Focus stacking software kweschun

[Dmitri]

I have ps5 which has focus stacking (auto-blend), but I know there are programs devoted to the job (helicon for example). I was wondering how they stack up (hah) against each other. Is PS5 good enough or does it lack behind the others?

Thanks

 

[Overread15 3]

Photoshop 5 - Helicon focus - CombineZP - Zerene Stacker

Those are the options on the market that I am aware of at the moment and in general there isn't a market leader. So very much like noise reduction - sharpening and many other editing processes no single program beats all the others; whilst each one will have slightly different controls and effects.

However with focus stacking software the slight differences can be the difference between a stack that works and one that totally fails. Based on the larger investment in time and effort in getting a series of shots for stacking even before getting to editing I, personally, think that its worth (over time) building up and learning to use the whole series of options. Chances are one will become your main use, but for specific situations you'll have the others to draw upon. Everyone can get at least one if not two (CombineZP is legally freeware so no costs attached) and if you are working for home use only the fees on the others (barring PS5) are quite reasonable.

 

[480sparky39 38]

Add Picolay to the list.

 

[Dmitri]

Oh great,, I didn't know about CombineZP. When I searched for that name I got a comparison thread from another site, comparing Helicon and Combine. It seems the free one (yay free!) is better than Helicon anyway. Thanks for the info!

 

[480sparky39 38]

Picolay is a freebie too.

 

[Overread15 3]

Dmitri - be careful with the review dates as the focus stacking software (Esp helicon ) has had some big changes and upgrades. But yeah they really are all good options (though I'll have to try Picola)

 

[Dmitri]

Any idea what the difference between combineZP and combineZM?

 

[Overread15 3]

ZP is the newer version of the software and also comes with an easy to use guide = the ZM is the older version, but is still downloadable from the website. In my experiences ZP is also the faster of the two when processing.

 

[Dmitri]

ok cool. Thanks again Overread, you're the best.

 

[Dmitri]

Hey, have you ever had problems with CombineZP and your comp? I ask because I used it and it worked fine, but a few minutes after I shut it down I got the Blue Screen of Death (which is the first time I have seen it on this computer). They could be unrelated, but the timing was coincidental.

Did you hear anything about problems like this?

 

[Overread15 3]

Hmm never had any problems like that in my experience - did the program slow your computer down a lot? In my experience focus stacking software puts a big drain on computer resources and it might be that that (combined with multitasking at the time) might have pushed your computer a little too hard? The other option might be cooling - if your computer was working hard it might have overheated a bit.

 

[Dmitri]

Nah it ran fine, but it isn't a top of line computer so it could be like you said. ugh. Thanks again.