Focus stacking, or the use of multiple focus, is a photographic method that allows a series of photos taken with different focus points to be combined to create a single image with an extremely extended depth of field.
Technological developments, especially in the field of photo editing apps, have allowed this technique to evolve, making it popular especially in areas such as macro photography or product photography.
Focus stacking, unlike traditional methods, enables photographers to overcome the limitations of shallow depth of field often encountered at small apertures and large focal lengths, as in the coffee photo below.
Applications and Limitations
Focus stacking has become a popular technique in many areas of photography. In macro photography, it enables exceptional detail on small subjects that would be partially out of focus in traditional photography. In product photography, it is invaluable as it allows a product to be presented in full focus, which is crucial for customers and consumers.
The technique has also found use in scientific documentation, where every detail can be important. However, despite its many advantages, FS requires considerable time and skill in the area of digital processing, which can be a limitation for photographers who prefer faster and more spontaneous methods of working.
Focus bracketing, on the other hand, which is used more often in dynamic conditions such as landscape or street photography, allows for quick focus but does not offer the same control over depth of field.
Introduction to the Process
Focus stacking is an advanced photographic technique that allows for a significant expansion of depth of field by combining a series of images with different focus points. The process begins with careful planning of a series of shots. Each photo in the series must be taken from the same perspective, but with a different focus setting. To achieve perfect consistency, photographers often use professional tripods and systems for precise camera control.
Technical Aspects
When combining photos with focus on different areas, the use of specialised hardware and software is crucial. Cameras capable of precise focus control and image merging software, such as Helicon Focus or Adobe Photoshop, are essential to the successful implementation of this technique. This software analyses each image in the series, identifying the areas of highest sharpness, and then combines them to create an image with an extremely extended depth of field.
The Importance of Precision
In the focus stacking process, precision in the selection of focus shifts between individual images is crucial. Too much variation can lead to unwanted artefacts and unnatural transitions in the final image. Additionally, the photographer must ensure that exposure, white balance and other camera settings are consistent across all images in the series, which is fundamental to achieving a natural-looking final image.
Practical Applications
The technique has found wide application in many areas of photography. In product photography, the technique produces detailed and completely sharp product images, which is crucial for effective visual presentation and marketing. In macro photography, where depth of field is limited, focus stacking makes it possible to capture extraordinary detail of small objects. This technique is also invaluable in scientific photography, where precision and detail are essential for documenting phenomena and objects.
Expanded Artistic Possibilities
In addition to practical applications, focus stacking also opens up new horizons for artistic expression. Photographers are using the technique to create images with unprecedented depth and detail, exploring the boundaries of photography as a medium of artistic expression. With focus stacking, it is possible to create images that stand out for their exceptional clarity and depth, provoking the viewer to think more deeply about the subject captured.
Focus Stacking Programs
Helicon Focus
Helicon Focus is one of the best-known focus stacking program. It offers advanced features such as automatic alignment and merging of images, as well as various methods for rendering the final image. It is ideal for professionals and enthusiasts who are looking for precise control over the process.
Helicon Focus Producer Site
Helicon Focus Tutorial – how to do focus stacking in the Helicon focus application
Focus Stacking Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop, known for its versatility, also offers focus stacking capabilities. This feature is found in the automation tools and allows you to combine a series of photos into a single image with an extended depth of field.
Adobe Photoshop website
Adobe Photoshop tutorial – how to do focus stacking in Photoshop
Zerene Stacker
Zerene Stacker is another specialist focus stacking program popular with macro photographers. It offers various merging algorithms that are useful for different shooting scenarios.
Zerene Stacker Website
Zerene Stacker tutorial – how to do focus stacking in Zerene Stacker
CombineZP
CombineZP is a free software that also allows you to combine your photos for better depth of field. This is an option for people who are new to the technique of combining photos.
Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is another alternative to Photoshop, offering focus stacking functionality. It is for those looking for more affordable photo editing software.
Mobile Apps
Mobile applications such as Stackables or Focus Stacker allow the use of simple blending, albeit with limited control and precision compared to full-size desktop tools.
Usage
Product Photography
In commercial photography, focus stacking is often essential in order to produce images with high detail and sharpness throughout the product. This is particularly important where consumers pay attention to detail, such as jewellery, electronics or household products.
Exposing the texture and detail of a product is crucial for online sales, where customers have no physical contact with the product.
In the case of watches, for example, focus stacking enables focus on both the dial and the strap, which is difficult to achieve in traditional photography due to the shallow depth of field.
Macro Photography
In macro photography, where we are photographing very small subjects such as insects, flowers or drops of water, depth of field is naturally limited.
The technique of merging the images allows us to capture the incredible detail of these small subjects, ensuring sharpness from front to back.
For example, when photographing a butterfly, you can get focus on both its eyes and wings, which is almost impossible in traditional macro photography.
Landscape Photography
In landscape photography, it can be used to get the entire image in focus, from foreground to background. This is particularly useful in situations where you want to capture detail in both very close and very distant elements of the frame.
For example, in a scene with flowers in the foreground and mountains in the background, focus stacking allows you to get focus on both of these elements.
However, using this technique in a landscape requires more work in the field and in post-production, and can be a challenge with changing lighting and moving scene elements such as trees or clouds.
When to Avoid?
In lifestyle photography, which celebrates spontaneity and authenticity, overuse of the multiple focus technique can disrupt the natural feel of the scene. Such photographs often benefit from subtle blur effects to add emotional depth and warmth.
An example would be portraits in a natural environment, where a subtle blurring of the background focuses attention on the person and creates an intimate atmosphere. Excessive sharpness throughout a photograph can lose these subtleties, giving the photograph an artificial look.
Everyday scenes, such as moments spent with family or gathering of friends, gain realism from a natural blur that captures the atmosphere of the moment. Using this technique in these situations can lead to an overly structured composition.
Using the FS technique can alter the visual narrative. In photography that tells a story, the selective use of focus and blur is key to directing the viewer’s attention and creating a mood.
In dynamic street scenes, where capturing quick, spontaneous moments is important, excessive sharpness can disrupt the perception of the spontaneity of the frame, giving it an artificial feel.
In reportage, where speed of reaction and the ability to capture fleeting moments are important, the use of this technique can prove impractical, as well as unnecessary, as the natural blur lends dynamism and authenticity to the images.
Compromise Solution
The use of multiple focus does not always have to cover the entire frame. In product photography, this technique is often used selectively, focusing only on key elements of the product. This allows you to get full focus on the important details while leaving the background softly blurred, which helps to focus attention on the product.
An example of this is jewellery photography, where selective use of this technique allows you to get focus on the stones and details of the jewellery, while leaving the background out of focus, which adds depth to the image and helps to make the product stand out.
Depth of Field Balancing
Effective depth balancing requires the ability to balance between sufficiently sharp focus and blur. The aim is to achieve full depth on the product or subject, while gently blurring the less important elements of the frame. This allows the viewer’s attention to be focused on the most important aspects of the image.
In photographs where the product is placed in the context of the environment, such as furniture in an interior design, the selective use of this method allows the product to be exposed while maintaining the natural look of the entire scene.
3 Tips For Perfect Focus Stacking
- When selectively using multiple focus, it is important to plan the series of images carefully. Consider which elements of the frame are to be in focus and which can remain softly blurred.
- Using a tripod and remote control can make it much easier to take a precise series of shots.
- In post-production, it is important to carefully analyse each image in the series and select those areas to be combined to achieve the desired end result.
Summary
Focus stacking is an extremely useful tool in any photographer’s arsenal. Applying the technique to a variety of photography, from product to macro and landscape, opens up a wide range of possibilities for creatives at all levels.
Emphasising that focus stacking is not a magic solution for all photographic scenes, but rather a conscious choice, it can enrich the composition of an image when used with care and an understanding of its principles.
In the vast world of photography, the precision and clarity enabled by focus stacking have transformed the field, providing artists the ability to achieve depth and detail like never before. Leading focus stacking programs, like Helicon Focus, have spearheaded this shift, empowering photographers to seamlessly merge multiple exposures into a single, tack-sharp image.
Exploring focus stacking Photoshop techniques further opens up a realm of possibilities for creative and commercial work, enhancing the final presentation of photographs with a depth that truly captivates the viewer’s gaze.
Whether used in scientific illustration or product photography, the meticulous nature of focus stacking assures that every detail is rendered with the utmost clarity, from the foreground to the very back.
