Learn how to use focus stacking to combine multiple images with different focus points and create stunning images with more depth of field and sharpness.

-Focus stacking allows you to create blur and bokeh without wide apertures, giving more control over exposure. -Use softboxes, reflectors, or gels for soft backgrounds and spotlights or fairy lights for bokeh effects. -Macro or tilt-shift lenses help create shallow depth of field and smooth transitions between sharp and blurred areas.

-Take multiple photos with different focus points to capture both sharp and blurred areas. -Merge the images using focus stacking software to extend the depth of field or create selective focus. -Use this technique in studio photography to emphasize details while achieving smooth bokeh or blur in specific areas.

-Use a camera in manual mode, a sturdy tripod, and a remote shutter to prevent camera shake. -Set a low ISO and an aperture between f/8 and f/16 for optimal sharpness and contrast. -Capture multiple shots by focusing on different parts of the subject, starting from the closest point and gradually adjusting focus to cover the entire depth.

Last updated on Oct 12, 2024

How do you use focus stacking to create sharp and blurred areas in studio photography?

Focus stacking is a technique that allows you to combine multiple images with different focus points to create a final image with more depth of field and sharpness. It can also help you achieve creative effects with blurred areas and bokeh in studio photography. In this article, you will learn how to use focus stacking to create sharp and blurred areas in studio photography, and what tools and settings you need to get started.

1 What is focus stacking and why use it?

Focus stacking is a process of merging several photos that have different parts of the scene in focus. By doing this, you can extend the depth of field and make everything in your image sharp, or selectively blur some areas for artistic purposes. Focus stacking is useful for studio photography when you want to capture fine details, textures, and shapes of your subject, or when you want to create a smooth background or foreground with bokeh and blur effects.

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Neha Sharma

Co-Founder & Director at Luna Studios | Telling stories through films and pictures
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-Take multiple photos with different focus points to capture both sharp and blurred areas. -Merge the images using focus stacking software to extend the depth of field or create selective focus. -Use this technique in studio photography to emphasize details while achieving smooth bokeh or blur in specific areas.

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2 How to set up your camera and tripod for focus stacking

To do focus stacking, you need a camera that can shoot in manual mode and a sturdy tripod that can hold your camera steady. You also need a remote shutter release or a self-timer to avoid camera shake. Set your camera to the lowest ISO possible, and choose an aperture that gives you the best sharpness and contrast for your lens. Usually, this is somewhere between f/8 and f/16. Then, focus on the closest part of your subject that you want to be sharp, and take the first shot. Without moving your camera or tripod, adjust the focus slightly to the next part of your subject, and take another shot. Repeat this process until you have covered the entire depth of your subject with different focus points.

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Neha Sharma

Co-Founder & Director at Luna Studios | Telling stories through films and pictures
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-Use a camera in manual mode, a sturdy tripod, and a remote shutter to prevent camera shake. -Set a low ISO and an aperture between f/8 and f/16 for optimal sharpness and contrast. -Capture multiple shots by focusing on different parts of the subject, starting from the closest point and gradually adjusting focus to cover the entire depth.

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3 How to use lights and lenses to create blur effects

One of the advantages of focus stacking is that you can create blurred areas and bokeh in your image without using a wide aperture or a long focal length. This gives you more control over the exposure and the composition of your image. To create blur effects, you can use different types of lights and lenses in your studio. For example, you can use a softbox, a reflector, or a colored gel to create a soft and diffused background or foreground. You can also use a spotlight, a flash, or a fairy light to create bright and round bokeh shapes. You can also use a macro lens, a tilt-shift lens, or a lens with a low minimum focusing distance to create a shallow depth of field and a smooth transition between the sharp and blurred areas.

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Neha Sharma

Co-Founder & Director at Luna Studios | Telling stories through films and pictures
Report contribution
-Focus stacking allows you to create blur and bokeh without wide apertures, giving more control over exposure. -Use softboxes, reflectors, or gels for soft backgrounds and spotlights or fairy lights for bokeh effects. -Macro or tilt-shift lenses help create shallow depth of field and smooth transitions between sharp and blurred areas.

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4 How to use software to stack your images

Once you have taken all the shots for your focus stacking, you need to use software to merge them into one image. There are different software options available for focus stacking, such as Photoshop, Lightroom, Helicon Focus, or Zerene Stacker. The basic steps are similar for most software: you import your images, align them, blend them, and adjust the final image. Depending on the software, you may have different options and settings to fine-tune the stacking process, such as choosing the stacking method, the blending mode, the masking tools, and the output format.

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5 How to edit your stacked image for the best results

After you have stacked your images, you may need to do some editing to improve the quality and the appearance of your final image. This can include cropping and straightening your image to remove any unwanted edges or distortions caused by the stacking process, as well as sharpening your image to enhance the details and the contrast of your subject. Additionally, you can adjust the exposure, white balance, saturation, and contrast of your image to make it more balanced and appealing. Furthermore, you may want to add or remove noise, dust spots, or other imperfections that may have occurred during the shooting or the stacking process. Lastly, applying filters, effects, or presets can help create a specific mood or style for your image.

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6 How to practice and experiment with focus stacking

Focus stacking is a technique that requires some practice and experimentation to master. It is not always easy to get the right focus points, the right number of shots, the right lighting, and the right software settings for every image. Therefore, it is important to practice and experiment with different subjects, scenes, lights, and lenses to find out what works best for you and your style. You can also learn from other photographers who use focus stacking, and get inspired by their work and tips. Focus stacking is a fun and creative way to explore the possibilities of studio photography and create stunning images with sharp and blurred areas.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you use focus stacking to create sharp and blurred areas in studio photography?

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1 What is focus stacking and why use it?

2 How to set up your camera and tripod for focus stacking

3 How to use lights and lenses to create blur effects

4 How to use software to stack your images

5 How to edit your stacked image for the best results

6 How to practice and experiment with focus stacking

7 Here’s what else to consider

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