Focus Stacking in Photography – Step by Step Tutorial

Focus stacking is a way that opens a complete new world of potentialities in your images.

For many photographers, studying methods to focus stack their photos could sound intimidating, like one thing solely professional photographers can do. I felt the identical too, however as soon as I discovered methods to focus stack my photos, I used to be ready so as to add extra depth to my panorama compositions.

In this step-by-step focus stacking information, you’ll study not solely what focus stacking is, however I’ll present you methods to apply this system on location, and methods to use the greatest focus stacking software program.

I’ve divided the data into easy-to-understand sections, so you possibly can simply comply with alongside:

What is focus stacking?

Focus stacking (also called focus mixing) is a way that means that you can create photos which are sharp from entrance to again. In sure conditions, your aperture, focal size, or distance from the topic can restrict the areas in focus in your picture. In these moments you possibly can depend on focus stacking your photos to successfully enhance your depth of area, maximizing the main target in your picture with no limitations.

Focus stacking works greatest when the topic you might be photographing isn’t shifting, which makes it very helpful in quite a lot of images genres corresponding to panorama, macro, and product images.

Comparing a focus-stacked {photograph} 

To higher perceive the various factors affecting the main target of your picture (aperture, focal size, distance from the topic), I like to recommend checking our depth of area in images information.

Something that’s price mentioning is the distinction between focus stacking and focus bracketing. Focus bracketing consists of taking a number of pictures at completely different focal planes (focus factors), whereas focus stacking is the act of mixing these images to create a single picture that’s sharp right through. Although they’re technically completely different actions, they’re typically used to seek advice from the entire course of. For the sake of simplicity and readability, on this article, we are going to deal with them as the identical

NOTE: Don’t mistake focus stacking with focal stacking. When you focus stack, you mix photos taken at completely different focus factors, whereas focal stacking means mixing photos taken at completely different focal lengths.

Why is focus stacking helpful?

As I discussed, sure conditions current a bigger depth of area than what your aperture, focal size, or distance to your topic can present.

Focusing on the hyperfocal distance may help to maximise your depth of area, however it’s ineffective when there’s a topic only a few inches away out of your digital camera.

Another possibility is closing your aperture, which is able to enhance your depth of area, nonetheless, diffraction may change into a difficulty. Exposure would even be affected, and also you’d must readjust most of your settings.

Focus stacking is the perfect resolution for all these eventualities. It means that you can hold your aperture at decrease values, across the candy spot of your lens, and nonetheless get tack-sharp photos right through. The solely downside is you could spend just a few extra minutes in post-processing to focus mix the photographs, however as you’ll see later within the article, it’s very simple.

When to make use of focus stacking

Focus stacking in images is a really helpful method. However, you don’t want to make use of it each time. As with any highly effective device, it’s necessary to know when to make use of it and when not.

rule of thumb to know when you ought to focus mix your photos is to decide on your composition, take a check shot together with your remaining settings, and assessment the picture. If you discover any blurry components, and also you need them to be in focus, then it is best to focus stack.

These are the principle eventualities the place focus mixing your photos (keep in mind, the identical as focus stacking) is helpful:

• With an ultra-wide-angle lens (17mm or wider) the place you’ve gotten components within the foreground very near your lens, like rocks or flowers, and components within the midground and background corresponding to waterfalls or mountains.
• Using a telephoto lens and attempting to border a distant topic in a scene the place there are components at completely different distances and also you wish to get every part in focus.
• In macro images, if you need your photos in focus right through.

On the opposite hand, these are the conditions the place you don’t have to focus stack:

• When you might be on the lookout for a shallow depth of area since you wish to isolate the topic in your {photograph}, as in portrait images.
• If your topic is shifting quick. For instance, in sports activities or wildlife images.
• After taking the primary photograph, when you discover every part in acceptable focus.

How to focus stack – Step by Step information 

The focus stacking course of can look daunting at first, nevertheless it’s simpler than it appears.

This is, in a nutshell, the perfect option to do a spotlight stacking:

1. Choose your composition

The first step if you wish to focus stack is to compose your picture. Sometimes, the kind of composition you select will decide if you could focus stack or not, so all the time begin by ensuring that you simply get the perfect composition.

One of the commonest conditions to focus stack is when you’ve gotten a foreground aspect that could be very near your digital camera.

You can discover some inspiration and examples in our images composition article.

2. Place your tripod

Make certain it’s regular – in case your tripod strikes in the course of the course of, it’ll be tougher to mix your photos later in post-processing.

3. Close your aperture for focus stacking

As talked about earlier, your aperture instantly impacts your depth of area. Closing your aperture will grant a better depth of area, and subsequently you’ll have to take fewer photos.

Bear in thoughts that, as you shut your aperture, there’ll be extra optical diffraction in your picture, and also you’ll danger dropping picture high quality.

4. Dial in your shutter velocity

Select your shutter velocity relying on how briskly your topic is shifting. I like to recommend utilizing quick shutter speeds, about ½ second or sooner. This method the time hole between the primary picture and the final one can be brief.

If you might be capturing fast-moving topics like flowers being blown by the wind, you’ll have to make use of a quick shutter velocity, like 1/500 or sooner relying on the motion.

5. Set your ISO

Ideally, you wish to use the bottom ISO potential, nonetheless, in case your scene requires rising the publicity after you’ve dialed in your aperture and shutter velocity settings, you possibly can compensate by rising your ISO.

instance is, once more, shifting topics the place you’ll have to make use of a quick shutter velocity. In these instances, elevating the ISO would be the solely choice to compensate the publicity triangle contemplating you might be utilizing an in depth aperture.

6. Focus and shoot in numerous areas

In this step, you need to use the autofocus or guide focus. I like to recommend beginning on the entrance and dealing your option to the again. Start specializing in the weather you’ve gotten in your foreground, then transfer to your midground, and eventually shoot your background.

The variety of photos that you simply want relies upon once more in your aperture, focal size, and the gap from the closest aspect. Sometimes two photos can be sufficient whereas different instances you’ll must seize a number of extra to get all of the completely different areas in focus.

NOTE: Some digital camera fashions have a built-in focus bracketing and stacking mode that can automate this course of. You’ll discover a full record of fashions within the F.A.Q part on the backside of this text.

7. Check the main target in all of your pictures

Make certain you’ve coated your entire focal airplane of your picture. If you encounter a component that’s out of focus, repeat that single shot or return to step 4 and re-do it throughout. Similarly, if the brightness of the scene has shifted, it is best to begin once more from step 4.

8. Focus stack your photos in Photoshop or some other focus stacking software program

Once you’ve focus bracketed your photos, it’s elementary to make use of some software program to mix all the photographs and have a remaining picture with the utmost focus.

In the following part, I’ll present you methods to focus stack in Photoshop, Lightroom, and Helicon Focus.

Focus stacking in Photoshop

Focus stacking in Photoshop may be finished following only a few easy steps.

Before studying methods to focus stack in Photoshop, ensure you’ve focus bracketed your photographs on location as that would be the base for this course of.

In this tutorial, I can be utilizing Photoshop 2022, nonetheless, the identical steps apply to earlier variations of Photoshop.

1. Open your photos in Photoshop

Click on the File menu, then go all the way in which all the way down to Scripts and choose Load Files into Stack…

2. Find your photos.

In the brand new window click on Browse, then discover and choose your photos, lastly click on OK:

NOTE: You might verify the primary field to have Photoshop auto-align the layers if you click on OK, nonetheless, I like to recommend aligning your photos after you’ve imported them.

3. Select all of your layers.

Click on the primary layer, then holding the Shift key, click on on the final layer.

4. Auto-Align the layers.

Open the Edit menu, then click on on Auto-Align Layers…

5. Chose Auto projection.

Under Projection, go away it as Auto after which click on OK. This step may take from just a few seconds to a couple minutes relying in your pc and the variety of photos you imported.

NOTE: Don’t skip this step even when you used a tripod. Any minor vibrations between the photographs, and even focus respiration might trigger your photos to not be aligned correctly by default.

6. Auto-Blend Layers.

Keep all of your layers chosen, then open the Edit menu once more, and click on this time on Auto-Blend Layers:

7. Select Stack Images.

Under Blend Method choose Stack Images, go away each checkboxes on the backside unchecked, then click on OK.

NOTE: I don’t suggest utilizing Seamless Tones and Colors as a result of it’ll make slight publicity and colour changes in some areas of your picture, which may end up in undesirable artifacts that can require masking and different corrections.

This step takes between just a few seconds to a couple minutes relying in your pc and the variety of photos you imported.

8. Check the ensuing focus stacked picture.

At this level, the main target stacking course of is full. Zoom in to your picture and ensure every part appears to be like good.

Photoshop isn’t excellent, and typically the main target stacking outcome may not be 100% correct. In the following part, I’ll present you methods to repair any errors.

 

fixing focus stacking imperfections in photoshop

Photoshop doesn’t all the time do an awesome job at focus stacking, and also you may discover some errors right here and there. After focus stacking your picture in Photoshop, zoom in and ensure every part appears to be like good, it you discover any visible glitch, comply with the directions bellow to repair them.

Focus stacking in Lightroom

Starting your focus stacking course of in Lightroom comes with just a few advantages. If you could make any changes to your pictures, you possibly can simply apply them on this software program. What’s nice about Lightroom, is the flexibility to batch course of your images, which hurries up the modifying course of.

To focus stack in Lightroom comply with these easy steps:

1. Import your photos into Lightroom.

In the Library tab, click on on Import, then find the photographs you wish to import for focus stacking.

2. Open the Develop module.

Click on Develop on the high proper nook.

3. Edit your picture.

Apply any changes you could your picture. You may wish to alter your publicity in order that it matches in all the pictures, or perhaps lens corrections when you used an ultra-wide angle lens which can trigger distortion.

4. Synchronize the settings.

Once you might be glad together with your picture, choose all the photographs you imported by clicking on the primary one, then maintain Shift and click on on the final picture. Now click on on Sync…

In the brand new window, click on Check All, then click on on Synchronize.

5. Open as Layers in Photoshop.

Keep all of your photos chosen, then right-click on any of the photographs and go to Edit – Open as Layers in Photoshop.

6. Focus stack your photos.

Once you open your photos in Photoshop, comply with steps 3 to eight within the earlier part.

When utilizing Lightroom, you continue to want Photoshop to do the precise focus stacking course of. As of in the present day, Lightroom doesn’t have a built-in focus stacking device. You can get Lightroom and Photoshop as a bundle for $9.99/month.

Other focus stacking software program – Helicon Focus Stacking

Helicon Focus is the perfect and most superior focus stacker you will discover. Although it’s not excellent, it’s sooner and extra correct at focus stacking than Photoshop.

I didn’t wish to miss Helicon Focus on this focus stacking tutorial, so right here is methods to use Helicon Focus:

1. Locate your photos.

Open a brand new home windows explorer window or a brand new Finder window and discover the photographs you wish to import for focus stacking.

2. Select the photographs.

Click on the primary one, then holding the Shift key, click on on the final one you wish to import.

3. Drag and drop the photographs.

Drag all the chosen pictures and drop them in Helicon Focus.

4. Render your picture.

Click on the Render Default settings will get the job finished.

NOTE: Rendering time will rely upon the variety of photos you’ve imported, and your pc processing capability.

5. Save your picture.

Once the rendering is completed, click on on the Saving tab, then choose the saving or publishing possibility of your alternative.

I’ve been utilizing Helicon Focus for years and, as I discussed, it’s a lot sooner and correct than photoshop if you wish to focus stack your photos. The solely draw back of this software program comes when there are shifting components (like flowers blown by the wind), however in most eventualities, you’ll be capable to focus stack your pictures in seconds.

You can get Helicon Focus right here at a worth of $30/yr or $115 for a lifetime license. They additionally supply a free trial model.

Focus Stacking Examples

Learning how focus stacking works and how one can apply it to your images will put you on the suitable path to changing into a greater photographer.

However, one of the best ways to grasp a brand new idea corresponding to focus stacking is thru visible examples.

I’ve chosen some photos that I took utilizing the focus stacking method. I hope these will get you impressed to your subsequent focus stacking session.

Focus stacking in panorama images

As I’ve coated via this text, focus stacking in panorama images is extraordinarily helpful.

One of the commonest panorama composition strategies is to have a robust foreground, with main traces, flowers, rocks… This creates a really highly effective picture. However, in these conditions, it’s nearly unattainable to get every part sharp in a single photograph and you could focus stack. 

Focus stacking in macro images

Macro images is the style that advantages probably the most from focus stacking. Macro lenses are identified for having a very shallow depth of area and the topic is normally very near the lens, making it nearly unattainable to get your entire picture in focus in a single shot. If you might be into macro images, it is a method it’s essential to study.

Comparing depth of area in a macro photograph 

Macro photographers usually use some specialised instruments corresponding to focus stacking rails to get extra precision.

Focus stacking in astrophotography

In astrophotography, we use very extensive apertures, typically f/2.8 or wider, to seize extra gentle. This reduces our depth of area, which is able to in flip power us to focus stack if we have now components within the foreground. An excellent instance of that is Milky Way images, the place we typically have a topic within the foreground.

Check out our Milky Way images information to study extra about this fascinating style.

You can apply focus stacking guidelines when capturing at evening.

Best ideas for focus stacking

Over the years, I’ve change into extra environment friendly at how I focus stack my photos. I’ve put collectively this record of focus mixing ideas that can assist you keep away from a number of the errors I made at first.

• Close your aperture in your lens

Most of my focus stacked pictures are taken between f/11 and f/16. This reduces the variety of photos wanted to cowl the entire focal airplane of the picture.

When closing the aperture for focus stacking, all the time take into account optical diffraction. If your objective is to seize the sharpest photos, I don’t suggest going over f/16 on most lenses.

• Take extra photos than you assume you want.

Being environment friendly doesn’t imply it’s a must to rush via the method. It’s higher to have photographs you gained’t want than the opposite method round. Take your time and ensure you’ve coated all of the focus factors in your composition.

In scenes the place the sunshine isn’t altering a lot, guide mode will present higher outcomes at making certain constant publicity throughout all pictures. Manual mode additionally grants higher management over the settings, permitting you to verify every part appears to be like optimum.

Take {a photograph} of your hand earlier than capturing your first picture and after you shoot the final one. During the modifying course of, this may assist you understand the place your focus bracketed photos start and the place they finish, which is able to make issues simpler throughout post-processing.

• Always zoom in and assessment the person photos, and ensure your entire focal airplane of the picture is roofed.

Focus stacking F.A.Q

These are the commonest questions in terms of understanding focus stacking:

Conclusion

Hopefully, after studying this focus stacking information you’ll determine to try to put this highly effective method into observe. For me, it was a game-changer in my images.

Additionally, understanding when and methods to use focus stacking will change into second nature the extra you observe. I encourage you to seize your digital camera and mess around with this system. The subsequent time you see a scene the place utilizing the hyperfocal distance isn’t sufficient to get the utmost focus, you’ll know one of the best ways to seize a pointy picture from entrance to again.

When it involves focus stacking software program, do not forget that this step is vital to merge all the photographs. Focus stacking in Photoshop is feasible, but when you end up focus stacking so much, I like to recommend utilizing Helicon Focus because it makes the method sooner and simpler.

If you’ve gotten any questions associated to focus stacking, be at liberty to submit them within the feedback beneath!