Focus stacking: Not having done a lot of PP I want to try some focus stacked shots. I have never been interested in it before, but my D850 can take a series of shots automatically. My...

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Not having done a lot of PP I want to try some focus stacked shots. I have never been interested in it before, but my D850 can take a series of shots automatically. My problem is PP software. Since I am not doing a lot of PP I only have Nikon Studio and Photo Elements 2018 for that purpose and so far I have been satisfied with that. Unless I'm missing something these two programs do not appear to support focus stacking. Are there programs out there that do and don't require a subscription?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Lots of info -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Dz34MMjQ0&t=142s
https://northrup.photo/my-account/download-sdp-ebook/stunning-digital-photography-video-index/landscape-focus-stacking/
https://digital-photography-school.com/post-processing-focus-stacked-images/
https://digital-photography-school.com/photograph-images-needed-focus-stacking/
http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/focus-stacking-software-photoshop-helicon-combinezp-zerene.html
http://www.lightstalking.com/focus-stacking-in-photoshop/
http://zerenesystems.com/cms/stacker/docs/purchasing
http://www.heliconsoft.com/heliconsoft-products/helicon-focus/
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/simple-steps-for-focus-stacking-in-photoshop/
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-improve-your-long-exposure-with-photo-stacking

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Thanks.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

You can manually focus stack in Elements by using Photo Merge and there’s also an add-on with Elements+ that you can purchase. Google it for more details.

Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

Hi starlifter,

I'll add my thumbs up to "Elements +" a program add-on that only costs $12.00 (one-time fee) and adds more than 150 functions (if I remember right) to the PS Elements program. One of those add-ons is focus stacking. Here is a link to the website: https://elementsplus.net/. Take care & ...

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

starlifter wrote:

Thanks.

Steve at back country gallery has a whole book on focus stacking with the d850. It would be well worth the 20 bucks for you to get the video and book.

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

starlifter wrote:

Not having done a lot of PP I want to try some focus stacked shots. I have never been interested in it before, but my D850 can take a series of shots automatically. My problem is PP software. Since I am not doing a lot of PP I only have Nikon Studio and Photo Elements 2018 for that purpose and so far I have been satisfied with that. Unless I'm missing something these two programs do not appear to support focus stacking. Are there programs out there that do and don't require a subscription?

It depends on what subject material you will be stacking. Most lenses are designed to not change length when focused (internal focus). As they are focused near their minimum focus distance, some/many lenses adjust the focal length shorter to achieve shorter camera to subject distances. At close distances with these lenses it is usually better to focus on the nearest feature you want in focus, then use a focusing rack to physically move the camera from front to back, without changing focus.

If you are stacking a landscape, then it makes sense to adjust the focus.

I suggest Helicon Focus - there are others - but Helicon is the 'granddaddy" of focus stacking software and it really works well. I use either Helicon or Photoshop.

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Thank you every one for your suggestions and help.

1grumpybear

Helicon Focus
Use it all the time.

tcthome Loc: NJ

For your needs , it sounds like the add on for PS Elements is best(I don't use it). But Affinity Photo has the option & is a one time purchase that is very cheap for the amount of software you get.

Jaymc Loc: Washington

I second Affinity Photo - does photo stacking with my D850 and Z fc, does not require a subscription, costs about $60 and is periodicaly on sale for half that.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

For what it's worth, merging layers in post-processing (like in Photoshop) and focus stacking (like in Photoshop) are not the same and they do not produce the same results. Focus stacking software operates with quite complex and specialized code and processing for the depth of field can change from image to image or the field of view can change from image to image in the stack of images which is why merging layers and focus stacking are quite different in how they process multiple images.

Jaymc Loc: Washington

Affinity Photo supports various stacking and merging methodologies.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Both Helicon and Zerene are good choices.

Dennis833 Loc: Australia

Affinity Photo works well for landscapes. After the image merge is complete I open up the sourse images and edit them with the clone toll for a better result.