genji wrote:
Thank you so much for this detailed explanation. I'm comfortable using adjustment layers in PS so now might be a good time to learn how to use layer masks properly. Are online tutorials and/or YouTube videos a good place to start? Or is there a really good book on the subject?
I'm sure the answer is "yes" but I don't know one to recommend; it's been so long since I was learning it! I'm sure others will be able to help on the books and tutorials front. But getting started with layer masks is simple, just think of it as digital dodging and burning, where you create a mask, and paint in black to block out the layer that is masked (or alternatively start with a black mask and erase bits to reveal the layer that is masked). Of course that's no different in principle from brushing stuff in in Lightroom. It gets trickier when you start making "hard" masks (i.e. ones that aren't feathered) to cut out backgrounds etc....
Aztatlan wrote:
My personal experience with PS focus stacking is that it doesn't do a very good job, and my stacks are usually fairly simple (focus stacked landscapes to bypass DOF limitations on the foreground.) I find its output requires a lot of manual cleanup to get it right.
For basic stacks I've started just hand blending it in PS as it's usually pretty easy to do this for landscape scenes. (Eg I take a frame with optimal centre focus, extreme edge focus, and foreground focus and blend.)
I've had some success with Zerene Stacker in the past too. This scene was a focus stack of around 5-6 images at 50mm with Zerene....Show more →
Again, very useful information, thank you! My main use is for close range, though non-macro, scenes; roughly from 50cm to 2.5m. I'm going to have to try the different softwares and see what works best for me.
Some of my last holidays in New Zealand. Beside the Loxia 21/2.8, I took the Zony 55/1.8 and also the Voigt Heliar 12/5.6 with me. Surprise surprise, my favorite pics coming from the Loxia.
sebbe wrote:
Some of my last holidays in New Zealand. Beside the Loxia 21/2.8, I took the Zony 55/1.8 and also the Voigt Heliar 12/5.6 with me. Surprise surprise, my favorite pics coming from the Loxia.
I might have shown the still image version here already,
but as I was approached by Plotagraph to test their animation software
I went through my archives to find out what works best and I am actually quite happy with this one:
Click HERE for the animated version over at flickr.
