How to Focus Stack using Helicon Focus 8

In this video I will show you how to take photos for focus stacking and then combine them using the Helicon 8 software. I will demonstrate mistakes as well as successful stacks so you can avoid pitfalls.
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#Helicon #FocusStacking #ShutterSpeak

[@ShutterSpeak]

Congratulations to Derek S, the winner of the free copy of Helicon!

[@fredz1408]

Love it. Looks simple to use.

[@NJM1948]

Thanks for this - very well explained. This looks an excellent tool and quite easy to use. I will be looking further into Helicon....thanks again

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thank you for watching!

[@mitchbergner2795]

I have been admiring Helicon for some time now. Would be especially useful for macro photography.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Yup - it excels there!

[@MarkBarnardBoise]

Step-by-step with an example of a pitfall to avoid. I am ready to go... I definitely am looking forward for the software! Glad I didn't waste time trying it on my own using Lightroom or Photoshop. Thanks for the great tutorial and chance to win Joseph! Please keep up the great videos.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thank you for watching!

[@MarkBarnardBoise]

@@ShutterSpeak my pleasure!

[@SolelyElectric]

Why do I get a red indicator triangle after the rendering process is done ? Please explain 🙏🏻

[@shlomoeshet8525]

Great tutorial. I use Photoshop's focus stacking in my macro photography. I still consider myself as a learner. However, based on my experience so far, manual focus stacking works best for me. Also, your tip regarding too many photos is so helpful and demonstrates the "more is less" principle. As for Focus Pro 8, I guess it's true what they say about it: the "Rolls-Royce" of focus stacking software.

[@ShutterSpeak]

It really is - I will show a comparison of it against Photoshop in a future video so you can see the results. Sometimes Photoshop misses.

[@BrentChip1]

I'm hoping to more (and better) macrophotography soon, and your presentations on focus stacking including this segment have been very helpful. Still need to work out details of lighting since many of my subjects (insects and other small creatures) are often moving in limited and variable lighting situations.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thank you for watching - I am glad my information has been helpful.

[@darrenjennings]

Thank you Joe, Helicon is great with RAW files and I have used it on an old computer to stack 300 RAW files with a DNG output and it handled it with no issues. I do note I have had similar experiences with overstacking :)

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thank you - and thanks for watching!

[@JulesMoyaert_photo]

Thanks!

[@KenHauptPhotography]

Great tutorial Joseph! Since I (recently) got my Nikon Z MC 105mm macro lens I have been working on my macro skills. I use Photoshop primarily to stack the pics, and have tried Helicon, as reported to be the best, via trial. A bit pricey for my budget but I was liking the results. I find it is way way faster to process that the multi-step Photoshop procedure. The section on issues/resolutions was very helpful, as I have seen these myself. My Nikon Z 7ii auto stacking leaves gaps and I have found manual also works better.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thank you for watching. Appreciate the comments!

[@Danny_Roman.]

Hi Thanks for the tutorial, I've always wanted to know how to do this.. spot in advice as usual. Thanks.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thank you - glad you found it helpful.

[@Danny_Roman.]

@@ShutterSpeak yep thanks again. Love your tips and advice.

[@mleslie1080]

Have used focus stack trial and and rely like the results on both landscape and macro photography

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thank you for watching!

[@albailey6875]

Very informative information on the channel. I really like the information on Nikon gear as I'm I Nikon shooter. Not too many info on Nikon out there.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thanks for watching!

[@Macrosill]

I knew it. A guy named Timmy has been telling me about the webcams for years but I never believed him.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Always listen to him!

[@Philligl]

Re: left to right vs. front to back: I thought the automated process focused from near to far starting with the first focus point. So, if the camera is focused on the nearest point (such as the front curve, or even on the table in front of the model) would the automated process capture the exposures to eliminate the part that was out of focus in the original example?

[@ShutterSpeak]

Great question. The problem is it goes up and misses areas. There just isn't a focus box wide and thin enough on a z 7 that will capture all those curves without doing it manually.

[@archaeofo]

@PhilligI: You are absolutely correct. Choosing the smallest AF area and placing it at the very tip of the Enterprise (closest to the lens) should work just fine. It does not go up. Only front to back and therefore covering the whole Enterprise.

[@BS2Dos]

Can you export a stack back out of Helicon in the RAW for further editing?

[@ShutterSpeak]

Once the stack is complete you have quite a few options for saving the file, including the depth map, the layers in png or tiff, a project file so you can get back to it, even an animation of the focus or 3d model if you have enough angles.

[@RebelScumThis]

We all know TNG is the superior series!

[@ShutterSpeak]

Actually I prefer DS9 but that's just me!

[@thegroove2000]

Not many have inbuilt focus stacking.

[@thegroove2000]

Suppose manual mode but slower for many.

[@SolelyElectric]

I get a red indicator after the rendering process is finished , why is that ?

[@thegroove2000]

And star wars movies are bad ass.

[@ShutterSpeak]

They are

[@Danny_Roman.]

Hi has the give away been drawn?

[@ShutterSpeak]

Not yet!

[@Danny_Roman.]

@@ShutterSpeak hi Joseph well fingers crossed .

[@ShutterSpeak]

@@Danny_Roman. Good luck!!

[@beama537]

I actually always stack with Photoshop, but with a stack of 30 photos, Photoshop stops working, which is a real shame.

[@ShutterSpeak]

I think you will see that Helicon gives better results. Have you gotten a chance to try it?

[@beama537]

@@ShutterSpeak I installed a 30-day trial version. An incredible difference to Photoshop, really good.