Focus stacking software

[out n about]

Hi everyone we are having a go at focus stacking and have downloaded the trial version of zerene stacker and found it very easy to use and with good results albeit we are only learning and our images aren't the best, but we are enjoying it and now the trial version has run out we are contemplating our options, both zerene stacker and helisoft are quite pricey for the amateur and as we don't own photoshop we were wondering is it a better proposition to get focus stacking on the photoshop CC version assuming it is included in it at $10 a month rather than outlay $300 for one of the specialist software packages.

[ameerat42]

I used CombineZP (http://combinezp.software.informer.com/) free stacking software. This is for
focus stacking, as opposed to stacking images from astronomical photography.

It is a bit tricky to use at first, but not for long. Also, I haven't used it for ages. - Or should that be Z-onks?

[arthurking83]

Read my reply as being the exact same as Am's!! (word for word).
(I'm getting the feeling I must also be there at fortytwo!!) :D

It's nowhere near as easy as Zerene and Helicon, but will do the same trick if you persevere a bit with it.

I remember either Zerence or Helicon also had a feature for doing a part 3D rendering as a neat trick .. can't remember which of the two tho .. Combine doesn't do that sort of thing .. straight up stacking only.
The beaut part about CZP is that you can use it as long as you like .. see how you go, and if you want your software to be easy(er) to use and you're doing lots of it .. then switch to the paid software.

[out n about]

I used CombineZP (http://combinezp.software.informer.com/) free stacking software. This is for
focus stacking, as opposed to stacking images from astronomical photography.

It is a bit tricky to use at first, but not for long. Also, I haven't used it for ages. - Or should that be Z-onks?

Thanks Am I will have a look for combine zp, free is always good :D hopefully they will have a mac version.

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Read my reply as being the exact same as Am's!! (word for word).
(I'm getting the feeling I must also be there at fortytwo!!) :D

It's nowhere near as easy as Zerene and Helicon, but will do the same trick if you persevere a bit with it.

I remember either Zerence or Helicon also had a feature for doing a part 3D rendering as a neat trick .. can't remember which of the two tho .. Combine doesn't do that sort of thing .. straight up
stacking only.
The beaut part about CZP is that you can use it as long as you like .. see how you go, and if you want your software to be easy(er) to use and you're doing lots of it .. then switch to the paid software.

Agree totally Arthur will have a look for Combine have a play and see whether it's for us before buying something we might end up not using, thats why I was thinking of photoshop cc as there are probably other features that we would use if we didn't end up continuing to focus stack images.