[Leica] IMG: rose, focus stacked

[jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj)]

Aram,
I import the stack into Helicon Focus as NEF (Nikon RAW) files from
Lightroom, and export them as TIFF files for further processing in
Photoshop.

I really have no problem about the technical aspects of focus stacking - a
couple of days of experimentation told me most of what I wanted to know
about how the Nikon Z7 implements the feature. My problem is the more
intangible things like colour fidelity, colour shift. contrast, brightness,
saturation, vibrance etc, all of which seem to get affected when importing
a stack into Helicon Focus. Of course, all it means is that I have to work
a little longer and harder in Photoshop, but I would like to avoid that if
I can.

Thanks for the link - I will go through the article, and the rest of the
site, as I also use the Fuji X system.

Cheers
Jayanand



On Tue, Apr 28, 2020 at 7:51 AM Adam Bridge via LUG <lug at leica-users.org>
wrote:

> Jayanad, are you importing into Helicon Focus as DNG or are you converting
> to TIF or JPEG as a part of the process?
>
> Although this is aimed at the GFX100 it?s useful and interesting in
> general.
>
> <
> https://blog.kasson.com/gfx-100/quantifying-the-fuji-gfx-100-focus-bracket-step-size/
> >
>
>
> > On 2020 Apr  27, at 6:58 PM, Jayanand Govindaraj via LUG <
> lug at leica-users.org> wrote:
> >
> > Very nice. I have also taught myself and have been extensively
> > experimenting with the use of focus stacking during this lockdown, but
> for
> > still life, not macro. This is mainly because I do not have a macro lens
> > with me that can be used for focus stacking with the Nikon Z7, which also
> > has an automated function for this, which they call "Focus Shift" in the
> > menu
> >
> > I have found that when you export a stack from Lightroom into Helicon
> Focus
> > the saturation increases quite dramatically. I compensate for that by
> > toning down the saturation/vibrance quite a lot in Lightroom. It is
> still a
> > bit of a hit and miss, because I have not quite figured out how to
> control
> > colours in Helicon Focus, but I figured that I can always adjust all
> > parameters to my taste in Photoshop later anyway.
> >
> > Cheers
> > Jayanand
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Apr 28, 2020 at 2:17 AM Adam Bridge via LUG <lug at 
> > leica-users.org
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Here?s my first attempt at focus stacking with large images:
> >>
> >> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Flowers/Studies/i-CSM44KP/A>
> >>
> >> Shot with a Fujifilm GFX100. 50 images show in ?focus bracketing? mode,
> >> electronic shutter.
> >>
> >> I only had a few minutes to work before the breeze came up.
> >>
> >> There are issues in a few places but I?ll figure out the software Real
> >> Soon Now. <grin>
> >>
> >> The stacking was done with Helicon Focus. It?s an excellent example of
> how
> >> to use the GPU effectively! It allows the output to be saved as a DNG
> file
> >> which allows greater latitude in development.
> >>
> >> In Lightroom I used the ETERNA color profile. Many of the possible
> >> profiles, included the default Adobe profile, were simply too vivid
> >> compared to the flower I actually saw. That seems to be a trend for the
> >> handling of this camera by Adobe - they must have been needing more
> >> vibrancy or something.
> >>
> >> Comments and thoughts most welcome.
> >>
> >> Adam Bridge
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
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>
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