7 Best Focus Stacking Software & Solutions for Stunning Images
Try these selected programs and choose what suits your needs best
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If you’re searching for the best software for focus stacking, this guide will help you find the right tool for your needs.
We reviewed both free and premium options that can help you showcase every inch of your image with precision.
So, if you want to improve your macro shots, keep reading:
What is the best software for focus stacking?
| Product name | Photo retouch tools | RAW format support | Image blur control |
| inPixio Photo Studio | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Adobe Photoshop | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Helicon Focus | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| CombineZP | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Affinity Photo | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| PICOLAY | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Zerene Stacker | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
inPixio Photo Studio Pro 12 – Beginner friendly blur control & object removal tools
With features like automatic object removal that make it easy to clean up images, InPixio stands out as a great focus-stacking software.
It can help you erase unwanted elements, manage blur settings, and correct clarity. We also like its user-friendly UI that requires little to no learning curve.
It’s great if you want a quick process that results in pro-looking macro shots without having to go through a complex workflow.
✅ Pros:
- Intuitive interface
- Automatic object removal
- Easy background changes
❌ Cons:
- Limited advanced features
- Basic stacking options
inPixio Photo Studio 12 Pro
Check out this powerful too, very well suited for photo stacking and any other editing needs.Adobe Photoshop – Customizable interface
Adobe Photoshop is known for its versatility and advanced focus stacking capabilities. It allows precise control over the depth of field through its extensive layer management tools.
The customizable interface enables you to tailor your workspace, making complex tasks like blending multiple images and adjusting focus points more manageable.
Photoshop’s advanced features are suited for both beginner and professional-level focus-stacking projects.
✅ Pros:
- Extensive feature set
- Customizable interface
- Powerful layer management
❌ Cons:
- Steeper learning curve
- Expensive
Helicon Focus – Smart retouching
Helicon Focus is designed for high-quality focus stacking with capabilities like multi-core processing and support for RAW files. It processes images with precision, preserving detailed colors and textures. The software’s smart retouching tools and advanced features cater to professional photographers who require detailed control over their stacks. It’s a robust solution for achieving sharp, high-resolution results.
✅ Pros:
- High-quality results
- Multi-core processing
- RAW file support
❌ Cons:
- Premium pricing
- Complex for beginners
CombineZP – Simple app
CombineZP is a free and straightforward tool tailored for basic focus stacking needs.
Originally developed for microscope images, it provides a simple interface that is easy to use for stacking images with varying focus points.
While it offers fewer features than premium options, it is effective for users who need a no-cost solution for enhancing depth of field in their macro photography.
✅ Pros:
- Free to use
- Simple interface
- Good for beginners
❌ Cons:
- Basic user interface
- Limited features
Affinity Photo – 360-degree image editing feature
With Affinity pro you get one-click focus merging. The editing process is straightforward, and the UI is pretty simple..
In addition, it offers features like Raw editing, HDR merge, Panorama stitching, professional retouching, batch processing, PSD editing, digital painting, 360-degree image editing, and more.
It’s a multi-purpose editing tool that’s excellent if you want straightforward focus-stacking elements.
✅ Pros:
- Easy focus stacking
- Comprehensive editing tools
- One-time purchase
❌ Cons:
- Limited advanced stacking features
- May lack some specialized tools
PICOLAY – Various image enhancement tools
PICOLAY is another freeware portable software for focus stacking. To edit the images, you can use the Enhance feature to tweak light and color contrast.
You can also use the Mouse tools that offer Paintbrush, blur, clean background, clone, and more tools for image enhancement.
After loading the images, run the program to get a stacked image. The final result can be saved in multiple formats including bitmap, jpeg, png, and gif format.
✅ Pros:
- Portable and free
- Basic stacking and enhancements
- No installation required
❌ Cons:
- Limited features
- Requires some learning
Zerene Stacker – Large images supporter
Zerene Stacker is a premium focus stacking software designed for macro photography to create rich-in-detail images using the focus stacking technique.
It’s supporting images up to 200 megapixels. Moreover, itoffers advanced algorithms and full control over stacking parameters, making it ideal for high-resolution and complex projects.
The software also provides cross-platform compatibility and integration with Lightroom, catering to professional photographers who need precision and versatility in their focus-stacking workflow.
✅ Pros:
- Supports large images
- Advanced stacking control
- Cross-platform compatibility
❌ Cons:
- Premium pricing
- Might be overkill for casual users
Summary
To sum up, with the right focus stacking software, you can effortlessly combine multiple images to achieve a deep depth of field.
With the above-mentioned tools you’ll be able to enhance your macro photos. Every detail can become sharp and focused. Play with blur, layering, and background cleanup to achieve the best results.
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