Stacking photos what is it: I have seen several posts that talk about stacking photos for focus. Can someone explain how this is done?

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I have seen several posts that talk about stacking photos for focus. Can someone explain how this is done?

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

The purpose for focus stacking is to take a series of shots with different focus planes then combining them in a stack to process in a focus blending software program. The objective is to increase depth of field so more of the image is in focus.

tkhphotography Loc: Gresham, Or, not Seattle

Country's Mama wrote:

I have seen several posts that talk about stacking photos for focus. Can someone explain how this is done?

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/focus-stacking.htm
try them, but also 'search' on this forum, someone left a link to a bunch of .pdf's you can download...I'm leaving for dinner but if I see you don't get another hit on it, I'll find it for you.

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

I think it has a different meaning when working on layers in CS5.

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

ShakyShutter wrote:

I think it has a different meaning when working on layers in CS5.

I don't think so. Focus stacking is a fairly specific thing though you can capture the images in many different ways. You can focus stack in PS through one if it's automate functions but I never was too pleased with the results. Stacking layers in PS is a common practice for many different reasons but I don't think anyone would normally confuse that with focus stacking.

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

My bad big time. You are correct it can only mean one thing as stated and I missed the work focus in the orginal question.

NOTE TO SELF:

Always read the damn Original Question THREE times before posting a response! Shaky not following his own rules. :-(

Adirondack Hiker Loc: Southern Adirondacks

ShakyShutter wrote:

I think it has a different meaning when working on layers in CS5.

No, the method was developed originally to increase the depth of field for images obtained from a microscope, and now has found its way into photography. Also called Helicon, after the processing software. It is most useful for images shot with a longer focal length lens on a close object. I use a free program called Combine ZM for processing, slow but does a great job.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

tkhphotography wrote:

Country's Mama wrote:

I have seen several posts that talk about stacking photos for focus. Can someone explain how this is done?

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/focus-stacking.htm
try them, but also 'search' on this forum, someone left a link to a bunch of .pdf's you can download...I'm leaving for dinner but if I see you don't get another hit on it, I'll find it for you.

Thank you for the link. It did a good job of answering my question.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Thank you everyone that took the time to answer my question

ephraim Imperio

Country's Mama wrote:

Thank you everyone that took the time to answer my question

More links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_stacking

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-focus-stacking

http://www.wonderfulphotos.com/articles/macro/focus_stacking/

BuckeyeTom73 Loc: Chicago area

Adirondack Hiker wrote:

ShakyShutter wrote:

I think it has a different meaning when working on layers in CS5.

No, the method was developed originally to increase the depth of field for images obtained from a microscope, and now has found its way into photography. Also called Helicon, after the processing software. It is most useful for images shot with a longer focal length lens on a close object. I use a free program called Combine ZM for processing, slow but does a great job.

Here is an example of focus stacking. This shot is a dof merge of seven shots in PS CS5. Each was ISO 100, 1/4 sec at f/16, 100mm and focus distance about 12 inches. The dof for each shot is about 4mm. The dof in the final picture is about 20mm plus or minus. The farthest back petal was left out of focus -- there were 5 more shots in the total run -- as a leaf behind started to come into focus and ruin the bokeh.

This didn't take any special skills on my part: Photoshop did all the hard work. The PS help has all the info; put 'dof merge' in the search box. The only thing I had to do different was use the 'Collage' mode for the auto-align layers. They recommend using 'Reposition' but that doesn't correct for the slight image expansion that occurs with focus change near macro distances

Apologies for the washed out color - I use ProPhoto profile and forgot to change to sRGB before sending.

DOF Merged

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

ephraim Imperio wrote:

Country's Mama wrote:

Thank you everyone that took the time to answer my question

More links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_stacking

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-focus-stacking

http://www.wonderfulphotos.com/articles/macro/focus_stacking/

Thank you. This is looking more interesting all the time.

guy145 Loc: Norridge IL

Adirondack Hiker wrote:

ShakyShutter wrote:

I think it has a different meaning when working on layers in CS5.

No, the method was developed originally to increase the depth of field for images obtained from a microscope, and now has found its way into photography. Also called Helicon, after the processing software. It is most useful for images shot with a longer focal length lens on a close object. I use a free program called Combine ZM for processing, slow but does a great job.

where is this program?

Nevada Chuck

The simplest answer would be: take a series of photos, using a solid tripod, of whatever your subject is, varying the focus slightly with each shot. Generally, you will need to take nine or more shots, depending on the DOF that you're trying to achieve. You want to take enough shots such that the visible DOF of these shots overlap.

THEN, acquire a program such as Helicon Focus. This program will "stack" your photos and use only the in-focus part of each one, so that you end up with a single photo that has the DOF that you would like to have but couldn't get in camera due to the limits of the laws of optics. Most common with macro and telephoto lenses.

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

Country's Mama wrote:

I have seen several posts that talk about stacking photos for focus. Can someone explain how this is done?

Hello, This tutorial shows what focus stacking is. The trick is not to change the focusing of the camera but you have to move the entire camera forward with the aid of a focusing rail. This tutorial will explain the whole process. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf7ABBqd0bw&feature=related