DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I'm assuming that you are talking about an image where the foreground and background are clearly different areas of the photo. Foreground at the bottom of the frame and background at the top. Not all images are like that so the linear gradient technique would be limited.

I frequently take flower photos. When I have a cluster of flowers in front of a background I want to be out of focus, choosing a small aperture will give me too sharp a background and choosing a large aperture is good for the background but the flower cluster will have problems (because it has depth). In that situation I much prefer to use focus stacking by taking a shot with the near part of the flower cluster in focus, then one with the far part in focus, and maybe one with the middle in focus. I then load them into layers in PS, align, and blend for focus stacking, as suggested by rgrenaderphoto.

In this photo the allium heads are in different planes. A single photo got two of them in focus and the other two out. So I took two shots and used focus stacking. The background is both above and below the subject so the gradient method would not produce the desired effect.

(Download)

rcarol

The standard technique for focus stacking would most likely be a far better solution for the situation you are describing. I never intended to imply that Brandan's technique was a one-step solution for all situations. It is just another tool to assist the photographer in making a better photograph and is to be used when and where it makes sense. Just as there must be a half a dozen ways of sharpening a digital image, not all ways of sharpening work in all situations. It is up to the photographer to use what makes sense and what doesn't.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I agree that there will be some shots where your method will work and is simple to put in place.

Danielmb

RCarol ..... 5 minutes is not too long if the end result is what you want. The goal is a good print and not the sound of a clock ticking.

SAVH Loc: La Jolla, CA

rgrenaderphoto, Thank you. I've been trying to figure out how to do that and you have solved the problem. Maybe now I can get it to work. Of course I have to first figure out more about how to work with layers but this is a good start. Thank you again.

Scotty

rcarol

I'm not sure why your comment was directed at me. I have no issue in taking 5 minutes or 5 days to post process an image if it gets you the results you are looking for.

mrmal Loc: Saskatoon, Sask, Canada

So I am using Luminar 3. Will this work in a similar way to PS. I am not very proficient in post prosessing so if someone could submit some direction to do this with Luminar, would be very much appreciated.

rcarol

I took a look at using Luminar 3 to do focus stacking and it's not obvious to me that there is any way to do this. My conclusion appears to be supported by searching Google.

mrmal Loc: Saskatoon, Sask, Canada

To rcarol - thanks for checking into this and letting me know.