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Photographing Gem Stones with Focus Stacking
Dec 24, 2023 01:32:47 #
JimH123 wrote:
There are many that would be satisfied with a stack of 15.
You may be right as most of the image is only color, not texture. The top surface and the lines of the facets show, which need to be in focus. Got me thinking. Thank you.
Dec 24, 2023 01:35:11 #
KTJohnson wrote:
These are very good, but personally, I would try something other than looking straight down at them. That way I think you would get more of a 3-dimentional look. Just my personal opinion & suggestion.
Yes, I think you’re right, however the assignment was straight on. Will try your suggestion.
Dec 24, 2023 03:08:38 #
JimH123 wrote:
In experimenting with your first image, I opened it in Lightroom and played with the new Point Color tool, tweaking the saturation and luminance settings causing it to stand out better. Also touched the vibrance a tiny amount and the clarity. Side-by-side with your original, there is quite a difference.
How are you adjusting the image after the stacking?
Here is an example with your original on the right.
How are you adjusting the image after the stacking?
Here is an example with your original on the right.
That doesnt fix the darkness where the gem sits on the vellum. The gems should sit on a sheet of glass a few inches above the vellum. Image editing is no substitute for lighting.
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Dec 24, 2023 07:29:37 #
Robertl594 wrote:
I was asked by a photographer friend to photograph... (show quote)
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Robertl594
Your operation is way overcomplicated
Consider looking at a few YouTube videos about how to do "image stacking" using the Canon R5 and it's automated function for that feature... then rent the camera for a short period of time to do the work.
You can reduce all of that to less than an hour's worth of work with the Canon R5.
PS... Yes, other brands have "focus stacking" built into them also..
Cheers
Goldstar46
George Veazey
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Dec 24, 2023 07:31:47 #
KTJohnson wrote:
These are very good, but personally, I would try something other than looking straight down at them. That way I think you would get more of a 3-dimentional look. Just my personal opinion & suggestion.
I agree. As good as these images are, they look basically "flat". A slight tilt of the camera would add the needed three-dimensional look.
Dec 24, 2023 08:20:38 #
Dec 24, 2023 08:49:04 #
User ID wrote:
That doesnt fix the darkness where the gem sits on the vellum. The gems should sit on a sheet of glass a few inches above the vellum. Image editing is no substitute for lighting.
Yes. I’ve thought of that. I did purchase lab glass streak sheets of premium glass to create a colorless clear holder for the stones. I even bought clear thick rubber tape to hold the stones in place on the glass. Wasn’t clear enough. Bought enough of the glass to build a box out of it to possible suspend the stones in a clear liquid to remove lines of the perimeter of the box. Will keep trying.
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Dec 24, 2023 08:49:57 #
agillot wrote:
Wonder what pics would have look like without focus stacking shot like at f22 or more ?
I don’t think f/22 will do the trick at such a close distance. Possibly worth a try however.
Dec 24, 2023 08:51:23 #
goldstar46 wrote:
======= br br Robertl594 br br Your operation i... (show quote)
Yes, my Z9 has built in focus stacking. I prefer my stack shot as I can better control the distance between shots much better.
Dec 24, 2023 08:52:22 #
Robertl594 wrote:
I was asked by a photographer friend to photograph... (show quote)
I usually shoot my indoor images of Seashells and Flowers on a black background and if the black shows as grey or shows the weave of the cloth I change the blackish to pure black. Also unless it is a deep subject I don't focus stack I just shoot at f/11 or f/16, ISO native 200, manual everything. I use constant light, not flash. I am currently experimenting with using a vellum paper tube around the shell when shooting vertically. I am planning to try a HPE plastic bottle to avoid reflections. In any case tenting is slow work. I have a step motor rail system for stacking but I hate using it. I am shooting shells that are from 4mm to over 300mm, not tiny < 1mm insect parts. Often my single shot looks better than my stacks. I play with Ps a lot. I imagine you have talked to SippyJug about this.
Dec 24, 2023 08:55:11 #
lamiaceae wrote:
I usually shoot my indoor images of Seashells and ... (show quote)
Sippyjug has been instrumental in my learning focus attacking. He has been extremely kind and generous with his time and knowledge on the subject. Good man.
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Dec 24, 2023 08:55:31 #
Robertl594 wrote:
Yes, my Z9 has built in focus stacking. I prefer my stack shot as I can better control the distance between shots much better.
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I would "respectfully" disagree and much, much more laborious...
.. but if it works for you, and you have that much time on your hand... Enjoy
Geo.
Dec 24, 2023 10:42:14 #
JohnSwanda wrote:
If it takes 450 images to get a good result with focus stacking, I'm not inclined to try it.
I some times do stacks of only three or four exposures, depends on the ƒ-stop, DoF, sizes, distances. I usually shoot close-ups at ƒ/11 or ƒ/16 so only a few exposures are needed for say a Rose flower. I have a step motor rail system that can take hundreds of exposures but I hate using it. And I can not leave mine set up so everything in on a tripod.
Dec 24, 2023 10:53:30 #
Robertl594 wrote:
Sippyjug has been instrumental in my learning focus attacking. He has been extremely kind and generous with his time and knowledge on the subject. Good man.
Yes, Sippyjug is great. I was playing with shooting through a microscope and he helped, and helped with various rail experiments.
Dec 24, 2023 11:07:45 #
Robertl594 wrote:
I was asked by a photographer friend to photograph... (show quote)
Our end goals are different. I try for artistic expressions of nature. You have the harder task, commercial perfection of product photography. Glad you got some new ideas from your post here! Here is one of my more successful attempts at tenting to eliminate reflections. And there is still a little along the mid line. Smooth seashells like Cowrie, Olive, and Cone are very shiny, smooth, and with curved surfaces.
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