Focus Stacking

1) MACRO REVIEW

2) FOCUS STACKING

4) PROJECT: FOCUS STACKING

1) MACRO REVIEW

In Photo 20, you completed a course in Macro photography, using four different kinds of macro gear:

- Sigma 70-300mm telephoto / macro lens

- Close-up filters

- Reverse lens

- Extension tubes

2) FOCUS STACKING

One of the drawbacks of shooting macro is that depth of field is shrunk considerably, no matter what aperture you use. To get around this, we can use some digital tricks to combine multiple images, each with a different focal point.

See image below. The first image has only the head in focus, whereas the second image has the rear in focus. The third image has been "focus-stacked". When done smoothly this can create a wonderfully consistent sharp image everywhere you want to be in focus.

(Source: Muhammed Mahdi Karim: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_stacking#/media/File:Focus_stacking_Tachinid_fly.jpg)

PROCESS FOR CREATING A FOCUS-STACKED MACRO IMAGE:

1) Take a series of macro images in the exact same position except change the plane of focus ever so slightly in each one so that over the course of 3-10 images every part of your subject is in focus in at least one shot. Note: the pros use specialized focus rails that allow the camera to be stable and moved incrementally using a knob. You'll have to find another way (adjust manual focus, have subject on slideable paper you can move easily one millimeter at a time, etc.).

2) Open up Lightroom, choose one of your images, and do as much developing as you see fit. (You can probably save things like Vignette until the final step).

3) Sync your edits with the rest of your images.

4) Select all of your images on the filmstrip, right-click, and select Edit In > Open as Layers in Photoshop.

5) Once Photoshop has opened all images in stacked layers (could take a while if there are a lot), select Edit > Auto-Align Layers. Choose Auto. This will hopefully fix any "wobbling" or inconsistent composition between your images. The stiller your camera was, the the better this effect will be.

6) If there are "unusable" areas around the edge of your image (i.e. "checkers"), you can crop them out at this point.

7) Select Edit > Auto-Blend Layers. Choose Stack Images and leave other settings as is. This is the magic step! Photoshop will now create a customized layer mask on every image to try to reveal all the areas of sharpness across all images.

8) Select File > Save and you will be returned to Lightroom, where your stacked image should now appear on your filmstrip!

9) Make any final edits (this is when you can add vignette if you'd like) and export your image!

The two video tutorials below are excellent demonstrations! Watch them!

This is a quick demo of the Photoshop Auto-Align and Auto-Blend functions:

This video includes the Lightroom part of the process. You can start it at 11:30, since the first half is all about using focus rails (which we don't have, unfortunately):

3) PROJECT: FOCUS STACKING

Your goal is to generate two focus-stacked images that demonstrate how a series of individual shots, each with a different plane of focus, can be combined to show continuous sharp focus across your entire subject.

Achieving that goal will be less simple!

ONE SET CAN BE NON-MACRO (like the first video) AND THE SECOND WILL BE MACRO

You can use any of the macro gear available to you. You can also combine elements for new and more powerful effects (extension tubes + close-up filters).

You are welcome to use the light tables or studio lights or even flashlights to help illuminate your subject.

You will need a tripod. And also remember: The closer-up you are, the less light you'll have to work with!

If this is quick and successful for you, consider taking a few more sets. Practice = better!

WHAT EXACTLY TO DO FOR THIS PROJECT

PART 1: NON-MACRO (i.e. getting the hang of focus stacking)

1) Set up a non-macro shot first by using toys or props at different depths, like in the first video.

2) Set up your camera on a tripod and shoot a series of images, each with a different subject in focus.

3) Import your images into Photoshop using the command File > Scripts > Load Files Into Stack.

4) Follow steps 5-7 from the section above (create the focus stacking effect). Save your final image as "Non macro.jpg".

PART 2: MACRO

5) Choose a macro subject and position carefully.

6) Follow all steps 1-9 from the "Process for creating a focus-stacked macro image" section above (scroll up!).

TO HAND IN:

7) Export your macro focus stacked image and re-name it "Macro.jpg".

8) Create a Google Drive folder (inside your Photo 30 folder) called "Focus Stacking".

9) Upload both completed images to the Focus Stacking Drive folder, and also add all of the individual source images used to create them.

10) Right-click on the Focus Stacking Drive folder and copy the link (Get Link > Copy Link).

11) In Classroom, go to Add/Create and select Link. Paste the copied link.

12) Complete the rubric in Classroom and turn in!

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