In Helicon Focus change the Autoadjustments percentage to improve alignment. Edit > Preferences > Autoadjustment tab. Increase Adjust vertically and Adjust horizontally to obtain perfect alignment. I found that values over 20% for either does not help.
i have all 3 programms. thats all right what you are saying, but the most times i use zerene stacker (my photos are all not aligned well because i stack freehand) ... i dont care about colors in zerene stacker because after the stack i use lightroom and photoshop to adjust colors etc. anyway. also the post editing is much easier and faster in zerene
I stack everything with Affinity Photo and i am very happy withe the results 90% of the time. I test every stack with Helicon for science 😂 but Affinity holds very good against all the stacking software out there. Thanks for sharing the video mate 👋😁
Thanks for the examples and comparison! I also use Affinity, and it can focus stack, although I find that it sometimes creates artifacts that are difficult to retouch away... a bit like what you showed about the Ps-example early into your video. I experienced that with some landscapes having complex and dynamic elements (like trees/vegetation moving), though. I also use Capture One instead of ACR/Lr, and was pleasantly surprised that Helicon Focus also provides a Capture One plugin. On the other hand, Zerene provides a Linux version, which I consider a plus (on the downside, all the really capable photo editing software like Ps/Lr/C1/Affinity is Windows & Mac only, so the Linux version doesn't really help that much besides it being cool to exist, to date :))!
I decided Helicon as it provides editing options for selectively choosing portions of the subject to get the best output. For misaligned shots, it’s easy to change the alignment parameters to get the correct alignment.
For hand-held shooting with Helicon, you need to change the settings. I recommend 30% in the alignment settings instead of the default. Speed comparison?
I should have included that. Helicon is by far the fastest. Literally under 10 seconds almost every stack. Photoshop is necmxt quickest but takes significantly longer. A large stack can take maybe 5 minutes. Zerene is the slowest. Some of my 100+ stacks have taken 10 minutes or more. My computer is a fairly fast gaming pc. Slower computers would obviously have different render times, and so do different sized stacks.
First of all, if you ever do focus stacking, you should be on a tripod second of all in Helicon method B, I would keep the adjustment at the lowest setting I do stacking with hundreds of pictures and work great
While you can use a tripod, it's typically not necessary. My instagram is full of 20-100 shot stacks that are handheld. Some of the biggest macro photographers in the world, including the OM ambassadors, shoot focus stacks handheld. A tripod is great for macro in a studio, but not very realistic for many situations shooting in the wild
@silverclifflightshow Bro, looks like you didn't follow recent advancements in Image Stabilisation. 😀 Even though OMSystems is the leader in this, but Panasonic and Fuji are also doing great to let you do handheld focus bracketing
Do I understand correctly that Zerene destroys color in you images in a way that you can not recover by returning to a full service program and adjusting the color controls? I have not noticed this but I am using TIFF's converted in Canon DPP4 and Lightroom is not famous for the way it handles CR3 files. Have you tried starting with files converted using DXO or any of the other options for RAW conversion and seeing if this poor color is changed in either way by what was done before the program first met the image? Assuming everyone is already a Lightroom addict is a way of saying you do not want viewers who use DXO, Affinity or other ways of converting files. There is also a question on whether the stack was made by advancing the lens setting as done with in camera focus bracketing routines or when done by advancing the camera and lens as a unit either manually or using a motorized rail like the WeMacro. Does that make a difference. Did your tests allow for the fact that some of us use Nikon, OM or Canon while others have Sony. Another of your videos mentions APS-C as 1.6x so I assume you speak Canon (DSLR or Mirrorless???). When making comparisons it is important to avoid blaming a problem on the wrong variable in this complex chain. For me, it makes no difference since I am satisfied with the equipment and software I already have and will not be buying additional cameras or software. That is the job of people who make their living from UA-cam.
I get your point. I definitely don't make a living from youtube, though, I'm not even monetized. I do the videos to try to help others out :) To answer some of your questions, I did not try pre-converting the files. All software was fed with the exact same files. The stacks chosen were taken on a Sony a6000. I have done the tests using in camera bracketing with my OM-1 and had the same results. I could modify the image to bring color back, but the test was just to be a brief comparison. The entire point of the video was that each product shines in its own way and each product has its own weakness, but that no matter what product a person decides to use, I think they can get great photo stacks from them :)
Color loss is a tradeoff for one of the stacking methods. Helicon seems to mention the same tradeoff in their feature matrix. There is no free lunch with these features. It is always a compromise.
Oops. You are correct. I don't know if they changed it or if (more likely) I made a mistake. Thanks for helping to point it out so future watchers have all the right info :)
Thanks for the comparison!! It’s much appreciated!
In Helicon Focus change the Autoadjustments percentage to improve alignment. Edit > Preferences > Autoadjustment tab. Increase Adjust vertically and Adjust horizontally to obtain perfect alignment. I found that values over 20% for either does not help.
i have all 3 programms. thats all right what you are saying, but the most times i use zerene stacker (my photos are all not aligned well because i stack freehand) ... i dont care about colors in zerene stacker because after the stack i use lightroom and photoshop to adjust colors etc. anyway. also the post editing is much easier and faster in zerene
I stack everything with Affinity Photo and i am very happy withe the results 90% of the time. I test every stack with Helicon for science 😂 but Affinity holds very good against all the stacking software out there. Thanks for sharing the video mate 👋😁
Ive never tried Affinity. I may have to look into that out of curiosity
Another vote for Affinity Photo, now using V2
Thanks for the examples and comparison!
I also use Affinity, and it can focus stack, although I find that it sometimes creates artifacts that are difficult to retouch away... a bit like what you showed about the Ps-example early into your video. I experienced that with some landscapes having complex and dynamic elements (like trees/vegetation moving), though. I also use Capture One instead of ACR/Lr, and was pleasantly surprised that Helicon Focus also provides a Capture One plugin. On the other hand, Zerene provides a Linux version, which I consider a plus (on the downside, all the really capable photo editing software like Ps/Lr/C1/Affinity is Windows & Mac only, so the Linux version doesn't really help that much besides it being cool to exist, to date :))!
This was a great guide and gave a lot of valuable information, thank you for the effort you put into this!
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I do my best to be helpful, and I really appreciate the comment :)
I decided Helicon as it provides editing options for selectively choosing portions of the subject to get the best output. For misaligned shots, it’s easy to change the alignment parameters to get the correct alignment.
My first visit here. Great video. Thanks.
I'm glad you liked it!
very helpful. another question…. what other subjects can be shot besides insects? Thanks
thanks for the info
I'd like to see how you align in photoshop and send to helicon
For hand-held shooting with Helicon, you need to change the settings. I recommend 30% in the alignment settings instead of the default.
Speed comparison?
I should have included that. Helicon is by far the fastest. Literally under 10 seconds almost every stack. Photoshop is necmxt quickest but takes significantly longer. A large stack can take maybe 5 minutes. Zerene is the slowest. Some of my 100+ stacks have taken 10 minutes or more. My computer is a fairly fast gaming pc. Slower computers would obviously have different render times, and so do different sized stacks.
Yes just found it out as well before I’ve came to this video. Changing these settings is indeed needed with some handheld shots.
First of all, if you ever do focus stacking, you should be on a tripod second of all in Helicon method B, I would keep the adjustment at the lowest setting I do stacking with hundreds of pictures and work great
While you can use a tripod, it's typically not necessary. My instagram is full of 20-100 shot stacks that are handheld. Some of the biggest macro photographers in the world, including the OM ambassadors, shoot focus stacks handheld. A tripod is great for macro in a studio, but not very realistic for many situations shooting in the wild
@silverclifflightshow Bro, looks like you didn't follow recent advancements in Image Stabilisation. 😀 Even though OMSystems is the leader in this, but Panasonic and Fuji are also doing great to let you do handheld focus bracketing
What about Affinity?
Unfortunately, I don't have any first hand experience with Affinity.
Affinity Photo 2 works a dream. I've never heard of the first two you mention.
You forgot Luminar Neo as a stacking software.
Perhaps I will need to make a follow up video :)
It's not built-in but a separately purchased plugin.@@OldManJacobPhotography
Does Helicon align and blend or just blend? Thank you!
It can do both.
Do I understand correctly that Zerene destroys color in you images in a way that you can not recover by returning to a full service program and adjusting the color controls? I have not noticed this but I am using TIFF's converted in Canon DPP4 and Lightroom is not famous for the way it handles CR3 files. Have you tried starting with files converted using DXO or any of the other options for RAW conversion and seeing if this poor color is changed in either way by what was done before the program first met the image? Assuming everyone is already a Lightroom addict is a way of saying you do not want viewers who use DXO, Affinity or other ways of converting files. There is also a question on whether the stack was made by advancing the lens setting as done with in camera focus bracketing routines or when done by advancing the camera and lens as a unit either manually or using a motorized rail like the WeMacro. Does that make a difference. Did your tests allow for the fact that some of us use Nikon, OM or Canon while others have Sony. Another of your videos mentions APS-C as 1.6x so I assume you speak Canon (DSLR or Mirrorless???). When making comparisons it is important to avoid blaming a problem on the wrong variable in this complex chain. For me, it makes no difference since I am satisfied with the equipment and software I already have and will not be buying additional cameras or software. That is the job of people who make their living from UA-cam.
I get your point. I definitely don't make a living from youtube, though, I'm not even monetized. I do the videos to try to help others out :) To answer some of your questions, I did not try pre-converting the files. All software was fed with the exact same files. The stacks chosen were taken on a Sony a6000. I have done the tests using in camera bracketing with my OM-1 and had the same results. I could modify the image to bring color back, but the test was just to be a brief comparison. The entire point of the video was that each product shines in its own way and each product has its own weakness, but that no matter what product a person decides to use, I think they can get great photo stacks from them :)
Color loss is a tradeoff for one of the stacking methods. Helicon seems to mention the same tradeoff in their feature matrix. There is no free lunch with these features. It is always a compromise.
@@JohnHoranzy Helicon works better when blending method B and C as a seperate op.
The photographer bundle is only 9.95, not 19.95
Oops. You are correct. I don't know if they changed it or if (more likely) I made a mistake. Thanks for helping to point it out so future watchers have all the right info :)
AffinityPHOTO?? : (