuff, which would defeat the purpose of focus stacking.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

My latest I used a combo of daylight and one LED.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Auto-blend is what PS calls the stacking app. At least according to their instructions I read in one of those "how too" sites.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Check out this video, I believe she has an answer to your problem:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+focus+stack+in+photoshop&docid=608011334367315274&mid=D247A82D432C693CFD41D247A82D432C693CFD41&view=detail&FORM=VIREHT

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I'll check it out next week, taxes this week and working at the train museum this coming weekend.

papa Loc: Rio Dell, CA

For Canon users ONLY. What's Magic Lantern?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Sent link via PM.