Focus Stacking Software

Automated Focus Stacking Software for Product Photography

What is Focus Stacking?

Focus Stacking, often used in macro product photography, entails capturing a sequence of images at varying focal points and merging them into a single, fully focused image. Key steps in the focus stacking process include:

  • Image Capture: Capture a series of images at different focal points (focal depths). To successfully capture a set of Focus Stacked product images:
    • Ensuring the object and camera are stationary is crucial, alongside maintaining consistent lighting throughout the process. The only variable adjusted is the focal point.
    • Focal point adjustments must be made at consistent intervals.
    • The number of images captured will depend on the aperture used and the total length of product (from front to back). It is a good rule of thumb to use more images rather than less.
    • Over the set of images, the front (near) and back (far) of the product must have an acceptable level of focus
  • Stacking the Image Set: Following image capture, the in-focus portions need clipping, stacking, and blending to create the final focus-stacked image. This requires specialized software, which can be done manually or automated with leading product photography and image editing software.

When is Focus Stacking Required in Product Photography

Focus stacking is essential for capturing products entirely in focus from front to back. This is particularly crucial when photographing small items like jewelry with a macro lens, as they have a shallow depth of field. While reducing the aperture size (increasing aperture value) can enhance depth, it often compromises image sharpness and quality due to lens diffraction. Focus stacking resolves this issue by enabling users to utilize an optimal aperture "sweet spot" while achieving a fully focused image.

Focus Stacking Software

When utilizing the focus stacking plugin with Visere Captura Product Photography Software, the software streamlines image capture, processing, and stacking. To initiate focus stacking image capture, users simply specify the front and back focal points using the focal arrows in the software, select the desired number of frames for the stack, and click 'Start'. The software automates this capture process by adjusting the focal point, capturing images, uploading them, and repeating until the entire set is complete. After capture, the images are merged into a single frame based on user-defined Focus Stack Render Settings (Method, Radius, & Smoothing). Additionally, users can choose to access the individual frames used in the focus stacking set if needed. Explore more about Visere Captura's Still Product Photography Automation Tools.

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Focus Stacking Plugin for Visere Captura

Pictomic offers a variety of 360 product photography software. When working with a Pictomic computer-controlled 360 photography turntable, users have the ability to automate Focus Stacking in 360 product photography using a Visere Captura 360 Software. The workflow is similar to the still product photography focus stacking and simply requires users to define a front and back focal point and the number of frames to use during the stack. Instead of outputting a single frame, the software will integrate this into the 360 shooting workflow. User will define number of frames to capture over the 360 rotation (ex. 72 frames would be 1 capture every 5-degrees) and at each turntable position, a stacked image will be captured. The workflow will be capture sequence of images to be stacked by automating capture and focal depth, upload, compose the focus stacked image then turntable will move to position 2 and repeat the focus stack process.

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Focus Stacking in 360 Product Photography Discalimer

  • 1

    1. When incorporating focus stacking into product photography, the image capture process becomes significantly more time-consuming. Normally, capturing 36 product images (1 capture every 10 degrees) takes about 1-2 minutes, depending on the turntable used. However, when shooting a focus-stacked 360 product image, the capture process becomes much lengthier. For instance, a 360 view with 36 frames typically takes about 1.5 minutes to shoot. Consider a scenario where each of these 36 frames comprises 5 focus-stacked images – that amounts to a total of 180 frames captured. Moreover, the computer processing time (stacking X images into a single image) further contributes to the overall duration. While the 360 product photography with focus stacking process is fully automated, users should anticipate a significant increase in time within the 360 product imaging workflow when employing focus stacking.

  • 2

    1. When managing focus stacking through lens mechanics (adjusting the focal point on the camera lens via software), there may be instances of 'focus drifting'. This occurs due to imprecise measurements or movements of the camera's focal distance. For example, if the focal point adjustment is slightly off by a fraction of a millimeter, as you capture a large number of frames (e.g., >36 frames), this small discrepancy becomes amplified and can lead to issues in the final 360 result.

  • 3

    1. When shooting with your camera tilted at a downward angle (e.g., 25-degrees or greater), you may encounter 'lens creep', especially with heavier lenses. This phenomenon occurs due to small vibrations, such as the movement of the mirror and shutter opening and closing, assisting gravity to subtly adjust the lens's focusing element. Depending on the lens used, a lens band (e.g., elastic or tape) can establish a direct mechanical link between the focusing ring and the focusing elements, preventing movement. Additionally, our software includes features like 'Leave Live View on After Capture' to minimize camera movement.

Explore Focus Stacking

Explore the capabilities of Pictomic for 360 Product Photography Focus Stacking. With the acquisition of our Visere Captura 360 software, you gain access to a trial version of our focus stacking plugin. This provides an opportunity to evaluate its functionality and benefits before making a purchasing decision.

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