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Focus stacking & Exposure stacking?
I use Paintshop Pro and I guess only the 2023 version introduced an automated focus stacking tool. It feels like Photoshop must of introduced that type of tool a while back? Is there a manual way to focus stack? Is there a way to automatically turn over and under exposed parts of images into transparency regions so images can be layered onto one another giving an overall well exposed image versus a method that requires brush stroking? Aug 30 23 08:17 pm Link It will be much easier to answer your question if you provide more information. Specifically, are you shooting stationary objects or things that are in motion? Indoors or outdoors? Available light or studio lighting? Without that information, everything is a guess at best. Aug 30 23 09:13 pm Link Capture One also has focus stacking, has had it for at least the last two versions. So far as doing it manually…there’s a fair amount of algorithmic math going on to get results…same thing with image stitching, but even more with focus stacking. If someone is doing it manually, or knows how, I personally cannot imagine bothering to do it that way…generally its not something I think would be used much for people photography but architecture and landscape and product photography all seem to be good areas for it. So far as “automatically selecting areas of over and under exposure, then adjusting with a brush” ….Capture one has smart masks that you could use to do it that way (or use them with hues, which would be more how I might approach that) but for what you are describing, i generally would just manipulate the Highlight and Shadow sliders to achieve that. My camera sensor has a15 stop dynamic range (and a light meter!) so as long as I am exposing correctly for the highlights, I can usually putt shadow detail up for wherever I want. Overexposed areas are just “Blown out” with digital…you cannot really make detail come back that was overwhelmed with too much light, But proper metering and evaluation of a scene, and trying to keep it or get it into a seven stop range like ol’ Ansel Adams did , means a lot less time in post fixing things that should/could have been done correctly in camera…and if you are going to take a “Fix it in the mix” approach….might be time to take advantage of a free trial and a few tutorials for Capture One. It does all these things and a lot more. It’s not perfect and only slightly cheaper than Photoshop, but it’s really a great tool set for the whole workflow….and it is still possible to get a perpetual license (although perpetual licenses are now “Feature Frozen” like Paint Shop Pro is (I am guessing you are asking how to do this manually because you don’t want to pony up for an upgrade license from a previous version.) If saving money on an editor is what is driving the question, many online tutorials claim that it is possible to do focus stacking with The GIMP. Neve pr tried it, I licensed Capture One years back when I certified for Phase One and paid for discounted upgrades every 2 versions since. Not cheap but good tools seldom are. Aug 31 23 07:06 am Link Helicon Focus is a program that is dedicated to focus stacking. The company that makes this product is located in Ukraine and has been reliably directing donations toward first responders there. Aug 31 23 07:45 am Link Afinity Photo has a Focus merging (focus stacking) feature. I haven't tried it since I do focus stacking in camera with my Olympus. "Is there a way to automatically turn over and under exposed parts of images into transparency regions so images can be layered onto one another giving an overall well exposed image versus a method that requires brush stroking?" Have you tried deleting the poorly exposed files and then apply the focus stacking? BTW In a rapid fire series of exposures, how do some come out poorly exposed? Aug 31 23 07:58 am Link Shadow Dancer wrote: Probably always natural light. Generally always still (or at a distance that motion is harder to notice), I can think of indoor and outdoor examples. Lets say outdoor. Sep 01 23 12:52 pm Link Studio NSFW wrote: I know details will tend to be lost when you properly expose parts of an image causing other parts to blowout or get too dark for detail to have survived. But I'm assuming software can compare images to see which regions of each photo contain the most details and make transparent those regions in the photos that are weak in those area? In a similar manner as focus stacking "knows" what is in focus compared to other images? Sep 01 23 01:06 pm Link TaiChiJohn wrote: Interesting. Thanks. Sep 01 23 01:07 pm Link Mad Hatter Imagery wrote: I'm going to assume you have a solid, reliable tripod. Without one, you will find it far more difficult to be successful with these concepts. If you get the good stuff, you'll only need to buy a tripod once. Don't scrimp and go cheap unless you find something really nice at a ridiculous price at a thrift store - I found my Gitzo at Goodwill for $16. Buy nice or buy twice. Sep 01 23 01:28 pm Link Mad Hatter Imagery wrote: PaintShop Pro 2023 is currently offering an upgrade for $59.99. You can't beat this! Sep 01 23 02:09 pm Link Mark Salo wrote: I already paid for it. Will install later when I need to focus stack. I do have some images I want to exposure stack. Wasn't sure if any software does that automatically. Will have to experiment. Sep 02 23 07:31 pm Link |
