Focus stacking software w/ Photoshop Elements 18: I am currently interested in acquiring some focus stacking software and am looking for some recommendations / guidance. I'm mainly...

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Focus stacking software w/ Photoshop Elements 18

Aug 12, 2019 16:26:02 #

jim1954 Loc: Minnesota

I am currently interested in acquiring some focus stacking software and am looking for some recommendations / guidance. I'm mainly interested in using it for landscapes, and I currently use Photoshop Elements 18. Most of the research I have done on products seems to be geared to use with Lightroom / Photoshop. Obviously, I need something that can plug-in to PSE, or works as a standalone program. And since I'm just getting started, ease of use is a consideration.
I almost exclusively shoot RAW, so my preference would be to find a program that accepts RAW (.NEF) files as input and outputs a file (RAW, TIFF, JPEG) that I could then further edit with PSE. And I'm OK paying for something if it meets my needs.
Looking for product recommendations that would work well in my environment, and any suggestions regarding work flow or product usage. Thanks.

Aug 12, 2019 16:43:00 #

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Look at On1 Photo Raw.

Aug 12, 2019 17:02:10 #

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

From Photoshop 2018 instructions (no other software is needed):

Focus Stacking with Photoshop Elements

- Process all images in Camera Raw.
- Open image in Elements
- Click on Photo Bin (lower left corner)
- Select two images
- Go to Enhance>Photomerge>Photomerge Group Shot
- Place one image in the Source window and the other one in the Final window
- Select the Pencil Tool and follow the instructions and draw a border around the area in the Source window that you want to merge with the Final window.
- Click Done.
- If you have more than two images to merge, go to the Photo Bin, select the newly merged image and the next image in the sequence and repeat the Photomerge process.

Aug 12, 2019 17:17:46 #

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

jim1954 wrote:

I am currently interested in acquiring some focus ... (show quote)

Hard to beat Lightroom and Photoshop CC - and you are already familiar with the Photoshop user interface. It is exactly what you need, or might need in the future as your skills improve and you start to outgrow PSE.

Aug 12, 2019 17:19:01 #

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

rjaywallace wrote:

From Photoshop 2018 instructions (no other softwar... (show quote)

Some focus stacks can have 30 - 50 images. I am not familiar with PSE, but can it process more than a couple of images at the same time?

Aug 12, 2019 17:50:46 #

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

Zerene Stacker, https://zerenesystems.com/cms/stacker, is one of the better stacking programs I've found. It's extremely fast compared to LR or PS.

Hope this helps

Aug 12, 2019 20:27:02 #

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Gene51 wrote:

Some focus stacks can have 30 - 50 images. I am not familiar with PSE, but can it process more than a couple of images at the same time?

Gene51 - You apparently missed the end of my previous post.
“- If you have more than two images to merge, go to the Photo Bin, select the newly merged image and the next image in the sequence and repeat the Photomerge process.” /Ralph

Aug 12, 2019 20:29:57 #

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Gene51 wrote:

Gene51 - The OP does not have the subscription bundle.
Per his original post, he is using Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018. /Ralph

Aug 12, 2019 21:32:28 #

Bill_de Loc: US

Elements+ is an inexpensive add on to Elements that opens up some of the feature of Photoshop that are actually buried in Elements.

https://elementsplus.net/

https://elementsplus.net/help/en/focus-stacking.htm

--

Aug 13, 2019 06:27:33 #

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Combine ZP is free and does a reasonable job but does not accept raw files. I think Elements doesn't do automatic focus stacking, you can do it manually but I doubt if that would be practical with more than a couple of images.

Aug 13, 2019 08:51:42 #

banster Loc: PA, Ontario, N.C.,Key West

Elements+ unlocks many of Photoshop’s features not available with just Elements including photo stacking. Price is a one time $12.00, for now.

Aug 13, 2019 10:45:08 #

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

I've found that Affinity Photo does a very nice job with photo stacking, or merge as they call it, and makes it an easy process. It can do more than two photos at one time. Free trial is available.

Aug 13, 2019 11:30:37 #

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

jim1954 wrote:

I am currently interested in acquiring some focus ... (show quote)

Both Zerene and Helicon work as stand alone programs, and both have offer one-month trials. Their output can be PP'd in any editing program.

Aug 13, 2019 13:11:13 #

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I don't know of any stacking program that integrates with PSE, and PSE itself does not have the ability to automatically merge focus stacked image. PS has that ability.
Here is a review of PS for stacking, and a comparison with the major programs that are dedicated to stacking including Zerene Stacker and Helicon Focus. One thing I noticed is that the Helicon software handles RAW files.
http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/focus-stacking-software-photoshop-helicon-combinezp-zerene.html

Aug 13, 2019 13:43:43 #

banster Loc: PA, Ontario, N.C.,Key West

Elements +
$12 on their site. Google Elements+

If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.

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