Focus-Stacking Artifacts - Prevention & Correction

[@imh3r3now1]

Another absolute treasure trove of expertise here. You've somehow always managed to make exactly the video I need over the past few months as I've started my macro journey, I can't thank you enough!

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks!

[@Macro-photographer]

Allen, your channel is Soo under rated we need to get you to at least 50k subscribers!

[@enriquediaz8939]

One more master class from a great teacher!!! Allan I have not only learned many new things but I have understood them in a different way, the concepts of the artifacts have become very clear to me after this video, I have much to thank you for helping me understand in a different way the macro photography, to be able to understand and correct my mistakes with your videos, to be able to apply better techniques and get better results in my photos, I have much to thank you for!!! I send you a very warm greeting from Mexico.

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Hi Enrique... good to hear from you! I'm glad you are finding the information helpful!

[@fazergazer]

The pattern noise you call creeping snot balls reminds me of the artifact in astrophotography called “walking noise”. In astronomy the trick is to “dither”, randomly reposition the pointing of the telescope to move the image a few pixels one way or another between each photo. This way the random noise cancels out. If we don’t dither, the fixed pattern noise of the sensor creates weird streaks as the target moves slowly in the sky due to small cumulative pointing errors. Interesting how things in deep space astrophotography parallel some of the technical challenges of macro. In case you can’t tell, I’m a newbie in macro.🎉😊❤

[@MultiMamaco]

A simple explanation for a complex topic, thanks!

[@juancarlosplaza8301]

Thanks a lot for this detailed and valuable information. I keep getting all of those artifacts and didn’t know hoy to cope with them. Great video Allan!!!

[@CarlS100]

Excellent information, Allan. Thank you!!

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Thanks Carl!

[@cmoore7723]

Also... If you do discuss Helicon Soft products, please explain/discuss the three different rendering methods (A, B and C).

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Thanks Christopher. You are right. I haven't used Helicon in a long time and I need to re-familiarize myself with the program for videos like this one.

[@barryt09]

Hi Allan, Thanks again for more great information. I have seen all of these artefacts without really knowing how they we caused. Now I know how to correct them, even the psychedelic ones! :)

[@Skerpful]

Excellent info Allan, thanks.

[@nickfanzo]

Your channel is great. Thank you

[@cmoore7723]

I've watched a number of your videos and I'm very impressed. Since I haven't seen them all I don't know if you ever discuss/teach about Helicon Focus stacking software? You have mentioned Zerene stacker though - which I don't have. I do have the Helicon Soft programs though and would really like more information on how the get the most from them. Hmmmm.

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Hi Christopher, this is on my list for 2021. I am going to be spending some time getting back up to speed on the most recent iteration of Helicon, but plan to do an in-depth Helicon video sometime this spring.

[@johnkantar3082]

thanks for the video could you please tell me where you got your specimen holders from thanks John k

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Hi John, the specimen holders were "borrowed" from my Quad Hands (www.amazon.com/QuadHands-Deluxe-WorkBench-Helping-System/dp/B01MZG2D99/ref=asc_df_B01MZG2D99/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312136741888&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11918230514306992632&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9012939&hvtargid=pla-562624205508&psc=1&language=en_US). I just unscrew them from the base and screw them on a SmallRig Super Clamp.

[@johnkantar3082]

ok thank you for the quick reply

[@skakdosmer]

Would it perhaps be a solution to first photograph, or stack if needs be, the background without the “bleeding item” in the foreground, and then add the foreground later?

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Well, in most cases the foreground element (say, an antenna) is connected to the background element (the rest of the insect), so shooting them separately is not possible. However, using "stack selected" is a very powerful workaround.

[@GTMemes2]

As depth of field is at a minimum Why not make the background further away from the subject That just blbrs the background and would Beyond "focus" in the first pace? Via bokeh?

[@itzmxtt]

Thank you for making these videos. Im starting to get into photography and your videos are very educational. Do you have an IG?

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Thanks... I do... old_dog_new_trix is my IG. I don't post much over there - too busy over here!

[@itzmxtt]

@@AllanWallsPhotography ahh I see. I gave you a follow anyways. Thank you.

[@cmoore7723]

You mention Zerene Stacker often but many of us, myself included, have made a committment to Helicon Soft products... (Helicon Focus, Helicon Remote, Helicon 3D, FB tube, etc.) Please don't forget about us! I also use Ps to stack images but it takes longer and is usually more problematic than Helicon. Comments???...

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Based on your comments (you are not alone), I see that I need to do an updated comparison of ZS, HS, PS, and Affinity. Thanks for reminding me!

[@wrecktech]

Detritus = A word never before used on KZbin!

[@tataradlene273]

hello, thanks for the tutorial the beard looks good on you

[@JiveTrkey]

It seems to me that stacking software just isn't as sophisticated as it needs to be. The software shouldn't only be trying to figure out what is in focus in a particular photograph, but also constantly referencing other photographs in the stack. If it can identify what is in focus early in the stack, it could calculate how that object will blur and compensate for the haloing in the same way dust maps or dehazing compensate. It would be processor intensive and use a ton of RAM, but save hours in retouching and the result would be truer to the real subject.

[@mondujar279]

My insects usually have 5 legs and 1antenna. Unless I am extremely careful

[@Weldon2004]

Maybe we'll soon have an AI subroutine engine that deals with halos etc. added to Zerene 😀.

[@skakdosmer]

The Danish name for the pollack is “sej” which also means “tough” ... which is just as irrelevant.

[@girnas89]

And I thought wildlife photography was hard

[@michaelcoelhojr6851]

Why cant anyone just get to the point instead of spending 20 minutes wasting my time?!!!

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

I can't speak for the rest of the people that irritate you, but I will speak for myself. Most of the mistakes made in technical areas like focus stacking are made by people not understanding how important the details are, or not having any context for the details, or they may be lacking some fundamental background that I think matters. I have found that this 20 minutes that has bothered you so much is about right for the average viewer to get to the important stuff in a way that makes sense. There are plenty of places to get the kind of presentation you are looking for and I will be happy to recommend a couple of the good ones. I am not trying to irritate you or waste your time. On the contrary, I am working hard, for nothing, to help people understand difficult concepts in macro photography. I hope you don't have to read too many comments like this over on your channel.

[@michaelcoelhojr6851]

@@AllanWallsPhotography I’m just really frustrated. All the tutorials are super basic and just say to auto align then auto blend and boom you’re done and don’t say how to fix when photoshop did a terrible job. Or they are 75 hours long on how to put text on a photo. I’m just really frustrated and don’t mean to lash out at you. I just wish I could figure out how to fix what I am trying to do with spending the next year of my life learning photoshop.