Photoshop Elements plug-ins: I recently attended an informal photo club recruitment gathering where one member discussed and demonstrated focus stacking for macro photography. The...

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I recently attended an informal photo club recruitment gathering where one member discussed and demonstrated focus stacking for macro photography. The speaker had limited time for Q&A so I was unable to get all the information I wished to obtain.

I use PSE 15 and do not have the options mentioned by the speaker. Do I need to get plugins for Elements so I can do the focus stacking and if so which plug-ins would others suggest or recommend?

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Try looking at this. It might explain it for you if this is the correct version of PSE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FDrL1Ot0U

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

PhotogHobbyist wrote:

I recently attended an informal photo club recruitment gathering where one member discussed and demonstrated focus stacking for macro photography. The speaker had limited time for Q&A so I was unable to get all the information I wished to obtain.

I use PSE 15 and do not have the options mentioned by the speaker. Do I need to get plugins for Elements so I can do the focus stacking and if so which plug-ins would others suggest or recommend?

One can do focus stacking in Elements without any add-ons/plug-ins, but it is tedious, a plug-in will certainly make it a lot easier and faster!

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

jeep_daddy wrote:

Try looking at this. It might explain it for you if this is the correct version of PSE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FDrL1Ot0U

That video talks about photo merging, but the version of PSE I have and use does not have that action choice in the drop down menu. I am therefore assuming that person has either plugins or a different version of PSE than I have. I have PSE version 15.0.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

speters wrote:

One can do focus stacking in Elements without any add-ons/plug-ins, but it is tedious, a plug-in will certainly make it a lot easier and faster!

Do you recommend a particular plug in which facilitates focus merging?

Bill_de Loc: US

Get Elements+ for Elements 15 for $12
https://simplephotoshop.com/buy_elements+.htm

Look at these:
https://www.google.com/search?q=elements%2B&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&gws_rd=ssl

This video sometimes come up with an error, but it does show 1 click focus stacking with Elements +
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgoUF1DA_T4

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Rolk Loc: South Central PA

PhotogHobbyist wrote:

That video talks about photo merging, but the version of PSE I have and use does not have that action choice in the drop down menu. I am therefore assuming that person has either plugins or a different version of PSE than I have. I have PSE version 15.0.

I just upgraded to PSE 2019 from PSE 14...14 had the ability to "merge", so I'm pretty sure you can do it in 15.

Did you try using "Guided" mode instead of "Expert" mode. If you go to "Guided," you should see an option for "Photomerge," and then after that four or five options including "Compose," Exposure," "Panorama" etc...I think you probably want to use "Exposure"
Tim

ggenova64

Email the speaker your questions!

Captryan Loc: Massachusetts

jeep_daddy wrote:

Try looking at this. It might explain it for you if this is the correct version of PSE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FDrL1Ot0U

What is the correct version? I use PSE 14 and it does not have the Photomerge option.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

ggenova64 wrote:

Email the speaker your questions!

I don’t have any contact information for her.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

Rolk wrote:

I just upgraded to PSE 2019 from PSE 14...14 had t... (show quote)

Yep. I’ve looked into that, still not getting me where I want to go.0

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

Photoshop CC does this quite well, as do Helicon (probably the best stacking software) and Zerene Stacker. I think the best move might be Photoshop CC - since you will get much more than just a stacking solution.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

That would be the logical conclusive route. However, I don’t do that much pp to justify the extra cost for the program and the cloud subscription. Plus I have not been convinced that the cloud is that great, it has been hacked several times. Not to mention that I am a tightwad with my money.

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

PhotogHobbyist wrote:

That would be the logical conclusive route. However, I don’t do that much pp to justify the extra cost for the program and the cloud subscription. Plus I have not been convinced that the cloud is that great, it has been hacked several times. Not to mention that I am a tightwad with my money.

The hacking is more of a pirating than a compromising of personal info. I don't use the "cloud" with Adobe, other than to fetch my updates and upgrades.

You can be pennywise, but ultimately pound foolish.

FWIW, I don't spend a lot of time PP'ing my images - but I do need to do a little on each image I produce. It's not about quantity - it's about functionality.

If you keep your PSE current - it will cost you $90-100 a year. Ps/Lr costs me $120 a yr, and it has 98% of everything you'd need, including a good focus stacking component. Is an extra $3/mo really worth denying yourself access to the best software out there for image editing? Not sure being a tightwad is working all that well for you. . . Just sayin'

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Attached is a screenprint of the choices in PSE 2018 after clicking the Guided tab and then selecting Photomerge. None are going to be workable for your needs.

Several people like Helicon software, as mentioned in this topic:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-555756-1.html

Another topic with software suggestions:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-557934-1.html

You might want to pm the OP of this topic:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-556318-1.html

One more resource, the True Macro section of UHH:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html
You could post a topic in that section, and instead of titling it plug-ins, say something about "focus stacking" right in the title. Always best to get straight to the point

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