Focus stacking with HDR images

[rpcrowe]

I noticed that on some of my pseudo night, focus stacked images of the model train layout; that some of the lighted areas are a bit too bright.

As an example...


Has anyone tried focus stacking of HDR images?

I will try that next year when I visit the Model Railroad Museum again...

I am also going to experiment with a star filter...

[Geoff F]

If you mean selectively adjusting brightness levels on each layer, using a mask to merge two exposures, then merging those layers with focus stacking; then yes, I sometimes do this with tricky static subjects, such as fungi etc.

I work on getting each focus layer exactly as required before the focus merge. Creating two or more differently adjusted Raw conversions from a singe focus shot and merging them with masking is the simplest method. Then focus stack as normal.

Working the Raw adjustments as Smart Objects gives the most flexibility to your adjustments before the exposure merge which I always do as a hand made mask merge. It is essential to keep the brightness levels/saturation/white balance for the main areas of each layer in synch with each other.

I have managed to hand merge two or three separate bracketed exposure shots. Nothing really tricky although you need to keep a 'clear head' and do all the HDR type of adjustments before tackling the auto focus merging.

If it is just a case of adjusting a few blown highlights or shadows this is quite simple to achieve.