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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 11:58 am 
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Hi to all,

I run some times the test now with Adobe Photoshop CS4 and works some times but notever, some times block the Photoshop.

In some times too need a long time (i think block but not).

I only can run the 100 photographs, the test of 400 it's impossible in my computer with CS4 version.

See the next table:

Image

You can compare the total time with my first table in the first post. The time to process is very high compared with specific stack programs. Now see the stacked images.

Original size:
http://MacroRail.com/imagenes/StackP001001_1.jpg

Cropping size:
http://MacroRail.com/imagenes/StackP001001_2.jpg

1/2 original size:
http://MacroRail.com/imagenes/StackP001001_3.jpg

1/4 original size:
http://MacroRail.com/imagenes/StackP001001_4.jpg

1/8 original size. I put directly the image:
Image

Curiously the time to align the images cropping is very high (See red text in table). I repeat three times; the first and second need a lot of time respect to the rest of test. The third block the Photoshop.

The quality of result is very poor in Photoshop CS4. See the next image:

Left Zerene 1/2 original size, Right Photoshop CS4 1/2 Original size
Image

Some object missing, the texture is poor near to the hairs, etc.

I think that Photoshop not is a solution for good stacks, the time is very high, some times block the Photoshop and to process a big number of pictures, need a very high memory capacity.

Regards, Oscar.


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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:49 am 
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I've got CS6 running here on a big fat system, did you arrange a download for the raw's? I'd like to try it out...


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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 7:52 am 
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Tim wrote:
I've got CS6 running here on a big fat system, did you arrange a download for the raw's? I'd like to try it out...


I'll be interested in the results if you do. My system running CS6:

Windows 7 Pro 64-bit build (6.1, build 7601)
Intel i7-3960X CPU @ 3.30Ghz (6 cores)
32 gigs of quad-channel ram 2x G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400
Primary HDD: 480 gig SSD
GPU: EVGA GTX 590 video card

Photoshop completely ground to a halt with the 400 stack!!


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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 7:55 am 
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Hi Tim,

In a few moment i send you a private message with a ftp account to download the 100Stack and 400Stack images.

Regards, Oscar.


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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 10:11 am 
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And the result is... no result... PS shit itself as soon as I started the stack...


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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 10:21 am 
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I wasn't expecting that result. :|


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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 10:36 am 
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I can try it again on B's computer (slightly newer) but Jester's setup is sweet as can be and if his crashed mine will fo shua... I hadn't seen Jester's post before I started...

The thing is though... when shooting macro like in Oscar's example you don't need 100 shots and with just a few pics photoshop does pull it off. Your DOF is still acceptable with low magnification. When shooting super micro your DOF decreases in such a way that you will need more shots to get a bit of depth.

Lemmie cook up an example, there must be a dead fly around somewhere...


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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 12:44 pm 
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The fly is not important, is only one example with 100 and 400 photographs. There are people of insects over 1,500 photos. In rare gems reach 100. But with this example you can see if the programs are able to function well and how long it takes to do so. That is my intention of this report.

The results are disappointing with Photoshop including a great computer with lots of resources.

Regards, Oscar.


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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 12:52 pm 
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Oh yeah, no argument there! :D I'm running test after test here with a 23 pic stack in photoshop and the results are laughable!


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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 2:46 pm 
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So... PS CS6 doesn't do that good a job either. A light stack of 23 shots went though without melt down and resulted in the following:

Image

The way to do this is outlined in this tutorial. There is other stacking options in PS but they result in very arty pics and have very little to do with focus stacking.

I ran that same stack through the two different versions of CombineZ: CZM and CZP. CZP is way faster than CZM and yields similar results.

CZP:
(See file names for stacking mode and be your own judge)
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

CZM:
Image
Image
Image
Image


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 Post subject: Re: Stack software, comparative speed, optimizations and oth
PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 3:55 pm 
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Barbra Voltaire wrote:
I wasn't expecting that result. :|


Sadly, I was :( It's not horribly surprising, it is a pasted-on feature in PS rather than the sole function of the program like Heliocon. If I ever build or get a good macro rail, I'll be buying a copy of Focus.

J


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