Focus Stacking Software
Automated Focus Stacking Software with Camera Control
While there are many options for Focus Stacking Software’s, Iconasys offers a unique approach that streamlines the focus stacking photography process and makes it simple for users of any skill level. Focus Stacking is available in our Shutter Stream and Shutter Stream 360 Product Photography Software’s through our optional Focus Stacking plugin. This is primarily used for small object photography (ex. jewelry) when shooting with a Macro Lens. When integrating the plugin within Shutter Stream Software, users are able to define the focus stack composition by setting the near and far focal point using a large real-time preview and defining number of frames to stack. The focus stack image capture process is automated entirely via then automate after which the image set is uploaded to the computer to create the final image (advanced user can manually set focus stacking render settings).
If you’re looking for a fast, easy Focus Stacking Software, Iconasys has you covered.
Create high-quality focus stacked still and 360 product photography with the Shutter Stream Focus Stacking Software Plugin
Focus Stacking Software
Automated Focus Stacking Software with Camera Control
While there are many options for Focus Stacking Software’s, Iconasys offers a unique approach that streamlines the focus stacking photography process and makes it simple for users of any skill level. Focus Stacking is available in our Shutter Stream and Shutter Stream 360 Product Photography Software’s through our optional Focus Stacking plugin. This is primarily used for small object photography (ex. jewelry) when shooting with a Macro Lens. When integrating the plugin within Shutter Stream Software, users are able to define the focus stack composition by setting the near and far focal point using a large real-time preview and defining number of frames to stack. The focus stack image capture process is automated entirely via then automate after which the image set is uploaded to the computer to create the final image (advanced user can manually set focus stacking render settings).
If you’re looking for a fast, easy Focus Stacking Software, Iconasys has you covered.
Create high-quality focus stacked still and 360 product photography with the Shutter Stream Focus Stacking Software Plugin
Automated Focus Stacking Software for Product Photography
What is Focus Stacking?
Focus Stacking is common in macro product photography and involves capturing a series of images, at different focal points, then combining the image set to make a single image that is fully in focus. The focus stacking process involves:
- Image Capture: Capture a series of images at different focal points (focal depths). To successfully capture a set of Focus Stacked product images:
- It is critical the object and camera remain in a fixed position. Lighting must also remain consistent. The only variable changing will be the focal point.
- Focal point adjustments must made at consistent depths.
- 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: After the image capture process, images will need to be clipped (cut out the in focus portion of image), stacked (stack the set of in focus images) and blended to make the final focus stacked image. This will requires specialized software and can be done manually, or in the case of leading product photography and image editing software’s, automated.
When is Focus Stacking Required in Product Photography?
Focus stacking in product photography is sometimes required to capture a product fully in focus from front to back. This holds especially true when shooting small items (ex. jewelry) with a Macro Lens due to their shallow depth of field. While the option of decreasing the Aperture size (increase Aperture value) can allow for greater depth to be captured, image sharpness and quality can be severely hindered due to lens diffraction. Focus stacking bridges this gap allowing users to use an optimal ‘sweet spot’ Aperture while being able to create a fully in focus image.
Slide left/right to view before and after Focus Stacking
Automated Still & 360 Product Photography Focus Stacking Software from Iconasys
The focus stacking process can be tedious, time consuming and typically requires skilled users and many specialized tools and software. Iconasys Shutter Stream Still & 360 Product Photography Software’s completely automate the focus stacking workflow – enabling users of any skill level to easily and efficiently create high quality, full in focus still and 360 product photography. The Iconasys Focus Stacking plugin will be required to enable focus stacking shooting mode inside the Shutter Stream Software.
How it Works: Focus Stacking Software
When using the focus stacking plugin with Shutter Stream Product Photography Software, the software will automate image capture, processing and stacking. For focus stacking image capture, users simply define the front and back focal point (using the focal arrows in the software), select the number of frames to be captured during the stack, the hit ‘Start’. The software will automate this capture process in an adjust focal point, snap, upload process and repeat until the set of images has been captured. After capture, the images are combined into a single frame using user defined Focus Stack Render Settings (Method, Radius & Smoothing). In addition to the final focus stacked image, users can have access to the the individual frames used in the focus stacking set (optional). Learn more about Iconasys Still Product Photography Automation Tools.
Still Product Photography Focus Stacking Software Video
Focus Stacking Software for 360 Product Photography
For those looking to shoot Focus Stacked 360 Product Photography, look no further. Iconasys, a leader in 360 product photography offers fully automated equipment and software for 360 focus stack photography.
Focus Stacking Plugin for Shutter Stream 360 Product Photography Software
Iconasys offers a variety of 360 product photography software. When working with an Iconasys computer controlled 360 photography turntable, users have the ability to automate Focus Stacking in 360 product photography using a Shutter Stream 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.
This 360 Product Photography example was shot using 36 frames (1 capture every 10-degrees). Each frame was stacked using 4 images.
View the non focus stacked 360 product photography example.
360 Product Photography Focus Stacking Video
Focus Stacking in 360 Product Photography Disclaimer
- When shooting product photography with focus stacking, the image capture workflow becomes a lot more time consuming. Typically, capturing 36 product images (1 capture every 10 degrees) takes about 1-2 minutes pending what turntable is being used. When shooting a focus stacked 360 product image, the process time is amplified in the capture process, becoming a lot more time consuming. For example, a 360 view with 36 frames typically takes about 1.5 minutes to shoot. Think in the case, shooting a 360 view composed of 36 frames with each frame being composed of 5 focus stacked images – that’s a total of 180 frames captured. In addition, the computer processing time (stacking X images into a single image) adds to the overall process time. While the 360 Product Photography with Focus Stacking process is entirely automated, users should expect a significant time increase in the 360 product imaging workflow when using Focus Stacking.
- When controlling focus stacking using the lens mechanics (adjusting focal point on the camera lens through any software) there will be cases of ‘focus drifting’. This is caused by imprecise measurements/movements of the cameras focal distance (ex. focal point adjustment is off by a fraction of a millimetre, as you shoot a large number of frames (ex. >36 frames), this small increment gets magnified and can cause issues in the final 360 result).
- If shooting with your camera tilted at a downward angle (ex. 25-degrees or greater), you may experience ‘lens creep’. This is more common in heavier lenses and is caused by small vibrations (ex. the mirror & shutter opening and closing) assisting gravity to ever so slightly adjust (pull) the lens’ focusing element. Pending lens being used, a lens band (ex. elastic or tape) can provide a direct mechanical link between the focusing ring and the focusing elements to help prevent movement of the lens elements. We also include features in the software such as ‘Leave Live View on After Capture’ to help minimize the amount of movement in the camera.
Focus Stacking Software Options
The Shutter Stream Focus Stacking Software Plugin is available as an optional purchase
- Camera Control
- Automated Still Product Photography
- Automated 360 Product Photography
- 360 Video Capture & Extraction
- Editing & Background Removal
- Image Processing
- 360 Product View Creation
- Camera Control
- Automated Still Product Photography
- Automated 360 Product Photography
- 360 Video Capture & Extraction
- Editing & Background Removal
- Image Processing
- 360 Product View Creation
- Camera Control
- Automated Still Product Photography
- Automated 360 Product Photography
- 360 Video Capture & Extraction
- Editing & Background Removal
- Image Processing
- 360 Product View Creation
Focus Stacking in Product Photography
Focus Stacking is a sure way to help create better quality, fully in-focus images images. While the process can be more timely than capturing a still image or standard 360 product photography, it is completely automated through Shutter Stream Software with the Focus Stacking Software plugin. Focus Stacking can be used for any type of product photography however we typically suggest this for Macro Photography (ex. still and 360 jewelry photography) due to shallower depth of fields (as objects are much closer to the camera).
Questions about Software for Focus Stacking, Macro Photography or our line of Product Photography Automation Tools? Contact us