Focus Stacking

I have been working with a free focus-stacking program that produces excellent results for anyone interested. Works on all platforms. It is called Enfuse.

It requires that you align the photos first with a command-line program called Hugin, but I have created a script that runs both programs with a simple mouse click. All I do is take x number of photos, move them to the directory the script is located in, and click on it. Focus stacked image is done. If you're interested, I will help you install it if you want.

i have been following another site. I watched a video that was produced there. the video demonstrated focus stacking. taking images. the second part of the video. showed what they called a new way to focus stack. the single image was made from a video. if I was hearing them corectly. I believe the video was uploaded to combine z. when it was complete. it came out as a single image. I was wondering if the members here know how this was done. I can no longer find that video. it looked very straight forward and very fast. has any of you here tried uploading video for a stack. I was just wondering

thank you ray. I can not find that link. if you dont mind ray if you still find it. could you post a link here so I could follow it. I am sure there will more here to might want to see that. ray if I find that link from europe. where they did the video stacking I will add it here. there is also another group in the UK that did a study on lighting. if I can find that one I will add here as well. that was a very good read.

Here is what the Camera Stand now looks like after I added the StackShot extended rail onto Ray's rail system. I should be able to use this as was designed but now I will have a fully automated system once I figure out this StackShot 3X. Printed out the manual and looking at some YouTube downloads. Hopefully it will be a relatively simple thing! I had to run to the hardware store and pick up a nice 1/4 - 20 screw to make the change. Put both Arca Swiss clamps onto the extended rail and tighten her down. Surprisingly a simple task. I got lucky!

Tomorrow I work on the electronic brain side!

Very nice Gluggo!

The StackShot will do well for you once you get the software running.

I do have a preferred way to mount rails on a copy stand. I modified a WeMacro stand and rail to include the principles in the thread here:

http://www.photomacrography.net/for....php?t=37224

But you can certainly use the exact principles to modify your System-9 stand. Let me know if you want to go down that path. The order of attach is different than what you've done. You mounted the rail to the arca plate, and then the bellows to the rail. My preferred method is to mount the rail to the column, then the arca plate to the rail (with an extra idler rail), then mount the bellows to the plate the same way it is mounted in the normal System-9. This maintains the functionality of the System-9 as normal but adds the movement of the whole arca plate for stacking. It also adds the idler rail, which greatly improves the rigidity of the StackShot system. It will all make more sense once you study the link above.

Gluggo totally incredible. just as soon as my steel gets here to Canada. I will post images of my new rig. I will be shooting horizontally. here is a single image. taken with my sony A7R mII set to APSC. now this was done by glass myself and a small group we put these together. I call it the tube lens. this is the front foot of the rabbit. That is on the 1967 centennial 5 cent coin. I am getting closer and close to final calibration.

I would like to add one more photo. This is the front legs of the ox on the 1974 Canadian Nickle dollar.

Gluggo...the key to the arrangment I created on the WeMacro is the idler rail, and the solid clamping to the column. What you have now is fine, and I would not suggest adding another layer of rails as this will make things less rigid. The idler rail is required in order to make the more complex system rigid.