My first try was useless

Shooting in macro mode, techniques, tips & tricks
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Zisko
Posts: 3
Joined: 14.04.2019 10:02

My first try was useless

Post by Zisko »

I download the demo version of Helicon Focus to try the possibilities of the software. I use a tripod, macro rail and the camera internal focus stacking function. The results of all three algorithms was unusble. What did I wrong?

You can find the full resolution picture and the 50 RAW images in the following dropbox:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nvqxu31wlts6mee/AAAPiYs9dFpXQlB0l8R6-SApa?dl=0
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D6955220-4E1B-4C07-8DDF-B2DC063E4CEA.jpeg
D6955220-4E1B-4C07-8DDF-B2DC063E4CEA.jpeg (263.04 KiB) Viewed 10476 times
MikeCT
Posts: 119
Joined: 08.04.2014 19:56

Re: My first try was useless

Post by MikeCT »

I’m not sure what you feel is missing. Everything seems in focus.
Zisko
Posts: 3
Joined: 14.04.2019 10:02

Re: My first try was useless

Post by Zisko »

I mark the artefacts in the picture. Sharpness is not the problem.
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4D4EBAD2-4582-4042-B0E1-5772744EA842.jpeg
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TheDocAUS
Posts: 50
Joined: 09.12.2016 14:00

Re: My first try was useless

Post by TheDocAUS »

Two comments, first, if they are the original jpegs they are of low quality. Second, the lighting you used is poor.

I would start by improving lighting and see whether that fixes some of the artefacts.

You need to get the overall process set up correctly, including lighting and jpg quality. Poor images in, poor stacks out.

The artefact in the middle at the back is caused by the strong specular highlights caused by your lighting, it is obvious looking at the individual images. You need to correct that aspect of your lighting by better diffusion or better placement of the light source.

Q: why are using both a macro rail and the camera's internal focus stacking function? Are we to assume the rail is stationary after the initial composition?
Zisko
Posts: 3
Joined: 14.04.2019 10:02

Re: My first try was useless

Post by Zisko »

I use the original RAW files (see dropbox link). The rail is only for focussing the first image in minimal focussing distance.

I will try it with less harsh light.
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Stas Yatsenko
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Joined: 06.05.2009 14:05
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Re: My first try was useless

Post by Stas Yatsenko »

Legacy method B produces better results (you can enable it in Preferences). But we would suggest to set smaller aperture to minimize blurring of out of focus areas because now you can see optical artifacts which no software is able to completely overcome.
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TheDocAUS
Posts: 50
Joined: 09.12.2016 14:00

Re: My first try was useless

Post by TheDocAUS »

I did download from the Dropbox link, I got jpegs. Maybe I was not logged into Dropbox at the time.
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