Chucker2000

Hi everyone.
I love this site, lots to learn from you all.
I just got my D850. My question is about a suitable programme for stacking the Focus Shift images into one.
I currently use DXO Photolab and love it, I also have Corel Paintshop Pro 2018 and use it very seldom.
My question is what is a good software for stacking landscape images which I take with the D850.
Can you use the Raw files to create a new raw file and then be able to further process afterwards using the DXO software. I am not sure if you need to process all the Raw files first then use the Jpegs in the stacker program. I tend to process my Raw files using the DXO and love the changes I can make to end up with a great looking photo. I am concerned that once you stack Raw images you wont be able to process to the same degree.?
Any clarification would be appreciated.
Thank you

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Lightroom allows you to edit exposure, etc and apply to all images in the stack, then send to Photoshop to open as Layers. In PS, I forget the main menu item, but you choose the Auto Stack Images command and Photoshop automates the process. Could not be easier. RAW files in Lightroom, open as PSD in Photoshop then save as PSD or TIFF back to Lightroom.

See example of sequence of 40 stacked exposures from D850:

(Download)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Helicon software does what you need. You can stack your unedited raw files into one image, then edit the resulting dng file in Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw, or any other software that can read a dng file - as a single, camera generated raw file.

https://www.heliconsoft.com/raw-in-dng-out/

The PhotoshopL/Lightroom solution forces an export to a raster file (bit mapped), where each individual image is added to a single image file as a layer. It is nice to have the flexibility to adjust the stacked images, rather than to adjust each component image. What I do when I use Lightroom/Photoshop is to open the raw files, edit a representative image in a stack sequence, then sync the edits. But I do prefer to end up with the single raw (dng) - it is a faster and easier workflow.

I also think that Helicon deals with focus breathing a little better, plus it provides a 3D model of your image should you choose to generate one. Pretty cool stuff.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I thought the D850 has that feature build-in (no software needed), but one can always do it the old fashioned way and use PS!

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

The D850s focus stacking feature automates the taking of many pictures, but does not combine them. You still need to combine the photos in your computer using Photoshop, Helicon Focus, etc.

Bill_de Loc: US

Nikon never claimed to have focus stacking. Unfortunately the media, once again, misinterpreted "Focus Shifting" for focus stacking. Focus Shifting which the D850 takes care of is only the first step.

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BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

You can save as a .psd, .tif(.tiff), .dng, or .jpg (.jpeg) The first three will allow full processing capability and will retain 16-bit pixel depth. LR saves as a .dng file, I believe.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

The D850 automates the process of taking the stacked images, and is pretty cool to watch. You still need external software to tweak and merge the images. Photoshop's Auto Align Stack function is pretty cool the way it decides what part of your images are in focus, masks out the rest, and merges it into a final output.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

LR does not do focus stacking. Psd and tiff files are bit-mapped, and contain an embedded color space - so they do not allow the same degree of processing as a dng or raw file. Lastly, LR does not do focus stacking,

But you are correct - you can export a dng file from LR.

But once you have collected your images for stacking, if you use Photoshop to do the stacking, it will add them as layers, which by default will be psd files, so you will not end up with a dng for a final image.

The only software I have come across that produces a fully editable "raw" (dng) merged image is Helicon Soft.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Zerene and Helicon are both far better than Photoshop and both are relatively inexpensive. Both offer free trial periods. I would recommend you download the trial versions and try both. I prefer Zerene but both are faster, easier, and result in better final images than Photoshop.