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)
Looks like you are doing some great focus stacking! Do I understand that you blended these yourself in PS?
Ernie Misner wrote:
Looks like you are doing some great focus stacking! Do I understand that you blended these yourself in PS?
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.
robertjerl wrote:
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.
Yesterday and today I tried some more focus stacki... (
show quote)
Another interesting set. I can't practice focus stacking now because the dandelions aren't out yet.
jerryc41 wrote:
Another interesting set. I can't practice focus stacking now because the dandelions aren't out yet.
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.
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.
WayneT wrote:
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.
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.
I don't us a flash on my stacks I use multiple LED's and get good results.
robertjerl wrote:
......select Auto-blend layers...
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.
WayneT wrote:
I don't us a flash on my stacks I use multiple LED's and get good results.
My latest I used a combo of daylight and one LED.
R.G. wrote:
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.
Auto-blend is what PS calls the stacking app. At least according to their instructions I read in one of those "how too" sites.
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?
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.