Sometimes I've been out with one lens and my subject is so close I can't get all of the things I want in focus or in the frame...Juan Aragonés wrote an article in
explaining how to get all the image in focus. I can't find the article, or I'd post it.
Basically you need take photos of the whole scene, framing, focusing on different spots...then using CS4 Photomerge..which stiches the images together creating a single image (lots of experimenting) all in focus, from front to back.
In the image below I used the five images at the bottom to create the top image...if you look closely you'll see how. I forgot the area behind the leading teal..drat..so I have more work to do.
Try and experiment with this sometimes it can be fun and again gets you using CS4 components like refine edges, cloning, masking...etc
This is just for info.... I will talk to Ray Barlow, he may be able to find the article...I've been experimenting with this for a while...works really well with landscapes, now I wanted to try it with birds...but they have to be still.
Paul, Thanks for the workflow. Both Raymond and Juan are fantastic photographers and I look forward to the article if you can find it. Nice work Paul!!
This is an interesting technique that I'd like to try. Ben Wilmore describes a similar Depth of Field Bracketing technique using the same type of shooting (same view with varying focus points), stacking into layers, manual alignment of the layers and then CS4s Auto Blend Layers tool. As per Ben, CS3's Auto Blend would not handle varying focus points, but CS4 will. In Auto Blend Layers, he uses the Stack Images option (not Panorama) and turns on the Seamless Tones and Colors check box.
Again, as per Ben, even CS4s Layer alignment tool will not work right on these varying focus point shots, so that's why he manually aligns them before blending.
I've had the best luck with Helicon Focus for blending these type of shots. To me, it is easier than all of the steps necessary in PS. But, I haven't tried CS4 yet.
RE: Using CS4 Merge
