free focus stacking software: picolay

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/16/2025 09:25:10 AM · #1

My new camera can automatically take a series of images with focus shift to allow focus stacking.

So I was searching for focus stacking software to process those image and came across this FREE software.
https://www.picolay.de/index.html
It was developed by a German professor in (micro)biology and he made it available for free. THANK YOU.
Heribert Cypionka

I did some initial tests and even with the standard settings the results are impressive. A manual and Youtube tutorials are available.
It takes approx 2 minutes to process 50 image into 1 (on my PC).

And it can do more than just focus stacking, but that I did not try yet.

Message edited by author 2025-01-16 09:27:05.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

01/16/2025 10:54:13 AM · #2

That sounds awesome...

LevT

OM System OM-1

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

01/16/2025 07:23:37 PM · #3

Did you try to compare it with the standard Photoshop focus stacking performance?

GolferDDS

Canon EOS R5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/16/2025 08:24:43 PM · #4

I use Photoshop for focus stacking. It takes me a few steps but the results are good. I download the images in Lightroom, create a category on the desktop, stack the images in photoshop and then use the Auto Blend function. It takes about 20-30 minutes total including photoshop processing time for a stack of 50 more or less images. I've considered Helicon Focus as it is supposed to be less labor intensive and a bit faster but at the present time I am in no hurry and already pay for Photoshop and Lightroom

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM

01/17/2025 03:57:39 AM · #5

Originally posted by LevT:

Did you try to compare it with the standard Photoshop focus stacking performance?

I have Photoshop CS3. As far as I know it does not have this feature.

I tried to follow these instructions

How to Focus Stack in Photoshop | Summary
1) In Photoshop, go to File > Scripts > ‘Load Files into Stack’ to load your bracketed images.
2) Select all layers and apply Edit > Auto-Align Layers > Auto.
3) Apply Edit > Auto-Blend Layers > Stack Images.
4) Perform any final edits then save your final stacked image.

but it fails at step 3. I can choose Auto-Blend but then there are no options to choose from, so no "stack images".

Message edited by author 2025-01-17 08:51:44.

hajeka

Canon EOS R5

01/20/2025 01:36:32 AM · #6

Interesting program, but it can't handle RAW files (eg. CR3). I'm using HeliconFocus (but that's not free)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/20/2025 05:33:39 AM · #7

Originally posted by hajeka:

Interesting program, but it can't handle RAW files (eg. CR3). I'm using HeliconFocus (but that's not free)

It does not handle my Sony raw files natively (ARW extension) but if I convert those to Adobe Digital Negative then it can handle them. This also makes the stacking superfast, takes only a few seconds for 50 images.

From the manual:
- RAW (*.dng, *.Cr2, *.nef)
For RAW images you need to have installed the appropriate CODEC for Adobe,
Canon or Nikon. Please check the corresponding websites for download.

Message edited by author 2025-01-20 05:35:01.

GolferDDS

Canon EOS R5

01/20/2025 06:53:43 AM · #8

Originally posted by willem:

Originally posted by LevT:
Did you try to compare it with the standard Photoshop focus stacking performance?

I have Photoshop CS3. As far as I know it does not have this feature.

I tried to follow these instructions

How to Focus Stack in Photoshop | Summary
1) In Photoshop, go to File > Scripts > ‘Load Files into Stack’ to load your bracketed images.
2) Select all layers and apply Edit > Auto-Align Layers > Auto.
3) Apply Edit > Auto-Blend Layers > Stack Images.
4) Perform any final edits then save your final stacked image.

but it fails at step 3. I can choose Auto-Blend but then there are no options to choose from, so no "stack images".

Maybe your older program can't handle it Mine works fine.