Need recommendation for focus stacking software.
Mar 23, 2019 10:51:36 #
Mar 23, 2019 11:21:07 #
jcryan
Loc: Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
Straight Shooter wrote:
I've used Combine ZP. It's free, and it works well.
Same here. At the price ($0.00) it costs nothing but a little time to try it. It aligns pictures before stacking so it may work on you hand held shots.
Mar 23, 2019 12:23:39 #
Gene51 wrote:
Your desire to do stacking without a tripod will be extremely frustrating.
Helicon Soft is the granddaddy of stacking software - not free
Photoshop does a great job - not free
Zerene stacker gets it done as well - also not free
Combine Z supposedly works, never tried it - it's free.
But no software will allow you to stack hand held images- you will have random movement in the X, Y and Z axes - so good luck.
Helicon Soft is the granddaddy of stacking software - not free
Photoshop does a great job - not free
Zerene stacker gets it done as well - also not free
Combine Z supposedly works, never tried it - it's free.
But no software will allow you to stack hand held images- you will have random movement in the X, Y and Z axes - so good luck.
Hi Gene, actually you can stack hand held images provided you are careful to keep the camera movement minimal. Several here, including me, have done it. I personally know that Photoshop and Zerene do a good job of aligning minimal camera movement, and I think that Helicon does also. Still, I do prefer to use a tripod when possible even if the focus changes are done manually.
Mar 23, 2019 12:42:22 #
Focus stacking in Photoshop is Not as good as some of the dedicated third party programs. It is under: File> Automate> Photo Merge.
Mar 23, 2019 13:12:05 #
jayluber
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Photo merge: does it just align the photos or is it an automated procedure to use the in focus portions of each photo in the merged one?
Mar 23, 2019 13:27:18 #
Guyserman wrote:
My Photoshop Elements 2018 does not have automatic focus stacking. I'm not interested in the subscription version. I am interested in hearing from people who have used other free or "hobby" priced focus stacking software. Thanks in advance.
I use Zerene Stacker and Affinity Photo; both very good.
bwa
Mar 23, 2019 15:06:03 #
Mar 23, 2019 16:09:24 #
Combine ZM is a free download from Alan Hadley of the UK who wrote the program. I have used it to photography my model trains. The camera must be stationery and it can't be done by hand. You then move the focus point and Combine ZM stacks them so they all are in focus.
https://combinezm.en.lo4d.com
I then work with the photo in Elements. I have done stacking with Elements using panorama I believe.
I will attach a photo of a 17 inch locomotive done with ZM then run throught Elements 9. I would write the program to disc or other memory and save it. Many thanks to Alan for this program.
https://combinezm.en.lo4d.com
I then work with the photo in Elements. I have done stacking with Elements using panorama I believe.
I will attach a photo of a 17 inch locomotive done with ZM then run throught Elements 9. I would write the program to disc or other memory and save it. Many thanks to Alan for this program.
Mar 23, 2019 16:58:28 #
Mar 23, 2019 18:30:01 #
Here is a link to Elements+. There is a lot of stuff in it. I think you will enjoy it. To me, just the ability to use curves makes it worthwhile. Bill
https://elementsplus.net/
https://elementsplus.net/
Mar 23, 2019 18:40:34 #
Mar 23, 2019 19:37:32 #
Mar 23, 2019 20:22:27 #
JHS
Loc: Carmichael, CA
I have used Affinity for photo stacking and it works great. It is easy to use. I also have avoided the subscription versions of other programs because the spectre of them raising the subscription rate from the current $10 to something more pain full is always there. Once one subscribes and is locked in one is really at the vendor's mercy when it comes to rate raises.
Mar 23, 2019 20:40:30 #
Guyserman wrote:
My Photoshop Elements 2018 does not have automatic focus stacking. I'm not interested in the subscription version. I am interested in hearing from people who have used other free or "hobby" priced focus stacking software. Thanks in advance.
I recently started to use Registax (free) to stack pictures taken handheld. Sample below. Processing with my computer is quite slow with large files, but other than this the program works quite well.
Mar 23, 2019 22:56:19 #
Guyserman
Loc: Benton, AR
Thanks, everyone. You are much appreciated. I'll start looking these over and narrowing it down.
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