Any other DOF software choices?

WheresWaldo · 02-22-2009, 09:05 PM

In order to increase the DOF of many macro images there is a technique that takes multiple images focused at slightly different depths and stacks them together to form a single image.

I know about Helicon Focus but their cost is a bit on the high side at $115. I know about the $35 price but it reverts to a demo copy after the year. Are there any other freeware or shareware software products that do the same thing as Helicon Focus at a much more affordable price.

Mod, if this is in the wrong place please feel free to move it accordingly.

Blue · 02-22-2009, 10:27 PM

Do you have PhotoShop? CS3 Extended version can be used for that.

Check these out:

CombineZM News

Image stacking freeware

The first one is good for things like macro shots and the second one is better for dark shots like astro shots.

roentarre · 02-23-2009, 03:12 AM

Moved to the software section.

WheresWaldo · 02-24-2009, 08:48 AM

Originally posted by roentarre

Moved to the software section.

Thanks for the move, I had a brain fart when I posted this and forgot about this forum.

falconeye · 02-25-2009, 04:33 PM

I am addicted to PhotoAcute TAKE BETTER PHOTOS, reduce noise, increase quality and resolution of digital photographs. Leading superresolution technology.

They do DoF stacking and much more (actually everything you can do with an image series).

The price is $49. But you get it for free (the Professional license) if you contribute a lens profile. The DA40Ltd. profile is mine

EDIT:
I don't know about Helicon but most focus stacking software (incl. PhotoAcute) may have a problem with "look-through" foreground objects (like a bicycle wheel).

EDIT2:
I have taken the 37 input images from the Fly Eye sample of the Helicon website and restacked using PhotoAcute. While I am sure the Helicon did stacking on large photos (while I only had the thumbnails to run through PhotoAcute), the result is almost as good (except for some slight Moirè due to the smaller input images).

First attachment: Helicon
Second attachment: PhotoAcute

Blue · 03-10-2009, 09:16 PM

Here is a simple one that I use from time to time:

CombineZ5

WheresWaldo · 03-11-2009, 10:35 AM

CombineZ5 looks interesting, thanks for the heads up. I also saw these two tutorials:

3D Micro Macro Photography
Workflow Technique #072 @Digital Outback Photo

Blue · 03-15-2009, 07:55 PM

I have a book Photoshop CS3 for Nature Photographers that refers to the Helicon Focus on a 2 page side bar beginning on page 261.

Edit: The book is by Ellen Anon and Tim Grey and published by Wiley Publishing 2007.

panoguy · 03-16-2009, 09:05 AM

I'd recommend Tufuse (a front-end for Enfuse). It can do DoF stacks and Exposure stacks and image alignment as separate actions or all at the same time!
For FREE!

TuFuse: Exposure and Focus Blending Software

There's a "Pro" version in the works with a nice GUI, but it is still in Beta (so a free download for now):

TuFuse Pro: Exposure and Focus Blending Software

falconeye · 03-17-2009, 04:57 PM

I made a test with Helicon Focus and PhotoAcute Studio. I used a somewhat difficult subject and both performed similiarly.

Here are the results:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-processing-software/54521-dof-shooto...hotoacute.html

Enjoy

02-22-2009, 09:05 PM	#1
WheresWaldo Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 498	Any other DOF software choices? In order to increase the DOF of many macro images there is a technique that takes multiple images focused at slightly different depths and stacks them together to form a single image. I know about Helicon Focus but their cost is a bit on the high side at $115. I know about the $35 price but it reverts to a demo copy after the year. Are there any other freeware or shareware software products that do the same thing as Helicon Focus at a much more affordable price. Mod, if this is in the wrong place please feel free to move it accordingly.

02-25-2009, 04:33 PM	#5
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	I am addicted to PhotoAcute TAKE BETTER PHOTOS, reduce noise, increase quality and resolution of digital photographs. Leading superresolution technology. They do DoF stacking and much more (actually everything you can do with an image series). The price is $49. But you get it for free (the Professional license) if you contribute a lens profile. The DA40Ltd. profile is mine EDIT: I don't know about Helicon but most focus stacking software (incl. PhotoAcute) may have a problem with "look-through" foreground objects (like a bicycle wheel). EDIT2: I have taken the 37 input images from the Fly Eye sample of the Helicon website and restacked using PhotoAcute. While I am sure the Helicon did stacking on large photos (while I only had the thumbnails to run through PhotoAcute), the result is almost as good (except for some slight Moirè due to the smaller input images). First attachment: Helicon Second attachment: PhotoAcute Last edited by falconeye; 06-15-2011 at 05:28 AM.

03-17-2009, 04:57 PM	#10
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Test added I made a test with Helicon Focus and PhotoAcute Studio. I used a somewhat difficult subject and both performed similiarly. Here are the results: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-processing-software/54521-dof-shooto...hotoacute.html Enjoy

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02-22-2009, 10:27 PM	#2
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Do you have PhotoShop? CS3 Extended version can be used for that. Check these out: CombineZM News Image stacking freeware The first one is good for things like macro shots and the second one is better for dark shots like astro shots.

02-23-2009, 03:12 AM	#3
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Moved to the software section.

02-24-2009, 08:48 AM	#4
WheresWaldo Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 498 Original Poster	Originally posted by roentarre Moved to the software section. Thanks for the move, I had a brain fart when I posted this and forgot about this forum.

03-10-2009, 09:16 PM	#6
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Here is a simple one that I use from time to time: CombineZ5

03-11-2009, 10:35 AM	#7
WheresWaldo Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 498 Original Poster	CombineZ5 looks interesting, thanks for the heads up. I also saw these two tutorials: 3D Micro Macro Photography Workflow Technique #072 @Digital Outback Photo

03-15-2009, 07:55 PM	#8
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	I have a book *Photoshop CS3 for Nature Photographers* that refers to the Helicon Focus on a 2 page side bar beginning on page 261. Edit: The book is by Ellen Anon and Tim Grey and published by Wiley Publishing 2007.

03-16-2009, 09:05 AM	#9
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	I'd recommend Tufuse (a front-end for Enfuse). It can do DoF stacks and Exposure stacks and image alignment as separate actions or all at the same time! For FREE! TuFuse: Exposure and Focus Blending Software There's a "Pro" version in the works with a nice GUI, but it is still in Beta (so a free download for now): TuFuse Pro: Exposure and Focus Blending Software

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