New, easy to use stacking software

[Ed Tyler]

Just tried this out on a cable clip and really happy with how it came out, Thanks again Bruce.

I did post about this on another forum and got pointed to another site with some stunning stacked images.

Could someone please advise me how I can provide a link to this site so you can see this guys work.

Thanks in advance.

Ed

[Ed Tyler]

Okay I think I may of worked it out, sorry if I have got it wrong.

LordV Macros

If the link works take a look at the images here.

Ed

[acherontia]

Originally Posted by Ed Tyler

Okay I think I may of worked it out, sorry if I have got it wrong.

LordV Macros

If the link works take a look at the images here.

Ed

Nice images there aren't they? I like the use of DOF in a lot of these.

OH has successfully used the software now - it was the menu bar he thought was missing but it seemed to have attached to his desktop? At least that's what I think it was!! LOL Silly Macs
he's very pleased with it and says - 'Ta very much la' '

I'm still doing birds - apart from a frog that I couldn't resist yesterday.

A

[Lord V]

Bruce- just to say I've tried using zerene stacker over the last few weeks and it is very good with some clear advantages over the combine series, especially in lack of haloing and also more importantly it's ability to pick up low contrast detail or slightly OOF detail.

Brian V.

[squishy]

here is an image i stacked with it:



made of 14 images at F/8 each. *

oh, bruce, i was just confused by why it can go to F/11 in manual, but only F/8 in AP mode.

* for sharpest image click again

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by squishy

here is an image i stacked with it:



made of 14 images at F/8 each. *

oh, bruce, i was just confused by why it can go to F/11 in manual, but only F/8 in AP mode.

* for sharpest image click again

That looks like a real cracker of a photo, this bit of software has obviously got a lot of scope for detailed flower photography - I'm impressed.

[Bruce Williams]

Ed - Glad you're finding Zerene Stacker to be useful. Thanks for the link to LordV's macro website - it contains some really jaw-dropping images with excellent colour and detail.

Brian - I noticed you'd mentioned Zerene in your Flicker "Focus Stacking Tutorial". Thanks for the comments. I've found that the Zerene Retouching function is really quite useful in dealing with halos, see: Zerene Stacker Retouching

Adam - You have done a fantastic job with that stack - well done!!! I strongly recommend everyone check it out Adam's image at the higher resolution (click image a second time).

I'd be interested to know how you set up for this stack. Did you use a tripod for example?

Bruce

[Lord V]

Just to show a recent focus stack using zerene- a dolichopid fly feeding on a honey drop at 4:1. The only post stack cleanup I had to do was to remove the mutliple sensor dust spots and remove the cropping border although seem to have left some artifacts on the RHS.

Brian V.

[squishy]

thats a really fantastic shot.

the retouch tool is very good. makes getting rid of halo and artefacts a doddle


that flower was taken on a tripod, yes. it's easy enough to do when the subject doesn't move. I did have to spend i while editing that one to remove noise though, but that was fairly easy as well.

[Bruce Williams]

Brian - A very clean stack showing very fine detail (eg eye bristles on both eyes) - do you recall the number of frames used to build the image?

*I recommend viewing this image at the higher resolution for best effect.

Thanks for posting.

Bruce

[Lord V]

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

Brian - A very clean stack showing very fine detail (eg eye bristles on both eyes) - do you recall the number of frames used to build the image?

*I recommend viewing this image at the higher resolution for best effect.

Thanks for posting.

Bruce

Thanks - it was 5 or 6 shots.
Brian v.

[charlieb]

Although there are only downloads for Mac and Windows, I have managed to get it working (successfully) with Linux (Ubuntu and OpenJDK on an iBook [PowerPC processor]).

I've been talking to the developers because originally they thought it wouldn't be possible, and a Linux version would be a long way off. However this recent development looks very hopeful

[nytecam]

Thanks Bruce and others for drawing attention to this ingenious sofware

[squishy]

the newest beta version can now do 3d stereo 'rocking'

visit the site again to see it

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks for the heads-up Adam .

Bruce

[AlphaZeroOne]

Bruce

I know that I popped up already in one of your threads but, having just read this one from start to finish I just wanted to say thanks for providing a really good and informative thread. You have certainly got me all fired up to give this stacking technique a go.

[ChrisR]

I've just come to this thread and the first post got me very interested - but having just visited the ZS site and finding that the beta versions will time-out and the final package costs $89 to buy I have suddenly lost interest! Also when major new versions are released users will have to buy an upgrade to use it.

What with the bad exchange rate at the moment and the current economic problems we're all suffering I think $89 is way too expensive for a hobbyist licence. A lot of hobbyist software these days is free for non-commercial use or at the very least fairly cheap.

Anyway, just my opinions

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks AphaZeroOne. I suggest you try using a tripod for your first few attempts as it will obviate any need to pre-process in Photoshop. Good luck.

ChrisR - Well there is always CombineZP which is completely free. I have used this program (and several of its earlier incarnations) for almost three years and can confirm that it is capable of producing excellent results - equally as good (in my opinion) as Zerene. However I happen to like Zerene - I prefer the user interface and I especially like its excellent retouching feature - so I will almost certainly cough up the $89 when the trial runs out. However, if Zerene moves to a major upgrade (ie, Version 2) too soon then I'll either just stick with the latest update of version 1 or switch back to CombineZP.

Bruce