juniormc8704
New member
the first image was 10 images stacked, the second was from 14 images.
First try at Focus Stacking...pretty cool
- Thread starter juniormc8704
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juniormc8704
New member
=) it was a quick try.
what your seeing was a quick selection of the area of the back ground.
the elegance coral in the background was moving around in the series of 10 pics and looks REALLY awful.
I used a Gaussian Blur in that area to make it go away....so thats likely what you are seeing.
I was pretty much getting pics as fast as possible to give this program a try.
Overall, I think the program works pretty well.
Now i just need to get the pics perfect first.
the second pic, the zoas started moving a little towards the end when my wrasses started playing to the camera. So the bottom section is a little blurred as well.
what your seeing was a quick selection of the area of the back ground.
the elegance coral in the background was moving around in the series of 10 pics and looks REALLY awful.
I used a Gaussian Blur in that area to make it go away....so thats likely what you are seeing.
I was pretty much getting pics as fast as possible to give this program a try.
Overall, I think the program works pretty well.
Now i just need to get the pics perfect first.
the second pic, the zoas started moving a little towards the end when my wrasses started playing to the camera. So the bottom section is a little blurred as well.
juniormc8704
New member
Helicon Focus
juniormc8704
New member
Sure thing.
In a nut shell you focus on your subject like you normally would. Start with your focus point being the closest area of the subject to you. then with the SAME shutter speed and aperture, move your focus point back a little farther each time.
Once you have reached all the way to the back of the subject you are done.
I shot those at F11 and the appropriate shutter speed.
once you have all the pictures taken, all you do it plug it into helicon focus, and it does the rest.
then with the finished product, save it.
open it in photoshop, make any adjustments you need to, like white balance and sharpening.
Done.
Its really that simple.
In a nut shell you focus on your subject like you normally would. Start with your focus point being the closest area of the subject to you. then with the SAME shutter speed and aperture, move your focus point back a little farther each time.
Once you have reached all the way to the back of the subject you are done.
I shot those at F11 and the appropriate shutter speed.
once you have all the pictures taken, all you do it plug it into helicon focus, and it does the rest.
then with the finished product, save it.
open it in photoshop, make any adjustments you need to, like white balance and sharpening.
Done.
Its really that simple.
juniormc8704
New member
Actually, i had the best results doing the following.
I white balanced all pics at one using light room, so all would be identical, then exported them to my desktop as a .tif.
Then i processed them in helicon focus as .tif's, and saved as a .tif
Then in photoshop, i made any adjustments, and saved as a jpeg.
This was the preferred method of Gary Parr (gparr), and i simply followed his instruction.
I white balanced all pics at one using light room, so all would be identical, then exported them to my desktop as a .tif.
Then i processed them in helicon focus as .tif's, and saved as a .tif
Then in photoshop, i made any adjustments, and saved as a jpeg.
This was the preferred method of Gary Parr (gparr), and i simply followed his instruction.
juniormc8704
New member
DP
juniormc8704
New member
Well, my new nikon 105mm came in today. I bit of a learning curve to get over, as it handles a lot different. However, I already know im going to love it.
Noticing that helicon seems to create some weird halos around the subject in focus....Im working on figuring that one out. Here are a few more though.
Noticing that helicon seems to create some weird halos around the subject in focus....Im working on figuring that one out. Here are a few more though.
junglejim1022
New member
These are some awesome pictures.I am going to try the photo stacking.
juniormc8704
New member
Thanks very much. The program is pretty basic, however a lot of adjustments can be made. Unfortunately, they give you little to no direction on how to use it.
InsaneClownFish
New member
Awesome shots.
juniormc8704
New member
Here is a couple redo's and a couple new ones.
Heres is an acro for you Salt Water Crazy!
Heres is an acro for you Salt Water Crazy!
90sShooter
Active member
Those are just awesome! Can lightroom do this or are there limited programs that can do this? I want to give it a try! 
juniormc8704
New member
I dont think you can do it in lightroom, but i know you can do it in photoshop.
xJake
Active member
Wow! These look like something from an electron microscope. In fact, I think they use the same type of "focus stacking" layering-technique to produce images - which would explain the similarities.
So, I'm guessing you could just use PS to mask the focused areas all onto a single canvas as a way to create the illusion of a ubiquitous DOF. Does Helicon Focus work any differently? I'd imagine it might be a more streamlined/easier process - especially if the program is specifically designed for executing this technique.
BTW, I'm downloading HF as I type this - thanks for sharing!
So, I'm guessing you could just use PS to mask the focused areas all onto a single canvas as a way to create the illusion of a ubiquitous DOF. Does Helicon Focus work any differently? I'd imagine it might be a more streamlined/easier process - especially if the program is specifically designed for executing this technique.
BTW, I'm downloading HF as I type this - thanks for sharing!
