Increasing depth of field with Focus Stacking
by Bjoern K. Langlotz
In macro situations, even the smallest apertures often provide insufficient depth of field to portray a subject adequately. The solution to this problem is to shoot a sequence of images at varying focal distances and use a computer to merge the results into a single, extended depth-of-field image.
Macro photographers often test the limits of physics. The nearer you get to your subject, the shallower the available depth of field, and selecting ever smaller apertures either begins to produce diffraction blur or simply spoils the blurred background that gives so many close-up photos their character in the first place. It is relatively simple to counteract these problems for stationary subjects. All you have to do is shoot a sequence of images in which you move the focal point successively further into the distance from shot to shot. You can then use one of a number of specialist software packages to merge your source images into a single image with a completely sharp subject and a pleasantly blurred background. This technique is called “focus stacking”.
This article gives you the necessary background knowledge and technical know-how to shoot your own source images for focus stacking, and introduces the software and techniques you need to produce finished images. We also go into detail on how to use Photoshop to stack tricky sets of source images manually.
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