Attached Link: Stack image

Something I have seen around here and there on the web which is new to me is called "Stacking"  Only seen it used in Macro myself. It is basically taking photos with different focused points and combining those images to create a single shot with more sharpness/DOF through the image.

I haven't really looked into it and don't know if there are programs that help you do it or not. Just wanted to share my first venture into this using more that 2 shots. I have posted a couple here with 2 images put together. But this one was using 4.

I took all 4 using a tripod. Focused on the eyes first, then the thorax, then the abdomen (x2). What I found was that; each focused shot was slightly different in magnification. I think this is because I use a standard Tripod and changed the focus on the lens. Rather than using a slide which would keep the lens at the same mag. but move the camera itself. (Hope that makes sense.) So I had to adjust the size of each image in my editor program (Corel Photopaint X4). Making each one slightly transparent and reducing it to match the underlying layer shot.

Anyway, just wanted to share and see if anyone had any other info/tips about this stuff. Its a pretty cool thing for bugs (or any macro) that will sit for a while you can get the shots.

-Bruce

Hello!
Thanks for sharing Your secrets with us.You did magnificent job on this image.There is special program ,which do it for You,it is called Helicon Focus and You cab find detailed review about it here
http://luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/Helicon.shtml
Greetings.........................Wojtek
PS.You are right about differences in images.You will need a slide to make it correct or above software(pretty expansive)

Cool deal, thanks for the info. I will check it out for sure. Appreciate it.

I am glad the bug did not move that much for the shots taken!  I have used combined images at times but not posted here as I recall, mostly in attempts to produce good illustrations of jewelry and similar items.  These objects by nature require different lighting for various parts of the shot, i.e. gemstones needing more of a point source of light and metals needing some diffusion to reduce reflection. Diffusion simply kills the lighting of gemstones and bright light with no diffusion kills photos of metals..so, a combination is needed generally in my attempts by selections and not stacking of complete images, if that is what you are doing. As for this sort of image, Thundering knows lots more than I do.

Interesting thoughts you give us here.         Thanks.          Tom.

Thanks Tom. Interesting stuff about the diff. lighting on different materials.
-B

Yes it looks fabulous. Thanks for the info :-)

If you mean what I think you mean CS4 does it automatically.

Quote - If you mean what I think you mean CS4 does it automatically.

Interesting! I will look into their features

I saw a video on it on Adobe TV.Worth watching it. I think it was a female showing what is new in CS4.

Yes very interesting technique one of the features of CS4 I pointed out in the review

there is a HRD merge in Paint shop pro photo that does this sutomatically as well...I have used it a couple of times but nothing spectacular :) 

Those are both really nice pictures.