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- Duncan
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My first attempt at an image stack (10 images) in Zerene Stacker.
Northern White Tailed Bee Perched On JML Optics 21mm f/3.5
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Too small, Duncan, to really appreciate your work!
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In terms of rendition, the shot is spectacular but it
is the stacking I wanted to have a closer look to.
Hi Dunc, was this queen alive as they don't normally stop long enough for one shot let alone 10.
Looks like a great stack.
Very nice results Dunc. Unusual pose too.
Really like this Dunc, would it be worth putting up a crop so we can see the detail in the stack?
Thanks Neil. Hmm.. possibly. Let me see if I have those files saved, Neil. Do you mean the final output file from Zerene?
Just your final image Dunc, it's just a pity we can't see the finer details in the size posted, as it looks very well done, I take it your using a rail? Also lighting looks excellent is it off camera / studio light or is this your field set up?
Unfortunately, Neil, this is generally the output size I use for my blog, so I normally size to 1024 pixels wide before commencing the final PP. I might change that with future images as I may print some on canvas eventually. I can say that this image took a LOT of work processing. The bee was covered in dust, so was the lens. The lens had a few reflections I didn't really like and the background was dodgy. I had to clean and work on it for probably a good 90-120 minutes in total. Give me a minute and I'll post a link to the original Zerene output file. It'll show you what I started with.
Always worth keeping the original size images, especially on something like this, hard drives are so cheap these days so worth getting one for storage.
What material is the diffuser in that set up Dunc? Very interested as need to set something up for food shots, was going to go down frosted perspex route but it's expensive in the size I need, also looked at tracing paper rolls.
Have you discovered Zerene's editing tools as yet? There's a section on the bee (the blobby area on the tail) that you can tidy up in Zerene before exporting. It's a bit confusing at first, but then simple when you get the hang of it.Neil, HERE'S a jpeg copy of the original Zerene output file. Click on the link "Queen Bee" on the resulting page....
Have you discovered Zerene's editing tools as yet? There's a section on the bee (the blobby area on the tail) that you can tidy up in Zerene before exporting. It's a bit confusing at first, but then simple when you get the hang of it.
Here's some further info:
http://zerenesystems.com/cms/stacker/docs/videotutorials/retouching001/index
lol, sorry. Yes it's an artifact of the D-Map process, and I'm sorry to say there isn't a single solution to a perfect stack. I tend to use the "both" options when running a stack, and then use the retouching tool to take advantage of the best features of both D-MAP and P-MAX (I tend to find D-MAX produces better overall detail but you do get these kind of artifacts) and P-MAX has better edge contrast, but introduces noise. There is another guide on how to use both outputs on that site if you can find it, and it also explains the differences between outputs better.Interestingly, I used DMap on the first stack. This time I used PMAX and those blobs are not present. Very helpful, Tim but you've probably just cost me another 2 hours work.
lol, sorry. Yes it's an artifact of the D-Map process, and I'm sorry to say there isn't a single solution to a perfect stack. I tend to use the "both" options when running a stack, and then use the retouching tool to take advantage of the best features of both D-MAP and P-MAX (I tend to find D-MAX produces better overall detail but you do get these kind of artifacts) and P-MAX has better edge contrast, but introduces noise. There is another guide on how to use both outputs on that site if you can find it, and it also explains the differences between outputs better.
Apologies again, but I assume you want the best output you can get
I assumed as much The results clearly show the time and effort you spend with your imagesI'm compulsive with my images, to the point where I correct things the eye can't even see.
I'm curious as to why you don't do your post processing full size then output at whatever size you want to use for a particular purpose, with appropriate output sharpening. That way you can use the same (pre-resize and output sharpen) post processed image for your blog and for printing, and for any other purpose that comes along. I would have thought you would (sometimes at least) get better results that way anyway, even for small output sizes, because the processing tools would have (? 16 times or so) more information to work on, and quite possibly (I'm guessing here) reducing some risks such as posterisation. I can't remember what software you are using, but FWIW that is Lightroom's standard approach (final stage is an "Export" to a particular size with one of three levels of output sharpening for each of screen, matte paper and glossy paper).
Superb work
Unusual to perch it on a lens like that but it works really well
Oi you shushBrilliant!
Tis a very cool capture, I like lots
Oi you shush
Lol..you know that's just not going to happen!
Hey, it's my thread so so only I'm allowed to tell anyone to Bee quiet..
Ouch that comment 'stung'
Just tell T to buzz off