Introduction: Focus Stacking

Learning how to concenter stack is an important technique for every macro OR micro photographer. Focus stacking is a C. W. Post production method that allows you to mix up many different images shot at different point planes to make one crisp focused image. This is useful because (typically) the larger the overstatement of your lens, the shallower of a focal plane you have to work with. It is unsurprising that a typical application program of this proficiency is microphotography where it is much impossible to get all of your subject in focus at once. Using this approach, you can stitch nonuple slightly blurry images together to get unity crisp double.

Supplies

This instructor uses Photoshop.

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Step 1: Shooting

The first step in front you can focus pile up your images is to shoot your images. Using an adjustable bellows setup or macro rail, take a series of photos starting with your subject slightly unfashionable of focusing. Slowly and incrementally increase the point aeroplane until your subject comes into and, once again, just exterior of focus. The goal is to get as much of the subject into focus American Samoa you can.

In an ideal world you would make a motorized macro rail which increments your camera at fixed intervals. However, these cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Doing information technology by center should work for most intents and purposes.

To learn more all but shooting microphotography photos, check out my DLSR Microphotography instructable.

Gradation 2: Load the Image Sequence

The first stair is to load the image sequence into Photoshop as a series of layers.

On the top side app carte du jour, navigate to File --> Scripts --> Load Files into Stack...

A unexampled window titled "Load Layers" should open. Click happening the Browse... button and site your fancy sequence. Select all of the images and click open.

Finally, construct sure that none of the check boxes on the hindquarters are selected, and click OK happening the top right.

Step 3: Align the Layers

Take all of the layers from the Layers bill of fare.

On the lead app menu, navigate to Edit --> Auto-Align Layers...

When the spick-and-span window opens make true that exclusive Car is hand-picked, and then click OK.

Step 4: Mix the Layers

Forthwith is time to blend all of the layers together into incomparable image.

On the top app fare, navigate to Edit --> Auto-Blend Layers...

When the new window opens make a point that Stack Images is selected and the checkbox on the bottom that says Seamless Tones and Colors. Finally, click Very well to blend the layers together.

Step 5: Flatten the See


The next step is to flatten complete of the layers by going to Bed --> Flatten Image. This will get rid of the transparent background and combine the entire effigy stack into one image.

Tread 6: Harvest the Image

After aligning and blending the layers, the center of the epitome is typically the most in focus. Also, there is often transparent or "empty" quad around the outside borders of the prototype due to slight inconsistencies in alignment.

Tighten in upon the center of the visualise by victimization the Crop Tool to take out any blank Beaver State excessively hazy space or so the borders of the image.

Step 7: Color Correction

Once the image is cropped, it is clock time to color correct the image to your liking.

Typically, I only adjust the levels and the curves of the image. Sometimes I bequeath slightly tweak the hue and saturation if I feel that it is off.

Footprint 8: Practice

The net stride is the nearly prodigious, and that is to keep practicing.

Equal after doing this scores of times, I'm barely an expert at this process. Ilk whatsoever other attainment, the only way to truly learn it is to keep doing IT.

I compliments you the top-grade of luck, and hope you have some fun!

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