Has anyone downloaded any free photo stacking software lately? If so, what's the latest and greatest? In the past, my computors did not have what it took to run a good program well, however, my kid gave me his super gaming computer that should be able to handle a good program, so I want to give it another try.
As always thanks.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I can't honestly say 'recently', Brent, but I think I refreshed my kept copy about 18 months ago or less of CombineZP. For freeware, it can often give really stunning results. The secret, for free....remember....is that it needs pretty close re-registering between images. Maybe the spiffier paid versions will take some wild hand-held variance, dunno because I have never investigated or used them, but CZP will produce the best results, with the slimmest discardable 'junk' border when you crop it out, if you figure out an initial aiming point and return to that pretty darned closely each stackable image you're going to include in the process. Also, you should convert (batch convert) all potential sample images to tiff format. FastStone Image Viewer does this in one of its tools, but you must tell it where to store it....so that you know where to tell CZP to find them to process them.
Does that help?
Brent,
I looked at stacking software last fall and ended up using photoshop.... not what you wanted to hear I'm sure. I couldn't find any free programs that produced good results. I already was a photoshop subscriber so I was pleasantly surprised how good the images turned out with a program I was already very comfortable using.
I think helicon offers a trial version but I didn't look any further as I was happy with PS. The paid version of Helicon was a little over $100. There are several cheaper photo processing software packages competing with Photoshop that might also offer stacking...
I agree with Crandall that the camera needs to be held as close as possible to same place for best results. I have handheld my phone against a block on the layout and have made good images using that method.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
Thanks Crandell and Guy.
I was first introduced to photo stacking with Crandells amazing photos from his basement layout when I first joined the forum, but never gave it an honest effort. We have a Nikon D-5000 and I now have a pretty skookum computer thanks to my son getting to upgrade his gaming computer. So, I thought I would take another crack at it.
I used Helcyon but did not buy it. Works great but the free copy inserts a watermark.
I did find a freeware version a fewe computers ago, It to did good enough work but the final result needed cropping ans it left extraniuiys stuf on the frame, and at funny angles.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS