Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field?

Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
> One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
> depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
> each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
> areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
> I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
> points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
> the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
> for software.

Yes! I just read about this a couple of days ago. Downloaded it, haven't
tried it out yet.

http://www.heliconfocus.com/
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

Cynicor wrote:

> Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
>
>> One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
>> depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
>> each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
>> areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
>> I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
>> points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
>> the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
>> for software.
>
>
> Yes! I just read about this a couple of days ago. Downloaded it, haven't
> tried it out yet.
>
> http://www.heliconfocus.com/

Wow! This looks like exactly what I need. It even works with
16-bit files. Thanks! I'll try it.

Roger
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

wilt wrote:
> Cynicor wrote:
>> Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
>>> One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
>>> depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
>>> each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
>>> areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
>>> I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
>>> points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
>>> the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
>>> for software.
>> Yes! I just read about this a couple of days ago. Downloaded it, haven't
>> tried it out yet.
>>
>> http://www.heliconfocus.com/
>
> Taking a whole series of photos, all focused at a different plane in
> space, and the photocompositing them with automated software...that is
> what this program does, and it is NOT the same as one photo taken and
> processed to have deep DOF, which is what the OP wants to do.

?? What does "a stack of images" mean to you?
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 11:11:54 -0400, Cynicor
<jt__rup__i_n.TakeThisOut@speak__easy.net> wrote:

>Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
>> One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
>> depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
>> each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
>> areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
>> I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
>> points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
>> the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
>> for software.
>
>Yes! I just read about this a couple of days ago. Downloaded it, haven't
>tried it out yet.
>
>http://www.heliconfocus.com/

I just d/loaded this, and I'm looking forward to trying it out.
Sounds like a very interesting piece of software. Thanks!
--
Bill Funk
replace "g" with "a"
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

In article <1156605723.304157.300390 RemoveThis @m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>, wilt
<wiltw RemoveThis @aol.com> writes
>
>Cynicor wrote:
>> Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
>> > One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
>> > depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
>> > each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
>> > areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
>> > I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
>> > points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
>> > the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
>> > for software.
>>
>> Yes! I just read about this a couple of days ago. Downloaded it, haven't
>> tried it out yet.
>>
>> http://www.heliconfocus.com/
>
>Taking a whole series of photos, all focused at a different plane in
>space, and the photocompositing them with automated software...that is
>what this program does, and it is NOT the same as one photo taken and
>processed to have deep DOF, which is what the OP wants to do.
>
>I have seen claim about software to do what the OP wants to do, but I
>have no idea if it is any more than yet another claim...the
>photographic version of Snake Oil
>
A friend of mine, a very accomplished photomicrographer, started using
helicon focus a few months ago. He has achieved some astonishing
results, and reckons it is one of the most significant "happenings" in
PM in his career. It does require a fairly fast computer, and it does
have a tendency to produce artefacts on some types of image; IIRC,
objects with hard edges have sometimes produced multiple facets.

I was certainly well impressed enough that I plan to get hold of a copy
as soon as I update my computer.

I cannot report specifically about its performance in photomacrography,
as opposed to photomicrography, but I cannot see any reason in principle
why it should not work there as well. If you search around the web I'm
sure you will find some discussion by experienced users which may
enlighten you more than my second-hand knowledge can.

David
--
David Littlewood
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

"Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" <username.DeleteThis@qwest.net>
wrote in message news:44F084C6.1040808@qwest.net...
SNIP
>> http://www.heliconfocus.com/
>
> Wow! This looks like exactly what I need. It even works with
> 16-bit files. Thanks! I'll try it.

There is also an alternative (free) program called CombineZ;
<http://www.hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/CZ5/combinez5.htm> , but
Helicon (Pro which allows masks for ultimate control) often gets the
best reviews.

--
Bart
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

Cynicor wrote:
> Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
> > One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
> > depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
> > each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
> > areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
> > I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
> > points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
> > the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
> > for software.
>
> Yes! I just read about this a couple of days ago. Downloaded it, haven't
> tried it out yet.
>
> http://www.heliconfocus.com/

Wow, super neat program thanks for the link.
This is a test shot I did of a 1/4 20 bolt, no way to get that kind of
DOF and
resolution at the same time in a single shot.
http://www.pbase.com/konascott/image/65830450/original

I find that it works best when using a lot of images with small shift
of the focal point,
the above shot was made from 14 images, it took about 5 mintues to make
the output
image.

Scott
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

"Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" <username DeleteThis @qwest.net> wrote in
message news:44F0620E.80906@qwest.net...
> One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
> depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
> each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
> areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
> I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
> points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
> the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
> for software.
>
> Roger


Have you given Registax a try, it is used in astronomical photography to
"stack" lots of images. It may not be what you want of course.

http://registax.astronomy.net/

http://www.photo-freeware.net/registax.php
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

Pete D wrote:

> "Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" <username.TakeThisOut@qwest.net> wrote in
> message news:44F0620E.80906@qwest.net...
>
>>One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
>>depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
>>each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
>>areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
>>I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
>>points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
>>the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
>>for software.
>>
>>Roger
>
> Have you given Registax a try, it is used in astronomical photography to
> "stack" lots of images. It may not be what you want of course.
>
> http://registax.astronomy.net/
>
> http://www.photo-freeware.net/registax.php

I have registax and ImagesPlus. While they will both do
the registration, but then one needs to select which portion of an
image is sharpest and produce an image with only the sharpest
single parts of each image. I think registax and imagesplus
will average the stack to some degree, depending on the weights
of the individual images (I use imagesplus for astrophotos
of the planets where you stack hundreds of frames).
I guess they should be tried to see what they actually do because
I might be wrong.

Roger
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
> Scott W wrote:
>
> > Cynicor wrote:
> >
> >>Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
> >>
> >>>One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
> >>>depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
> >>>each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
> >>>areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
> >>>I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
> >>>points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
> >>>the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
> >>>for software.
> >>
> >>Yes! I just read about this a couple of days ago. Downloaded it, haven't
> >>tried it out yet.
> >>
> >>http://www.heliconfocus.com/
> >
> >
> > Wow, super neat program thanks for the link.
> > This is a test shot I did of a 1/4 20 bolt, no way to get that kind of
> > DOF and
> > resolution at the same time in a single shot.
> > http://www.pbase.com/konascott/image/65830450/original
> >
> > I find that it works best when using a lot of images with small shift
> > of the focal point,
> > the above shot was made from 14 images, it took about 5 mintues to make
> > the output
> > image.
> >
> > Scott
> >
> Scott,
> Pretty neat. What f/stop and magnification did you use?
>
Magnification was right around 0.5 (I used the 70-300 sigma lens) shot
at f/11.
This program might just push me into getting a real macro lens.

Much past f/11 and images from the 350D (or 20D) start to get some what
soft.

Scott
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
> Scott W wrote:
>
> > Cynicor wrote:
> >
> >>Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
> >>
> >>>One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
> >>>depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
> >>>each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
> >>>areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
> >>>I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
> >>>points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
> >>>the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
> >>>for software.
> >>
> >>Yes! I just read about this a couple of days ago. Downloaded it, haven't
> >>tried it out yet.
> >>
> >>http://www.heliconfocus.com/
> >
> >
> > Wow, super neat program thanks for the link.
> > This is a test shot I did of a 1/4 20 bolt, no way to get that kind of
> > DOF and
> > resolution at the same time in a single shot.
> > http://www.pbase.com/konascott/image/65830450/original
> >
> > I find that it works best when using a lot of images with small shift
> > of the focal point,
> > the above shot was made from 14 images, it took about 5 mintues to make
> > the output
> > image.
> >
> > Scott
> >
> Scott,
> Pretty neat. What f/stop and magnification did you use?
>
> Roger

Here is another one, also at f/11 and Mag of about 0.5x
http://www.pbase.com/konascott/image/65838415/large
Hit original at the bottom of the photo to get a much higher res view.
This was put together with 24 images.
Workflow was raw -> 16/color tiffs and then ran it through Helicon with
the output as a 16 bit / color PSD.

It would appear that it can directly use raw files so I might give that
a go just
to see how that works.

Scott
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

Scott W wrote:

> Cynicor wrote:
>
>>Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
>>
>>>One of the big issues with macro photography is the narrow
>>>depth of field. Is there any software that will take a stack of images,
>>>each at a slightly different focal point and extract the sharpest
>>>areas and assemble one image with greater depth of field?
>>>I've been taking some macro shots where I get several focal
>>>points with different parts of the subject in focus, then merging
>>>the images in photoshop. It is tedious and seems ideal
>>>for software.
>>
>>Yes! I just read about this a couple of days ago. Downloaded it, haven't
>>tried it out yet.
>>
>>http://www.heliconfocus.com/
>
>
> Wow, super neat program thanks for the link.
> This is a test shot I did of a 1/4 20 bolt, no way to get that kind of
> DOF and
> resolution at the same time in a single shot.
> http://www.pbase.com/konascott/image/65830450/original
>
> I find that it works best when using a lot of images with small shift
> of the focal point,
> the above shot was made from 14 images, it took about 5 mintues to make
> the output
> image.
>
> Scott
>
Scott,
Pretty neat. What f/stop and magnification did you use?

Roger
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field? 

Cynicor wrote:
> >> Pretty neat. What f/stop and magnification did you use?
> >>
> > Magnification was right around 0.5 (I used the 70-300 sigma lens) shot
> > at f/11.
> > This program might just push me into getting a real macro lens.
>
>
> Well, looks like I just made the most expensive post in history...

Could be, but now the question is which macro lens. Canon has a great
one that goes from 1 to 5x but it does not focus, you have to move the
camera, this would not be so good for this application.

It looks like a fair macro lens is going to set me back about $450 and
a good one closer to $1200.

Scott
 >> Stay informed about: Macro photography: software for extreme depth of field?